TWO-GOAL hero Robert Downs today revealed why Pollok were so determined to dump Kilbirnie in their Citylink Scottish Cup third-round replay.

Downsy and his team-mates were fortunate to get a second chance after a 1-1 draw down at Valefield where they suffered a mauling at the hands of Tommy Bryce's young charges.

But, if that scoreline is seen as an injustice then so, too, must Lok's 2-0 winning margin in the Newlandsfield replay which failed to reflect their superiority.

Indeed, had it not been for a string of truly outstanding saves by Kilbirnie goalkeeper Paul McCann to deny Downs, Shaun Dillon and Bryan Dingwall, then this tie would have been over as a contest long before Downsy came up trumps by netting twice in the closing stages.

Controversy surrounded both goals as his 68th-minute opener came from a disputed penalty kick following a desperate John Harvey tackle which sent Lok winger Calum Hardie crashing.

Amid the protests, Downs was the epitome of coolness as he stepped up to send hero McCann the wrong way from the spot and, eight minutes later, he was at the centre of further controversy in sealing the Glasgow side's victory.

A foul on Davie Turnbull some 20 yards out saw whistler Stephen Allan blow for a free-kick which was taken quickly by Andy McClay before Kilbirnie's players had so much as thought about forming a defensive wall and the midfielder's pass sent the unmarked Downs through on goal to bury a left-foot shot beyond McCann.

"It was really smart thinking by Andy, so I just hit the ball as hard as possible and it found the net," said the frontman.

"I know the Ladeside players were unhappy at both goals but, if truth be told, they got off lightly because I should have scored another couple in the first half and we had other chances that should have been stuck away.

"We were dreadful at their place and could easily have gone out, but they came up against the real Pollok and we never gave them a sniff. That's our best display in weeks and we deserve to be going through to tomorrow's fourth-round draw."

It was somewhat appropriate for the frontman to be recipient of the "match- winner" plaudits because he had been a thorn in the visiting defence's flesh throughout with his movement and close control tormenting marker Robbie Cochrane.

Losing gaffer Tommy Bryce said: "Downsy caused us a lot of problems, but a few other Pollok lads did the same after being anonymous in our first meeting.

"All credit to them but, by contrast, my players struggled to do themselves justice other than Paul McCann, who was magnificent. I'm not going to make excuses and point any finger of blame at the referee because we were well beaten on the day.

"But the sheer inconsistency of his decisions did not help us, and Pollok's second goal, in particular is hard to stomach given there were two other occasions in the match when he pulled the game back after we took quick free-kicks.

"Admittedly, my defenders were caught sleeping, but he had his back to play and was every bit as oblivious to what was happening when McClay passed the ball to Downs and that cannot be right."

Ladeside striker Alain Kinney, an ex-Pollok signing, said: "They were more up for it than ourselves and that is the most disappointing bit about losing here." Craig strikes to put Ashfield into last 32

JOINING Pollok in tomorrow's Citylink Scottish Cup fourth-round draw in the Evening Times offices are Ashfield - 1-0 victors over Hurlford United thanks to a goal from top scorer Craig Smith.

Lanark were 1-0 winners at Blackburn, with Grant Cuthill bagging the only goal of the game.

The same scoreline sufficed for Irvine Meadow after an 82nd- minute Gavin Friels counter saw off the challenge of a gallant Cambuslang Rangers side that had played for all but the opening 15 minutes with 10 men after full-back John Renwick was sent packing for lashing out at Gareth Turner.

The Wee Gers finished up with their numbers further depleted after Craig Ferguson picked up a second yellow card.

Auchinleck's latest signing, David Gillies, marked his return to Beechwood Park with a goal to go alongside Danny McKelvie and Liam McVey efforts in a 3-1 defeat of Bo'ness but, arguably the best result of the day came when Maryhill beat Sunnybank 4-3.

James McLernon and Willie Sawyers strikes had the Hill 2-1 in front at half-time, but their North Region opponents hit back to lead 3-2 going into the closing stages and things looked even more ominous for the Hill when Roland Fabiani's dismissal reduced them to 10 men.

However, a rousing finale firstly brought an equaliser from Brian Smith before Alan McFadden snatched a late winner to take Kevin O'Neil's side into the last 32.

Faddy's former team, Arthurlie, are also in the hat thanks to hitmen John McLay and Craig Malcolm(2) combining to knock out East Region champions Lochee United on their own patch, while Carluke won 3-0 win at Edinburgh United.

Not so fortunate on their travels were Benburb, 2-0 losers at Newtongrange, and a plucky Kilwinning Rangers side that came up against a card-happy referee and had three players sent off yet only went down 1-0 away to Penicuik.