POLLOK manager Murdie McKinnon did not hide his anger following his side’s 3-2 defeat at home to Glenafton on Saturday, tearing strips off his team’s defending which he described as “shambolic” in an after-match rant.

And in all fairness, not many if any of the Southside club’s supporters streaming for the exit gates at the final whistle could have found cause to quibble with his summations after watching on as a couple of calamitous blunders contributed to Pollok being knocked off their Premiership perch.

The Lok gaffer blasted: “A defensive shambles – and those very same words were said to the players in there and they’ve been told to up their game and defend properly or they won’t be here.

“People might point to our coaching work or how we set ourselves up but the simple fact is individual people have made glaring individual errors today that have cost us dearly and it shouldn’t be happening at this level and certainly not by the quality of players inside our dressing room.”

Asked if Pollok’s injury list (eight players were missing with various ailments) was a factor in his side’s recent demises evoked another withering blast.

Murdie said,” Yes we have guys out of action who would have played today but every team is missing key players at this stage of the season and I’m not going to use that out-ball as an excuse for our showing out there because we fielded an experienced team more than capable of getting a result .

“And we’ve stared well, created a few near things with Shaun Fraser hitting the post and you think a goal is coming but then Glenafton go upfield and take the lead against the run of play and with a considerable helping hand from ourselves.

“A terrific set-play delivery allows us to equalise right on the interval and it’s a great time to score because the dressing room is buzzing and everyone’s positive coming back out but then we don’t start as we want and find ourselves on the back foot.

“We are making it far too easy for opposition teams to grab the initiative and it has to stop.”

A 42nd-minute roar of cheers and laughter exploded from their sizeable support as the Glens moved into a 1-0 lead. No danger was apparent as Boyle raced back to mop up a wayward through ball and without looking he passed back to goalkeeper Josh Lumsden who was inexplicably running out and caught flat footed as the ball trundled past him and into the unguarded net.

Pollok levelled through Grant Evans but the second period was not long started before the visitors regained their advantage as Lee Gallagher rifled a left-foot shot beyond Lumsden. Glenafton looked like holding out until Craig Pettigrew’s attempt to clear the ball was blocked by the boot of Evans, sending the ball spiralling over the head of on-loan St Mirren goalkeeper David Wilson for the defender’s second.

But deep into stoppage time Evans chased down a ball going out for a Pollok throw-in only to gift possession to Glenafton.

A cross into the box brought a half clearance to some 25 yards out and Dale Moore didn’t break stride in hammering a low shot into the far corner of Lumsden’s net.

Gunner said later,” I thought we’d have to settle for a draw after Pollok’s fluke of a second goal but it’s only fair for us to have one final chance and to be fair I’ve never hit a ball sweeter even though it took a couple of bounces on the way to goal .

“It’s my first goal of the season and I just hope there are more to come both from myself and others because when we play good football like we did out there today then not many teams will live with us.”

Pollok’s lapse acted as another boost to the enduring title dreams of Kilwinning Rangers , now back atop the standings following a 2-1 smash and grab victory away from home against Cumnock .

Dean Agnew fired the visitors into an early lead that was cancelled out by a rare Alan Murdoch score for the Nock however hopes of earning a share of the spoils were smashed by substitute Kieran McLaughlin coming off the bench to secure all three points for the unbeaten Buffs.

Up into fourth top spot are Kilbirnie Ladeside for whom Jamie Longworth’s brace of goals at Meadow Park along with a Chris Craig counter brought a 3-1 triumph over Irvine Meadow while Clydebank were yet another loser on home soil after going down 2-1 to Largs Thistle whose bustling front man Scott Adam netted two first half goals with Jordan Shelvey notching the Bankies’ only response.

Benburb were the only Premiership home team to run out winners on the day as Ryan McCrone bagged the only goal of the game against Troon at New Tinto Park.

WEEKEND RESULTS: Benburb 1 Troon 0, Cumnock 1 Kilwinning Rangers 2, Pollok 2 Glenafton 3, Clydebank 1 Largs Thistle 2, Irvine Meadow 1 Kilbirnie Ladeside 3.West Region Championship. Craigmark 1 Blantyre Vics 4, Darvel 5 Kilsyth Rangers 0, Gartcairn 3 St Rochs 1, Petershill 0 Renfrew 2.West Region League One. Lesmahagow 3v East Kilbride Thistle 1, Port Glasgow 0 Winton Rovers 3,Lanark Utd 2 Glasgow Perthshire 2, Greenock 2 Kello Rovers 1, Royal Albert 3 Carluke Rovers 2,Bellshill Athletic 1 Maryhil 2l.West Region League TwoVale of Leven 3Forth Wanderers 0, Maybole 1 St Anthonys 2, Athletic, Muirkirk 4 Annbank Utd 2, Newmans Utd 3 Ardeer Thistle 2.