Patterson is full of praise after Woods triggers off wonder win

It was with little wonder that the praise arrived, too, with the playmaker's silky skills clearly the catalyst for a simple Peasy victory over their long-time city rivals.

"That's the kind of form Paul is capable of producing," said a delighted Patterson after the Super Premier triumph.

"A lot of talk pre-match had been about the creative skills of Pollok lad Carlo Monti, who looks a very good player, however you would have to say Paul won the battle of the No.10s hands down, and if anyone from the Junior Scotland set-up was in attendance, he could be getting a call.

"He deserves to be singled out, but it was no one-man show as we had a lot of big performances out there with the likes of Stephen McGladrigan showing he is getting back to his best with two terrific opportunist goals."

Early on, Pollok were quicker in warming to the contest and twice came close to an opening score, firstly Willie Sawyers found himself clean through on goal with Petershill's defenders optimistically claiming offside, but his hurried lob shot drifted wide of Michael White's posts.

Within minutes the crossbar came to the visitors' rescue, as an 18-yard Paul McQuilken shot in a crowded penalty area rebounded away to safety.

These moments apart, the Springburn men were confident in their defending, with Ryan Jordan and Ross McCabe frustrating the acclaimed partnership of Monti and Sawyers.

Peasy's own Woods-inspired forays upfield soon began to gain momentum, and there were loud and justified penalty claims to the referee when Lok midfielder Brian McGinty used not one but two hands to block a Richie Burke volley.

"I thought it was a stonewaller but at least he had the decency to explain his view of things," said an aggrieved Patterson as the two teams emerged after the interval.

Admiration for what Petershill served up over the next 45 minutes cannot blind over a totally inept showing from Pollok, particularly in midfield where they conceded possession without any semblance of a tackle.

Tellingly, they paid a price on 55 minutes from their own corner kick, as Jordan's clearing header fell to Woods who raced upfield leaving opponents trailing in his wake to release Burke, whose clever pass across goal was tucked away back post by Peasy youngster Ryan Craig.

Buoyed by this breakthrough the visitors began to dominate territorially and both McGladrigan and Burke came close to doubling their team's advantage prior to a second goal arriving after 72 minutes. This time the strike came from some superb close control by Woods, who danced through three Pollok defenders before releasing the razor- sharp McGladrigan to adroitly curl a low shot beyond goalkeeper Stevie McNeil.

The striker would again get the better of his former team- mate with almost the last kick of the ball, too, as he clipped home substitute Michael Fulton's probing pass at the front post for 3-0.

An unassuming Woods shunned away from the backslaps and plaudits from ecstatic Petershill supporters to say, "It's been a bit of a stop-start season for me up to now so it was pleasing to play a part in our win but I'm only doing my job for the team the same as everyone else.

"It's nice to be noticed for what I do but the most important thing is for Petershill to play in that fashion on a consistent basis, because we'll take some stopping if we do."

Lok gaffer John Richardson was blunt in his post-match assessment, admitting his side did not deserve to take anything from the match. "Petershill were bigger, stronger, sharper and a lot hungrier than us on the day, and fully deserved to take away three points," he said.

"They were arguably only a couple of results away from being crowned champions last season and on that form will certainly be in the mix again.

"We didn't function as individuals or as a team and the manner of our defeat should act as a wake-up call for anyone thinking this side are anywhere near the finished article.

"We remain a very much work in progress and that was painfully underlined."