AHALF-TIME talk from manager Tony McInally spurred Pollok on to victory over a lively Yoker in an entertaining clash at rain-lashed Newlandsfield.

The final 3-0 scoreline gave the Super First Division leaders their fifth clean sheet in a row and extended their unbeaten run to eight games.

Yet for 45 minutes they had been outplayed by the Whe Ho, a fact acknowledged by the Lok boss after the match.

Macca said: "We didn't start the best, but you have to give credit where credit's due and Yoker are by far the best team we have faced this season.

"Their clever players posed us a lot of problems until we sorted ourselves out at the break with a tactical reshuffle.

"From that point on we were the ones on the front foot and we showed a great desire to go on and deservedly take the points. The only slight disappointment is that we did not score more goals .

"Our second-half display merited a greater reward."

Yoker lined up with ex-Lok skipper Stevie Reilly in central defence, but it was the displays of Mark Maxwell, Davie Crerand and sparkling winger Greg Maitland that caught the eye in the first half.

However, they were little in evidence once Pollok snatched the opening goal just after the hour mark.

The score was hotly disputed by Yoker, who insisted Kevin Bradley was offside when he turned the ball home from six yards out after a deflected shot fell into his path. Lok's lead was doubled nine minutes later thanks to a wonderful effort started and finished by their midfield dynamo Findlay Frye.

He picked up a clearance on the edge of his own penalty box, picked out Bradley then made a lung-bursting overlap before his team-mate's perfect return pass was lashed home by Frye with the aid of a slight deflection.

Yoker keeper Craig Winslow made a string of saves in the closing stages, but was beaten again in the final minute when a cross ball landed at the feet of Lok sub Jamie Barclay.

His thundering shot left the Whe Ho goalie helpless and completed the scoring.

Yoker gaffer John McAulay said afterwards: "It was nice of Tony to speak highly of us, but the bottom line is that we lost today because we didn't take our chances when we were on top, whereas Pollok did. That clinical finishing is the reason why they are top of the table."

Experienced Yoker sweeper Ryan Frew added: "A lot of our young guys don't grasp that there are positives to be taken from coming here and giving this very strong Pollok side a run for their money.

"If we don't take a lift from our showing we never will."

Pollok lead the Super First standings by five points from Shettleston, for whom Ross Dixon, Ryan McCrone and Chrissy McCormack were on target in a 3-0 defeat of Ardeer Thistle in Ayrshire.

Kirkintilloch Rob Roy took over in third place with a 2-1 victory at Maybole thanks to goals from Scott Upton and Stevie Aitken. Meanwhile, Chris Zok and Gary Carroll were on the mark again for the Euroscot Eng Cup winners Cumbernauld United in their 2-0 home win over Greenock.

And experienced duo Joe Barclay and Stuart Livingstone did the damage as Kilsyth Rangers beat Thorniewood United, despite Gary Miller's penalty counter for the league's bottom club.

The two other Ayrshire sides in the division both recorded precious home victories.

Sean Lawrence and Alan Muir did the damage for Largs Thistle as they beat fellow basement battlers Neilston 2-0.

And promoted Irvine Vics chalked up their first Super First triumph of the season as a David Adams double and a strike from Eddie Ablohr and David Adams saw them defeat Rutherglen Glencairn 3-1.

UNBEATEN Super Premier leaders Irvine Meadow were given a real fright at Cumnock when the home side surged into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Steven Lowe and James Lundie.

But Medda stormed back through Mark Twaddle, Ryan Deas and Gary McCann strikes to secure a 3-2 victory.

Joe Bradley netted the only goal of the game to give second-placed Beith a derby win away to Kilbirnie Ladeside.

A point behind them, but with two games in hand, are Auchinleck Talbot. Two strikes from Graham Wilson helped them secure a 3-1 home success over Petershill.

Troon stormed back from 3-1 down to secure a 3-3 draw at home to Glenafton. But their thoughts afterwards were with their striker David Gillies, who suffered a torn medial ligament in his knee.