POLLOK manager Tony McInally did not hold back in saluting his players after they made light work of putting Glasgow Perthshire to the sword in their Scottish Junior Cup 3rd round replay on Saturday.

Purposeful and dominant right from the first whistle, Pollok had more weapons than their city rivals and they made them count for the most part in strolling to a 5-0 victory in front of a 532 strong Newlandsfield crowd.

Icy underfoot conditions had put this game in serious doubt earlier on Saturday morning however only three minutes into the game and there was no doubt about what club’s name was going into the Fourth Round draw after Bryan Wharton ‘s powerful header from a corner kick put the home side 1-0 up.

Delighted gaffer Macca whose starting line-up showed three changes from last weekend’s 3-3 Keppoch Park draw inclusive of skipper Paul Gallagher finding himself relegated to a substitutes berth ,enthused afterwards ,

"We were far more professional and competent in our approach today and had the game won by half time even though I felt we deserved to have a few more goals to our name at that point .”

“Bryan scoring early certainly settled us and a number of players went on to serve up really good performances despite a playing surface that was dodgy in bits and every bit as much of a leveller as Keppoch Park had been the previous week.

“I was very critical of the guys publicly and more so behind closed doors so it was pleasing to see determination shown by the group to make up for what happened in the first game and it’s only right that I acknowledge their terrific reaction out there today.”

Pollok’s early lead could easily have been trebled as first Gary McCann and then Nikky Little dragged shots wide of target and dangerman Little again came close to scoring prior to Stuart McCann hammering home a fierce 15 yard shot to make the scoreline read 2-0 with just over 20 minutes on the clock.

The first half ‘s one way traffic continued but without any further scores being added thanks to some dogged Shire defending and a string of saves from over-worked goalkeeper Chris Calder however any slim hopes of the visitors mounting a comeback were dashed less than ten minutes after the restart when midfielder Lee McLelland picked up a second yellow card for a clear “dive” and was sent back inside by whistler Craig King.

Their numerical advantage enabled Pollok to spray the ball around while probing for openings , with Bryan Young orchestrating matters from central midfield , and it was no real surprise when Nikky Prentice netted a simple tap-in goal for 3-0 .

Returning from injury striker Stefan McLuskey then came off the bench to score with a penalty kick awarded by a beleaguered Calder bringing down Stuart McCann and yet another substitute made a telling impact as Paul Byrne rifled a 22 yard shot high into the net to round off the scoring.

The plus points for a well-beaten Shire ,were arguably the displays offered up by Jordan McLean, Ross Carrigan , Ryan Gemmell and second half replacement Craig Munro however long serving team boss Billy Adams reckoned his youthful charges would have performed better with an experienced hand or two on their tiller.

He lamented ,”We were short in terms of personnel and I’m not talking about only having two listed outfield substitutes .

“Coming here for a Cup replay was always going to be difficult for a young side like ours but the absence of our suspended pair Mark Thomson and David Kirkwood was crucial and never more sorely felt than at Pollok’s first corner kick.

“Thommo and Kirky are big boys and would have prevented their scorer having a free header and I also felt every set play had the makings of a horror story without their physical presence.

“We’re disappointed to be out of the Cup butavoiding relegation is our number one aim so our season starts now.”

Last 32 places were also claimed by Cumnock ,5-1 winners over BathgateThistle through goals from Stephen McKenna , Andy Muir, Adam Hunter, Sean McKenzie and Keiran Woods while another top flight side Kilbirnie Ladeside had doubles from James Finlay and Davie Crerand to thank for a 4-1 defeat of Lanark United .

One time Partick Thistle midfielder Jordan Leyden bagged a hat trick that along with counters from Jamie Hamiltron(2) and Liam Gormley helped Rutherglen Glencairn to a 6-0 victory over Stonehaven while Scott McEwan , Michael Williams and James Leslie were on target as Gartcairn overcame the handicap of goalkeeper Kyle Priestley’s early second half dismissal to beat Maud by a 3-1 scoreline.

And living to fight another day are Forth Wanderers for whom Barry McGeechan and Ryan Connolly netted in a 2-2 draw at home to Lochore Welfare .

WEEKEND RESULTS:Scottish Junior Cup 3rd Round: Forth Wanderers 2 Lochore Welfare 2, Cumnock 5 Bathgate Thistle 1, Kilbirnie Ladeside 4 Lanark Utd 1, Kennoway Star Hearts 4 Blantyre Vics 0, Gartcairn 3 Maud 1, Rutherglen Glencairn 6 Stonehaven 0. 3rd Round Replays. Pollok 5 Glasgow Perthshire 0, Dunbar Utd 4 Hermes 0.McBookie.com Super Premier Division. Clydebank 2 Girvan 2, Kilwinning Rangers 4 Arthurlie 1.McBookie.com Super First Division. Kello Rovers 2 Shettleston 1, Troon 2 Darvel 1 , Largs Thistle 1 Renfrew 1.McBookie.com Central First Division.Rossvale 5 Yoker Athletic 0, Neilston 3 Port Glasgow 0.McBookie.com Central Second Division. Dunipace 1 St Anthonys 3 , Vale of Leven 2 Royal Albert 1.McBookie.com Ayrshire District League. Whitletts Vics 1 Saltcoats Vics 2.