POLLOK midfielder Colin Williamson will forever look back on last season’s Scottish Junior Cup near miss as a source of frustration and no little regret.

Yet he was also of the mind earlier today that the Glasgow outfit’s penalty-kicks defeat by Beith is arguably as good a preparation as could be imagined for him and his team-mates ahead of tomorrow’s New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup Final clash against his former club Cumnock.

A crucial 90 minutes beckons in the Newlandsfield staged finale not least because Pollok go into the showpiece occasion rated strong favourites even though fully 17 years have elapsed since their black and white colours last adorned the much coveted silverware prize thanks to a hard-fought victory over Glenafton at Somervell Park.

Hard to imagine bookmakers odds portraying matters otherwise considering Pollok have been afforded the luxury of spending 10 days doing nothing other than preparing for the Final whereas their Ayrshire opponents were playing a fiercely contested semi-final contest against derby foes Auchinleck Talbot just 63 hours ago.

Nonetheless, Pollok were similarly fancied to come out on top against Beith yet didn’t handle the pressure too well according to Williamson .

He insisted: “To win cup finals comes down to being able to perform at your best on the day and not enough of our players – myself included – did that last season.

“But you look at our squad now and it’s pretty much the same group of players albeit a wiser and more experienced one for what happened to us Rugby Park and if anything we are a better side for the lessons learned.

“I have the greatest respect for Cumnock and particularly for my former team-mates remaining there like James Lundie, Dingus Crawford, Raymond Montgomery and Keiran Woods, but I’m feeling fairly confident this current Pollok side is capable of great things and everyone is determined to give a good showing of ourselves.

“A lot of our guys were thinking Auchinleck would prevail in the semi-final on Wednesday night but deep down I had a feeling it would be my old club lining up against us and now I cannot wait for kick off time to come around.”

Games between the Super Premier rivals this season have been something of a mixed bag with Pollok running out comprehensive 4-0 winners at Newlandsfield only for Cumnock to gain revenge with a 3-1 Townhead Park victory just five weeks further down the line.

Williamson recalled: “Our home game was a pretty tight affair right up until the closing 20 minutes when we scored three times while the game in Ayrshire followed a similar pattern only this time it was the introduction of Cumnock substitute Calum McRobbie that turned the game in their favour.

Williamson admitted: “Nobody knows better than the players that our league form has been both inconsistent and disappointing while another kick in the teeth came from our early Scottish Junior Cup exit in a replay against Auchinleck.

“Criticism has come our way which is not a total surprise as expectations were very high when we started out this season, however the opportunity is there for Pollok to finish with two trophy prizes and most teams would bite your hand off to be in our position.

“First up is the West and a win would be extra special given it is 17 years since Pollok last got hold of it.”

Legendary goalkeeper Ronnie Lowrie was the manager of that 2000 Lok side which included fans favourites Gary Copeland, Robert Prytz, Kevin O’Neil and Mark McWilliams.

He recalled: “It’s such a long time ago but if memory serves me well, Glenafton took the lead with a goal from Richie Newall who was later to join Pollok but Alex Eadie netted two goals, one from a corner-kick taken by the current Cumbernauld United manager Andy Frame and we held out to win the day.

“It’s a fantastic trophy prize so here’s hoping Tony McInally and his players enjoy the same success as my team did.”

Word on the Lok team front has inspirational skipper Paul Gallagher recovered from a recent injury scare and ready to resume his central defensive role while the cup-tied status of midfielder Ryan McStay could see a substitutes berth filled by Liam Rowan now back training with his team-mates.

TONIGHT

(Kick-off 7.30pm)

McBookie.com Central First Division: Neilston v Greenock.

TOMORROW

(Kick-offs 2pm unless stated)

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup Final: Pollok v Cumnock (Newlandsfield 1pm).

McBookie.com Super Premier Division: Glenafton v Rob Roy.

McBookie.com Super First Division: Kilsyth Rangers v Irvine Vics, Yoker Athletic v Girvan.

McBookie.com Central First Division: Rossvale v Forth Wanderers.