Irvine Meadow get all-Ayrshire tie in Scottish Junior Cup

Dec 18 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

IRVINE Meadow were handed an all-Ayrshire tie when the draw for the fourth round of the Emirates Scottish Junior Cup was made on Tuesday.

The draw was made at the National Stadium and referee chief Hugh Dallas paired Chris Strain’s men with Annbank in a match which comes just a week after their “big” ACTIVE NATION Scottish Cup tie with Hibs.

On paper it’s a game which gives Meadow a great chance of reaching the last 16 but Match Secretary Iain McQueen stressed they would be treating the Bankies with the utmost respect.

“Annbank may be nearer the bottom of the First Division than the top, but it’s a false position,” said McQueen.

“Manager Steph McMillan has done a fine job at New Pebble Park and they’ve got plenty of games in hand on the teams above them.

We cannot afford to treat Annbank lightly and, as ever, Irvine Meadow will approach the tie in a professional manner.”

The pair met in the semi-finals of last season’s Ayrshire Cup when Meadow won on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

McMillan was forced to turn out for his injury-hit side that night, but he’s hoping for better luck this time round.

“All Meadow’s attentions will be focussed on the Hibs game and we’ll be taking second place,” he said.

“Hopefully we can catch them cold after their big day out at Easter Road and pull off an upset.”

The full fourth round draw is. Blantyre v Bo’ness; Renfrew v Tayport; Larkhall v Newtongrange; Clydebank v Port Glasgow; Linlithgow v Cumnock; East Kilbride or Hill o’ Beath v Arthurlie; Beith v Maryhill or Forth; Cambuslang v Glencairn or Johnstone or Vale of Clyde; Shotts v Hurlford; Whitletts v Forfar West End; Irvine Meadow v Annbank; Kilbirnie v Rob Roy; Auchinleck v Dundee Violet; Bathgate v Glenrothes; Lochee v Ballingry; Bonnyrigg v Largs.

Ties due on Saturday, January 16.