Due to staff cutbacks the Non League Review assigns 17th century Japanese poet and developer of haiku , Matsui Basho , to cover the Scottish Junior Cup fifth round tie between Bonnyrigg Rose and Pollok Juniors at New Dundas Park…
Cherries in snow on Douglas Road/, I walk to the ground./ Only match surviving the winter storms
Red an black an white/, searches for coherence,/ in physical geometry ( on a heavy pitch)
A tale of two number tens. /Rose’s picks his passes/ – Pollok’s runs down cul de sacs.
Neat poach as Winters/ finds a yard of space/ to meet the second ball. 1-0
A close shave as /deft flick slides past the stanchion./ Bonnyrigg carry an aerial threat.
Crowd noise lulls and another block /sends the ball looping into /the leylandii and out of the park.
Once again the aerial threat/ but the big keeper gets down/ quickly to his left and clear
Still the crosses rain in /each scrambled clearance /more desperate than the last
Teenage choir hoarse – off key./ Sleet falls lightly on/ Gore valley and hills beyond.
Half time -Rose ten/ aims disconsolate sclaff/ at the dead ball , misses
But the officials remain rooted to the spot considering further action.
‘Winning raffle tickets./ Orange 361 and 365./ Yellow 243 and 285, Brown 460.’
Rose break the offside trap./ ‘That wis they’re best chance.’/ ‘Why did he no shoot?’
The brashest of the young team/ has climbed the hoarding. /Briefly he perches -giant grey dove in shell suit.
Beyond the touchline /a ribbon of cleared snow/ runs – unsteady like surf spume
A heavy challenge /leaves Pollok player down./ ‘Get up ya fanny’, rings out.
Pollok ten loops free / up and over the wall./ Keeper spills and big back nets the rebound.
A quick break from pressure./ Centre set free on the left /.Another clinical finish for 3- 0.
The exodus starts then./ Centre half meets a corner./ Sweet volley – goal of season contender.
Sleet now becomes snow. /Pollok on break again /. another sub finds the net.
Snow fall is now general , all over Midlothian./My fingers chilled I can tap no more.
Bonnyrigg 0 Pollok 5. /No disgrace to lose/ to this lot on their A game.
