McBookie Super League First Division

IRVINE MEADOW 3

CUMBERNAULD UNITED 0

By Stewart McConnell

SLICK Meadow motored to an easy victory to snap a three-game winless streak.

After a somewhat nervy first half they seized the game by the scruff of the neck after the break and could have won much more easily had they taken some of their other chances.

Co-bosses Michael Wardrope and Gareth Turner have assembled a team with bags of potential. And even if they don't secure promotion at the first time of asking it might be no bad thing as you sense they will be stronger next season.

Meadow had the first chance in four minutes when a shot from 12 yards by Graham Boyd was deflected wide by a Cumbernauld defender.

Two minutes later at the other end, Dylan McGuigan shot past a post from the edge of the 18-yard box.

The visitors missed a great opportunity in nine minutes when McGuigan shot over the bar from six yards with only goalkeeper Shaun Newman to beat.

However in 11 minutes Medda seized the lead when Ben Black blasted home from 12 yards after being set up by Graham Muir. Boyd then saw his shot from 12 yards blocked by goalkeeper Conor O'Boyle in 14 minutes. Cumbernauld created an opening two minutes later when Scott Upton had his 25-yard effort well fielded by the home number one.

Liam Madden went on a surging run for Meadow in 22 minutes, beating three opponents before losing possession on the edge of the box.

Medda came so close to adding to their tally six minutes later when Liam Madden sent an effort narrowly wide from 18 yards. Ben Carson gave the ball away just over the centre circle on the half hour as Meadow continued to dominate.

McGuigan was beaten by a fine challenge from Ben Black on the edge of the box in 34 minutes.

At the other end Meadow missed a gilt-edged opportunity when Stuart Hannah sent a precision pass to Boyd who had only O'Boyle to beat but shot straight at him.

The hosts were unlucky in 38 minutes when Jared Willet had his strong effort from 12 yards deflected by a defender. O'Boyle came out to save at Boyd's feet on half-time.

Meadow should have scored again two minutes after the break when Ben Carson shot over the bar from eight yards with only the goalie to beat.

Stuart Hannah then shot over the bar from 20 yards with no takers for his cross in 49 minutes. Willet saw his shot from the edge of the box cannon off a defender six minutes later.

Meadow came so close to scoring again in 58 minutes when a Jared Willet header from Carson's well flighted free-kick was well saved by the visiting goalie.

Medda were awarded a penalty in 64 minutes when Willet was hauled down inside the box by Scott Murphy. Carson's spot kick was saved, but the same player bundled the rebound over the line to double the hosts' advantage.

Just a minute later Medda were coasting at 3-0 when Ross Foley was short with a pass back and Willet raced in to thunder the ball home from 12 yards. The same player almost scored again in 68 minutes but his 25-yard rocket was well saved. Boyd then had a shot from 12 yards blocked by a defender in 70 minutes.

If was all Meadow as they had the game by the scruff of the neck and came close again in 75 minutes when Black sent a thunderous 25-yard effort just over the bar.

Meadow had another near miss in 86 minutes when Lee McCrea sent a 20-yard free-kick narrowly over the top.

Black sent a 20-yard drive fizzing narrowly wide of target in 87 minutes. Black then shot across the face of goal from 25 yards a minute later and O'Boyle saved from Graeme Barbour on full-time.

IRVINE MEADOW: Newman; Hannah, McCrea, McLennan, Begley, Carson, Madden, Muir, Boyd, Willet, Black. Subs: Strachan, Cripps, Barbour.