Irvine Meadow march on in Scottish Cup

Oct 30 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

MEADOW’S off the field woes have been well documented this week but they showed no signs of them on the park as they marched into the third round of the ACTIVE NATION Scottish Cup with a great win at Selkirk on Saturday.

If anything news of the club’s troubles seemed to bring the players together and Meadow took the game to the Souters from the opening whistle with Derek Wingate getting them off to the perfect start when he came upfield for a John-Paul corner in 14 minutes and poked home the opener.

John Dillon had a chance to double the lead from the spot three minutes later after being tripped in the box by Jason Cockburn but keeper John Dodds made a good save from the resultant spot kick and the one-way traffic continued with Boyle twice breaking clear down the left only to fail to hit the target and a Dillon goal controversially disallowed for offside.

Home keeper Dodds denied the visitors with a string of good saves but, after Boyle had hit the post from close range, Richie Barr, pictured right, doubled Meadow’s tally in 66 minutes when he brilliantly flicked the ball over Steven Sharkey before drilling a fierce volley into the corner.

The chances continued to come thick and fast and the hard-working Barr put the result beyond doubt seven minutes later with a powerful shot from just inside the area.

Barr had the chance to complete his hat trick when he ran onto another through ball but, instead of shooting for goal he tried to lay it off to Dillon and the chance went astray, then Harmony Row youngster Steven Cuddihy came off the bench and did his hopes of a permanent deal no harm at all by creating a couple of good opportunities for his team mates and coming close with two good efforts.

The result was the perfect tonic after a miserable week for the club and now all eyes are on the third round draw which was due to take place at Hampden Park as we went to press on Wednesday afternoon.

“All I want is the easiest team left in the tournament – and preferably at home after those trips to Brora and Selkirk,” said Meadow manager Chris Strain.

“We’re fed up with all the travelling and it would be great to get through to the fourth round and draw one of the really big names.”