Irvine Meadow throw down the gauntlet

May 29 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

Irvine Meadow

Pollok 1 Irvine Meadow 2

IRVINE Meadow threw down the gauntlet with a stunning win at the home of their nearest rivals on Wednesday. In what was by far their best performance of the season Chris Strain’s men threw themselves at Pollok throughout and thoroughly deserved the win which piles all the pressure on the defending champions.

The tone of the game was set in the opening minute when a Chris Strain cross was held by ’Lok keeper Kris Robertson who immediately transferred the ball to Stevie Miller and he released David McGeown whose shot was blocked by Meadow defender Chris Robertson.

Strain and Shaun Dillon had the first of several flare-ups, Chris Cruikshank was booked for a wild challenge on Emilio Jaconelli then Strain had the ball in the net in 11 minutes only to see referee Barry Cook chalk it off for a foul on Cruikshank.

Meadow were snapping into the tackles and, as they began to take control of the game, Richie Barr shot over from the edge of the box and Chris McGowan headed just wide before referee Cook was reaching for his pocket again, firstly to book Joe Caruth for a foul on Barr and then Jaconelli for a late tackle on Caruth which saw the Pollok right back limping off to be replaced by John Sweeney.

Former Meadow centre half Derek Wingate blasted a free kick straight at keeper Michael Wardrope, a brilliant Barr lay-off sent Strain haring down the right only to shoot over with the inrushing Barr screaming for the return then Strain sent a great ball inside Dillon to Zander Ryan but he dragged his effort across the face of goal.

The running power of Barr and Strain was giving Pollok all sorts of problems and a fierce 30-yard drive from the former brought out a brilliant full-length save from Robertson then a dangerous Strain cross was headed for a comer by Cruikshank in 40 minutes.

Something had to give and it did from the resultant corner with McGowan popping up at he front post to flick the ball onto the unmarked Chris Robertson who steadied himself and took deliberate aim before drilling an unstoppable shot past his namesake in the home goal.

Ryan cleared a shot off the line at the start of the second half as Pollok looked for a quick comeback but any thoughts that Meadow would be content to sit on their lead were dispelled when Strain and Jaconelli combined to set up Barr who shot wide.

David McGeown was booked for impeding Wardrope as he was making a clearance, ’Lok hitman Brian Dingwall was unlucky with a great tun and shot which was only inches wide then Dillon also went into the book for going straight through the hard-working Barr.

The game was being played at a frantic pace and a fabulous break from defence saw Barr release Strain who burst into the box only to see his shot strike a defender before being mopped up by Robertson.

But it was the big travelling support who were celebrating again in 76 minutes when Meadow won a corner on the right and McGowan rose again – this time at the far post – to head the ball back across the face of goal where the unmarked Barr threw himself full length to power a diving header into the roof of the net.

The cheers were silenced three minutes later when Wingate was given time and space to plant a Miller corner behind Wardrope and the visitors were given another fright in Pollok’s next attack when McGeown volleyed inches over but, after Mark Crilly became the next player to be booked for a foul on Richie Newall, Meadow were soon back on the attack with Robertson clutching a Jaconelli curler and then producing a stunning save to deny Strain.

The big keeper then brought off an even better save when he tipped Davie Hamilton header over, Strain and Cruikshank joined the burgeoning yellow card club before, as the clock ticked down, McGeown shot tamely at Wardrope who was later booked for time-wasting as marvellous Meadow closed out a famous victory.