John Sweeney delighted in pulling the strings as St Roch's posted a confidence-boosting 3-2 victory over Pollok on Saturday.

It was only a pre-season friendly and a last-minute wonder goal was needed to separate the teams.

However, there was no disguising what the Garngad club’s win over their well-to-do Glasgow rivals meant to former Lok midfielder Sweeney who had earlier got his name on the scoresheet with a ferocious spot kick blast.

He said: “Yes, it felt great to come out on top against my old team-mates and scoring a goal was the icing on the cake.

“However, the fact any neutrals looking on would not have known there were two leagues between the sides has to be the biggest plus for us.

“ We more than matched up with a Pollok side being tipped to challenge for the top honours this season…and everyone knows they were missing key players but let’s not forget St Roch's were in the same boat.”

There was a poignant moment prior to kick–off when a respectful minute’s applause coincided with both sets of players releasing balloons in memory of local youngster Clinton Pringle , who was tragically killed in a car-crash.

Candy Rock supporters derived great encouragement from their team starting well against their illustrious visitors and loud roars greeted the opening goal from a Kieron Martin free kick that left goalkeeper Jordan Longmuir helpless with the aid of a wicked deflection off Pollok’s defensive wall.

Within minutes the Southsiders were presented with an equalising opportunity through a soft looking penalty kick decision.

The call came after Davie Winters went down with Jonathan Carter in close proximity, however Liam Rowan's spot kick trundled wide of the posts to leave the scoreline intact. The deadlock, though, was broken two minutes later.

Neat interplay in St Roch’s next attacking venture created an opening for Robert McGuire that was quickly snuffed out by a despairing Chris Walker tackle.

However, whistler William Wilson harshly adjudged the defender to have committed a foul and pointed to the spot despite Pollok’s heated protests.

Amid the furore, Sweeney had shown his desire to assume responsibility by grabbing the ball and he gleefully rammed a well struck shot past Longmuir for 2-0 .

Only five minutes remained until the interval, but the home side’s hopes of maintaining their advantage until then came unstuck in the 44th minute through a stroke of pure genius from Winters.

He took possession fully 40 yards from goal and appeared innocuous until he looked up to see goalkeeper John Stark off his line and unleashed a sensational shot that flew over the stranded No.1 and into his net .

Buoyed by this stunning score, Pollok started the second period on the ascendancy and were soon on level terms after Walker headed down a corner kick and the lurking Winters turned the ball home from close range.

They continued to hold the upper hand for the next 15 minutes but without any further scoring and gradually St Roch's began to be seen more in an attacking sense helped no end by the close control of T.J McLuskey abetted by the forward thrusts of full-back Danny Irvine.

Chances came and went at both ends and a spoils shared outcome looked on the cards right up until the final minute when Candy Rock substitute Brian McQueen lashed home a stunning shot from just outside the box to seal a 3-2 triumph.

Winning boss Andy Cameron was at pains to play down the euphoria in saying: “Everything went well today on what was an occasion to officially open our Player’s Lounge as well as to commemorate the sad passing of Clinton.

“The game itself was a by-product and you could see there was a marked difference between our guys having crammed in five weeks of pre-season preparations compared to Pollok just completing their second week.

“That said, I felt we did fantastically well in spells against a team of their quality and for Brian to score the winner on his first game back after cruciate ligament surgery was something out of a fairy-tale.

“We can take positives from our performance but it would be wrong to read too much into today’s result because make no mistake, there is plenty of room for improvement.”

Pollok manager Tony McInally was disappointed to lose out and felt his side paid the price for poor defending .

He said: "Having only 13 players inclusive of one trialist didn’t help our cause, but we’ll be better for the 90 minutes in terms of match fitness and competitiveness.”

In other games, a Stephen McGladrigan hat trick and Liam Finnigan counter helped Petershill to an impressive 4-1 victory over Rob Roy whose consolation score was bagged by Gavin Mackie.

Maryhill ran out 3-2 winners over Queen's Park Under 20’s while drawn affairs resulted for Shettleston (3-3 at home to Penicuik Athletic), Glasgow Perthshire (1-1 away at Blackburn Utd) and Benburb in their annual Dennis Donnelly Trophy clash with Ardrossan Winton Rovers .

Liam Caddis, making his Winton Park debut, fired the Ayrshiremen ahead only for Ryan Livingstone to level matters for the Bens and take the destiny of the silverware to a penalty kicks conclusion – won 4-2 by Rovers.

St Anthony's played back-to-back contests against Foresthall and won both games on 4-2 and 8-0 scorelines while Ashfield’s resurgence is showing no signs of letting up after Robert Docherty’s men posted their fourth win in five friendly outings with a 3-1 defeat of Rutherglen Glencairn through goals from Stevie Dymock (2) and Alex Donnelly with Sean McGuire netting for the Glens.

FRIENDLY RESULTS: Ardrossan Winton Rovers 1 Benburb 1(Rovers win 4-2 pens), Darvel 2 Lesmahagow 4, Troon 6 Renfrew 3, Petershill 4 Rob Roy 1, St Roch's 3 Pollok 2, East Kilbride Thistle 0 Tranent 4, Irvine Meadow 3 Kilwinning Rangers 1, Bellshill Athletic 2 Downfield 4, Auchinleck Talbot 0 Bo’ness Utd 3, Cumnock 2 Shotts Bon Accord 3, Shettleston 3 Penicuik Athletic 3, Maryhill 3 Queen's Park Under 20’s 2, Neilston 0 Irvine Vics 1, Blackburn Utd 1 Glasgow Perthshire 1, Kelty Hearts 0 Kilbirnie Ladeside 0, Tayport 1 Glenafton 4, Kilsyth Rangers 4 Hurlford Utd 4, Whitletts Vics 2 Port Glasgow 1, Cambuslang Rangers 2 Forfar West End 0, Rossvale 4 Pollok Under 21’s 3, Ashfield 3 Rutherglen Glencairn 1, Annbank Utd 2 Greenock 2.

PLAYING TONIGHT:Clydesdale Cup Final. Lanark Utd v Forth Wanderers, Friendly Matches. Ashfield v Harmony Row,Vale of Clyde v Thorn Amateurs, Saltcoats Vics v Shortlees Amateurs.

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