McBookie Super League First Division

IRVINE MEADOW 1

RENFREW 2

By Stewart McConnell

UNINSPIRING Meadow fell to a second straight defeat as Greg went down at home to table toppers Renfrew.

It was an inept performance following the 4-0 defeat against Petershill a week earlier, with the gone side conceding two poor goals although they had a "goal" from skipper Ben Carson harshly chalked off for offside at the death.

In the opening minute, Aaron Connolly made a darting run before shooting high and just wide from 16 yards.

Then a header by Danny McKay from a Ben Carson corner kick was deflected over the bar by the visiting defence two minutes later as Medda began well.

The home side forged another chance in eight minutes when Mark McLennan found Stuart Hannah who shot wide.

Renfrew registered their first chance in 14 minutes when Connor McGuinness shot just over the bar from 20 yards.

'Frew came close in 21 minutes when a fierce effort from Jamie Docherty 12 yards out was saved by Craig Gordon.

By far the best opportunity of the game came in 24 minutes when a Danny McKay effort from 16 yards was palmed away by Danny McLean.

However 'Frew took a shock lead in 31 minutes when the unmarked Scott Morton headed home a Cameron Clark corner-kick at the back post.

Medda levelled in 39 minutes when Aaron Connolly headed home a Lee McCrea corner from six yards.

The home side came close nine minutes later when Steven McKeown shot across the face of goal from 18 yards. Carson sent a chip narrowly over the top from 16 yards in 50 minutes.

Jamie Docherty saw his 16-yard effort well handled by Gordon in 56 minutes.

Meadow made a double change in 58 minutes when Mark McLennan took over from Eddie McTernan and Lee McCrea was replaced by Ryan Carnwath.

However Renfrew took the lead in 64 minutes when Patrick O'Keefe blasted home a volley from 16 yards

Carson sent a harmless cross across the face of goal from 16 yards four minutes later.

Visiting substitute Lee Cochrane sent a 20-yard free-kick well wide in 79 minutes.

Substitute Ben Black saw his close range effort easily saved by McLean five minutes from time.

Medda looked to have equalised in 89 minutes when McKay set up Carson to blast into the roof of the net but the "goal" was chalked off for offside, although he looked onside.

IRVINE MEADOW: Gordon; McLennan, McKinnon, Buchanan, Miller, Carson, Hannah, McKeown, McKay, Connolly, McCrea. Subs: Cairns, Carnwath, Black, Newman.

RENFREW: McLean; Barbour, Clark, Healy, T Miller, O'Keefe, Wylie, McGuinness, Morton, Docherty, Quinn. Subs: Davidson, Cochrane, Jones, Graham, Burgess.