Super League First Division

IRVINE MEADOW 1

TROON 1

DESPITE dominating the second half, Irvine Meadow could only take a point from a feisty encounter with Troon at Meadow Park.

The hosts took the lead after just five minutes when Eddie McTernan was hauled down inside the box by Scott Chatham from a David Mackay free-kick.

It was a stonewall penalty but, in the first of many controversial decisions, Chatham was sent off, much to the frustration of his teammates. Ben Carson stepped up and sent Troon keeper Kyle Avci the wrong way from the spot.

Troon could have been level on nine minutes when the ball was fired across goal and it fell at the feet of Dean Fulton but his touch was poor and neither he or Daniel Mackay could turn the ball home at the far post.

David Syme was involved in the first of several flash points when he was spoken to by referee Calum Haswell after a high challenge on David Mackay.

A Troon break on 15 minutes saw Evan Maley cut the ball back for Syme in space where he volleyed the ball beyond Shaun Newman to level the match.

Daniel Mackay then had a great chance for Troon but he fired the ball wide.

Syme was again involved in an altercation with Ryan Carnworth which saw both players booked.

With 28 minutes on the clock, Irvine Meadow were also reduced to 10 men. What seemed a fair challenge in the Troon box between Syme and McTernan saw the former cry out in pain.

McTernan was furious with the reaction and, after things calmed down, he spoke with referee Haswell who then produced the red card.

Troon picked up another booking when Steven McCreadie decided to punch the ball away as it looked to be heading out for a throw.

Troon boss Jim Kirkwood showed good man management in the second half by replacing McCreadie after he was spoken to by the referee for a bad foul on Jordan McGuire.

Troon could have taken the lead on 53 minutes when Syme's overhead kick rebounded off the post.

Meadow dominated possession in the second half but found it difficult to create that one chance that would have earned them the three points.

Moments after Meadow's Darren Miller was booked four a foul on Syme, the Troon player was controversially let off the hook by the referee for retaliatory action against Miller in the Troon box.

The Seasiders were gifted a chance with 15 minutes to go when Newman's poor kick-out landed at the feet of Daniel Mackay but the Troon strikers effort from distance was saved.

Meadow had a glorious chance just moments later when Mark McLennan's ball in found sub Colin Spence in space but he couldn't direct his strike on target.

The last 10 minutes saw another three players booked as both sides got stuck in.

In the dying seconds, Troon had the chance to win it but Dean Keanan's close-range effort from a corner was blocked.

IRVINE MEADOW: Newman; McLennan, D Mackay, Begley, Miller, McGuire, Carson, Devlin, Boyd, McTernan, Carnworthy. Subs: Black, Spence, Gemmell, Willet, Bannister.

TROON: Avci; Barbour, Sherrie, Keenan, Strachan, Syme, McCreadie, Chatham, D McKay, Maley, Fulton. Subs: Thorburn, Curragh, Collins, Lamont, McInnes.