McBookie Super League First Division

RUTHERGLEN GLENCAIRN 0

IRVINE MEADOW 0

ANY lingering hopes for promotion for Meadow look to have been dashed after this goalless draw against the leaders at the Celsius Stadium.

Glencairn started positively, and Meadow goalkeeper Shaun Newman raced out of his area and body-checked Stewart Hall as the wide man lobbed the ball over him. Newman was booked before he parried away Tony Fraser's driven free-kick, and Ryan Docherty's rebound effort was blocked for a corner-kick.

A fine block by Andy Neil denied Meadow striker Graham Boyd in the six minutes after he was set up by lively winger Jared Willet. Home player Rhys Donaldson was booked for chopping down striker Joe Young just outside the penalty area.

In 19 minutes Del McNab who skipped past a defender, but Newman made a great block with his legs.

Docherty then strolled to the bye line before crossing, with Newman scrambling across his goal as the ball dropped just over the crossbar.

Young was next to see yellow for an unnecessary late challenge on Neil, before Jared Willet sliced a shot wide under pressure from 16 yards.

Glens defender Neil was next into the referee's notebook for simply winning a strong 50/50 aerial battle with Boyd. It seemed a very harsh decision.

McNab went close for Glencairn again in 35 minutes as he spun away from his marker but didn't get enough bend on the ball to get it on target.

Home goalie JC Hutchison made his first save on the brink of half time, as he dived fill length to his right to beat away a near post shot by Ben Carson.

Young's shot narrowly wide for Meadow in 50 minutes.

A goal seemed certain in 71 minutes when Jamie Hamilton's driving run and beautifully weighted pass set up Team, but once again Newman denied him.

Johnston had a shot from the right edge of the penalty area well saved by Newman in 83 minutes.

In the final minute Newman blocked Johnston's shot through a crowd of players.

Home skipper Neil was given a second yellow card four minutes into injury-time and the hosts made a last gasp goal-line clearance to keep the scoreline blank.

IRVINE MEADOW: Newman, Hannah, McCrae, Strachan, Begley, Carson, Black (Browning), McKnight, Boyd (Barbour), Young, Willet. Subs not used: Cripps, McGowan, Purdie.