It puts years on you being a football manager so I’m pretty sure Pollok boss Tony McInally will have been sporting a few more grey hairs when he looked in his mirror this morning.

Hardly surprising given the manner of his side’s 2-2 draw at home to Beith on Saturday when the Ayrshiremen struck twice in the closing minutes. 

It must have been painful for Macca, whose side had until then appeared to be heading towards three points and a further closing of the gap between them and Super Premier Division leaders Kilwinning Rangers.

A turning point arrived in the 79th minute when the scene was set for a dramatic finale by the crazy dismissal of home team full-back Grant Evans whose second yellow for kicking the ball away after conceding a foul may ultimately prove to be the final nail in Pollok’s faltering title dreams.

His dismissal along with a combination of Beith’s never-say-die qualities and the decision of visiting manager Johnny Millar to go for broke, saw wave after wave of attacks bear down on the goal of teenage keeper Scott Johnston, playing in the absence of regular No.1 Jordan Longmuir and Pollok’s recognised back-up Jordan Brown. 

Darren Christie conjured up a wonderful solo run and strike to halve the Mighty deficit before, deep into injury time, a bout of bagatelle inside the Lok penalty box led to Beith midfielder Paul Frize hitting home a low shot to earn a share of the spoils.

A clearly frustrated Macca said: “We let ourselves down by not seeing the game out after being the better team by far for all of 85 minutes.
“I’m not going to try and defend Grant because he has given referee Stephen Graham a decision to make but surely such a trivial incident at that stage of the game called for a bit of common sense and a word in Grant’s ear rather than a card.

“Mr Graham also told our bench there were only two minutes left but then proceeded to play 4 minutes 17 seconds and Beith duly scored in the added time so it’s difficult not to feel aggrieved.

“I’m also annoyed at our failure to win the game, taking some of the shine away from an exceptional performance from young Scott Johnston in goal as I felt he handled everything out there with a maturity way beyond his years and showed he has a big future…hopefully with Pollok.

”A hard-fought, if not quality-packed first half had few goalmouth incidents of note other than Beith keeper Stephen Grindlay superbly blocking a Steff McCluskey header before being thankful for his upright keeping out a shot from the same Pollok frontman to send the teams in at 0-0.

The deadlock was eventually broken just after the hour mark when McLuskey was felled by a Christie challenge and Bryan Wharton netted from the penalty spot despite Grindley’s valiant efforts.

Beith gaffer Millar did not hide his relief at his team rescuing a point when they had looked dead and buried.

He insisted: “We had a go knowing the score might easily end up 6-0 and thankfully our gamble has paid off.

“Daz has scored a cracker to lift everyone’s spirits and Friza has been in the right place at the right time to grab the equaliser .

“He didn’t have the best of games by his own high standards but he’s someone who never lets his head go down so it’s pleasing to see him get a reward with his goal today.”

Elsewhere, Renfrew came through a test of their Super First Division credentials as an own goal and Cameron Clark counter secured what may prove to be a precious 2-0 victory over Cumbernauld United at New Western Park.

Not so fortunate were Central Second Division title hopefuls Bellshill Athletic who needed a win away to Ashfield to go joint top but were downed 3-2 through goals from experienced strikers Stevie Dymock(2) and Keigan Parker.

Eyebrows were yet again raised in the Central League Cup where holders Petershill were sent tumbling out 3-1 at home to Benburb for whom Aidan Ferris netted either side of a Ryan Livingstone strike to have the Bens 3-0 ahead before Steff Graham put a better complexion on the scoreline for Peasy.

Last season’s beaten finalists Yoker Athletic were another faller after losing 6-5 on penalty kicks against Shettleston following a 2-2 draw, while Lanark United ran out 4-1 winners over higher league Maryhill at Moor Park with goals from Shaun Gallagher(2pens), Ronan Kearney and Scott Schoneville.

As predicted, Cambuslang Rangers ran riot against lowly Newmains United with exciting prospect Dale Simeon helping himself to four goals along with Jordan Love and John Gemmell bagging hat tricks in a 15-0 victory.

No real surprises in the Ayrshire Cup where reigning kingpins Auchinleck Talbot had Jamie Glasgow and Sean McElroy on target in a 2-0 win at home to Whitletts Vics. Glenafton won 6-1 versus Annbank United.