Irvine Meadow saved by flying Wardrope

May 1 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

WINGER Chris Strain grabbed the vital goal which keeps his father's side in the title hunt but once again Meadow failed to kill their opponents off when they were in the lead and in the end they had the brilliance of keeper Michael Wardrope to thank for the three points.

Wardrope was first called into action in the opening minutes with an easy save from a Gareth Armstrong free kick but it was Meadow who took the lead with only ten minutes on the clock when Mark Crilly's curving free kick caught the Cumnock defence napping and Strain ghosted in at the back post to net with a free header.

A deflected Gareth Turner effort proved easy meat for Cumnock keeper Graeme Potter, Gareth Campbell fired over the Meadow bar and Emilio Jaconelli did likewise at the other end then Campbell set up a great opportunity for Armstrong but the former Meadow hitman fired well wide.

Jaconelli missed a terrific chance when he met a Davie Hamilton cross only to send a free header wide then Meadow survived a strong penalty claim right on half time when Zander Ryan slipped as he tried to clear and the ball appeared to strike his hand.

Richie Barr showed a great turn of pace to skin Stevie Murray at the start of the second half but his cutback was cleared by Craig Potter, and the nippy striker then combined with Strain to set up Jaconelli but his first touch was poor and the chance was lost.

Wardrope produced a sensational flying save to claw a Jamie Mone shot to safety on the hour mark, Barr's control let him down as he strode onto a Strain pass with only the keeper to beat then Wardrope came to the rescue again with a full length stop to deny Graeme Wilson.

Sub Frankie Haggarty saw his shot blocked by Wilson's feet, Chris Robertson had a net-bound effort kicked off the line by a 'Nock defender then, after David McInally sent Jaconelli flying with a dreadful tackle, there was an almighty stramash with ended with the Cumnock left back, his team mate Murray and Meadow's Chris McGowan all booked and a few others lucky to escape scot-free.

Cumnock striker Ian Cashmore somehow managed to hook the ball over from just five yards out but the visitors came even closer in the dying seconds when Mone met a corner but once again that man Wardrope was on hand to beat his header to safety.