Far too easy for Meadow

Oct 10 2008 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

Far too easy for Meadow

MIGHTY Meadow cruised through to the next round courtesy of an eight-goal romp which could so easily have been at least doubled.

Despite the horrendous overnight rain the pitch was in tip-top condition and new signing Andy MacLaren used it to demonstrate his vast array of skills before being taken off to a rousing reception with 60 minutes played.

MacLaren pulled the strings as Meadow surged forward from the start and it was no surprise when they took the lead when midfielder Davie Hamilton, who has been in great goalscoring form in recent weeks, grabbed the first of his hat trick.

Beanpole striker Chris Robertson made it 2-0 with a header from just inside the box then MacLaren wowed the fans and bamboozled the opposition when he gathered the ball with a defender on his back, and twisted and turned away from him before setting up Hamilton who lashed the ball home.

The relentless pressure continued after the break and Meadow centre half Chris McGowan got in on the act with a diving header to make it 4-0 then he added a fifth with a shot from inside the box.

MacLaren, who had taken a hefty knock with just five minutes gone, finally left the field to rapturous applause, but the goals continued to flow and it was that man Hamilton who was on target again, drilling the ball home from the edge of the box to complete his hat trick.

Bishopmill, who never even forced a corner throughout the whole 90 minutes, were hardly seen as an attacking force at all and home keeper Michael Wardrope had only one save to make in the course of the game.

But it was a different story at the other end and the visiting keeper was picking the ball out of the net again when Robertson made it 7-0 with a spectacular diving header.

Meadow were coasting now and the chances came thick and fast before Gareth Turner showed great perseverance inside the box, retaining possession despite several challenges before drilling number eight past the helpless Bishopmill keeper.