Arthurlie and Pollok contested the Joseph S Marshall Cup for the second time, and as was the case 12 months ago, the sides couldn’t be split as the game ended 1-1.

The result saw Pollok qualify at the top of the League Cup section gaining them a home tie with Rutherglen Glencairn in the quarter-finals while Arthurlie stretched their unbeaten run against their Southside rivals to six games, a run that goes back to August 2013.

Home side Arthurlie were missing strike duo Gary Smith and Gary Carroll through injury and started with Darren Gribben, Ryan Deas and Ryan McGregor up front while club captain Ian Nimmo made a welcome return to the heart of midfield.

It was Gribben who had the game’s first effort but he couldn’t find the target.

Deas went close soon after as he charged down an attempted clearance from Lok keeper Jordan Longmuir but the block spun over the crossbar.

David Morrison tested the visiting keeper but his header from inside the area went straight at Longmuir.

But it was the visitors who took the lead, possibly against the run of play, in the 37th minute.

A free-kick on the halfway line was taken by Tam Hanlon and when the ball dropped on the edge of the area Mark Sideserf controlled before playing the ball onto his weaker right foot then hitting a fantastic curling effort that gave Grant Hay no chance in the home goal.

Just before the break Pollok almost doubled their lead when a long clearance from Longmuir found Gary McCann who hit a low effort across the face of goal that saw Hay take the safe option and touch it past for a corner.

Five minutes into the second half and the game was level. Deas gathered the ball just inside the Pollok half and bore down on goal, he skipped past a couple of tackles then steadied himself on the edge of the box before firing high past Longmuir to square the game.

Brian Turner was introduced for Nimmo as Arthurlie chased the winner and Gribben was next to go close when his free kick went narrowly wide.

It was, however, the visitors who were handed a golden opportunity to clinch the win.

On 75 minutes a quick throw-in saw Pollok substitute David Winters race towards goal where he was caught by Gavin Rushford. The offence looked to be just inside and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot while also issuing a yellow card to Rushford – his second in four minutes, resulting in the Lie defender receiving his marching orders.

Winters dusted himself down and stepped up to take the spot-kick, hitting a low shot to the left of Hay who managed to get down and save the effort.

Despite being a man down it was Arthurlie who threatened next when Gribben, following great control, drilled a shot which went straight at Longmuir. At the other end Pollok subs Hepburn and Daly both had opportunities right at the death.

The former saw his effort cleared off the line while Daly should have done better when he headed over from close range.

After the game captains Ian Nimmo and Paul Gallacher were jointly presented with the Joseph Marshall Trophy while Grant Hay was named as man of the match by Arthurlie’s supporters.

Arthurlie: Hay, Girvan, Blakey, Rushford, Gair, Nimmo, McGregor, Morrison, Gribben, Deas, and Leyden

Subs not used: Turner, Convery, Curren, Palmer, Macklin.