Pollok kept alive their New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup ambitions on Saturday with a scrappy 1-0 victory over Irvine Meadow that had team boss Tony McInally feeling the need to apologise afterwards.

“ Our own ill-discipline almost led to us pressing the self-destruct button and that’s simply not good enough for myself or the people who turn up, rain, hail or shine to support this club," declared Macca who was clearly fuming over an altogether less than convincing display from his playing charges.

He didn’t say as much but doubtless his ire had been stoked by second-half events which saw striker Michael Daly’s red-carded for an off-the-ball incident involving visiting stopper Ryan Begley.

That was followed by Tam Hanlon taking a hissy fit at his substitution with just over 20 minutes left to play and demonstratively tearing off his jersey coming off the pitch before booting a water bottle fully 20 yards down the touchline.

The gaffer continued with his assessment of playing matters in saying: “We could and should have put the game to bed before half time but for a mixture of poor decision making, good goalkeeping and wasteful finishing.

“The guys are again on top coming out for the second half and looking good, but the balance of play swings with Michael’s sending-off and we end up coming under pressure over the closing stages and almost concede an equaliser when their player hits the crossbar.

“It would have been a travesty but these are the things that happen if you don’t put away your chances.”

The Lok boss was spot on in his after-match comments as Daly, Chris Walker and Liam Rowan had all come close to opening the scoring before Derek Hepburn demonstrated how it should be done just after the half hour mark.

The breakthrough came when was afforded time and space at the back post to control a David Winters cross and direct a low shot past visiting goalkeeper Shaun Newman.

The former Ayr United shotstopper denied Rowan early in the second period however his involvement lessened after Daly’s dismissal in 58 minutes which played no small part in Irvine Meadow posing more of a territorial threat.

The Ayrshiremen’s lack of a cutting edge was all too apparent and it looked as if Pollok’s backline would see out the game comfortably until their final minute scare when Jarred Willet floated an effort beyond the reach of Lok No 1 Jordan Lonmuir only for the ball to bounce down off the underside of the crossbar before being cleared to safety.

Visiting full-back Mark McLelland said of his former team: "We gave them too much respect in the first half and were fortunate to be only 1-0 down at half time but we certainly had them rattled in that final half hour .”

The Ayrshire club’s co-managers Gareth Turner and Michael Wardrope were disappointed at losing but happy with their young side’s performance.

Turner admitted: “Many of the guys were playing at Newlandsfield for the first time and were all over the place early on when they made the mistake of standing off Pollok, who are a good team capable of playing the ball around you if given space and time.

“Michael and I spoke at half-time about the need to get tight and press higher upfield and the players took our words on board to great effect and this made a huge difference …along with Pollok going down to ten men obviously.

“To lose 1-0 isn’t a disaster considering where we were as a club at the start of this season and hopefully we will have progressed even more when we are back here again.”

Reigning trophy holders Auchinleck Talbot are also through to the last 16 thanks to a Mark Shankland penalty as the only goal of the game at home to Whitletts Vics.

But another of the fancied sides Beith suffered a shock exit against Largs Thistle, who ran out 5-4 penalty shootout winners following a 1-1 regulation time draw at Barrfields where Paul Frize’s opener for the visitors was cancelled out by a Nicky Jamieson first half score.

Yet another shock upset saw high-flying Glenafton lose out 3-0 against Troon for whom Ryan Nisbet, Adam Forsyth and Scott Chatham were on the scoresheet.

And eyebrows will have been raised by Larkhall Thistle tumbling out at home to Craigmark after leading 3-1 as well as St Roch's running out 4-0 victors over injury-ravaged Petershill with goals from Baboucar Mussa (2) Jordan Logan and Robert McGuire.

Neilston overcame Rossvale 1-0 through a wonder Brian Turner while Cumnock were the day’s highest scorers with Scott Anson(2), Keiran Wood(2), Paul Burns and Raymond Montgomery netting in a 6-0 rout of nine-man Kilbirnie Ladeside whose red card sinners were Mark Staunton and Stevie Meechan.

And the delayed first round clash of Dunipace and Lanark United was won 5-2 by the visitors thanks to a four goal showing from Sean Gallagher and a counter by Alan Christie.

In the unique double-header at New Tinto Park, goals from Rikky Hanvey, Stevie Swift, Ben Lewis and Carlo Monti helped Kilwinning Rangers to a 4-2 West of Scotland Cup defeat of Benburb and immediately afterwards Rob Roy secured a Scottish Junior Cup last 16 place with a 2-1 victory over Musselburgh Athletic thanks to a brace of goals from prolific scoring midfielder Sean Fraser.

WEEKEND RESULTS : Scottish Junior Cup Fourth Round.

Rob Roy 2 Musselburgh Athletic 1.

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup.Second Round.

Auchinleck Talbot 1 Whitletts Vics 0, Benburb 2 Kilwinning Rangers 4, Cumnock 6 Kilbirnie Ladeside 0, Glenafton 0 Troon 3, Largs Thistle 1 Beith 1 (Largs win 5-4 pens), Larkhall Thistle 3 Craigmark 3 (Craigmark win 5-3 pens), Pollok 1 Irvine Meadow 0, Rossvale 0 Neilston 1, Shettleston 0 Blantyre Vics 2, St Roch's 4 Petershill 0.

First Round. Dunipace 2 Lanark Utd 5.

McBookie.com Super First Division.

Yoker Athletic 0 Clydebank 3, Girvan 0 Rutherglen Glencairn 3

McBookie.com Central First Division Bellshill Athletic 6 Greenock 4, Lesmahagow 1 Vale of Clyde 3, Johnstone Burgh 1 Cambuslang Rangers 1.

McBookie.com Central Second Division.

Port Glasgow 1 Ashfield 0, St Anthony's 1 Vale of Leven 1.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League.

Ardeer Thistle 0 Dalry Thistle 3, Kello Rovers 6 Ardrossan Winton Rovers 1, Lugar Boswell 1Muirkirk 1.