Scottish Junior Cup First Round

MARYHILL O

IRVINE MEADOW 0

By Stewart McConnell

Pictures: Gordon McCreath

SPIRITED Meadow produced one of their best all-round displays in recent weeks but had to settle for a replay after failing to turn their first half pressure into goals.

The visitors looked to have a spring in their step, with new signing James Marks, who joined from Hurlford United, on the bench.

However they are now without a win in their last four games.

Danny McKay had a shot from 16 yards deflected wide from just inside the box in four minutes and a minute later the visitors were denied a penalty when Ross McKinnon was tripped just inside the penalty area.

Then in six minutes a fierce effort from just outside the box by the same player was tipped round the post by home goalie Derrick Moore.

Jared Willett made a darting run before having his shot cleared by McFarlane in 12 minutes. Then a minute later Ross McKinnon sent in a superb cross to Stephen McKeown, who shot across the face of goal from 16 yards.

It was all Meadow at this stage but they just could not break through.

Good work by McKay in 19 minutes won the visitors a corner-kick but it came to nothing.

Maryhill had their first chance in two minutes later when a 20-yard effort from Dale Clark was well saved by Craig Gordon.

Then Eddie McTernan effort from 14 yards was booted clear by a home defender in 26 minutes.

Medda had a half chance on the half hour when McKinnon shot narrowly wide from 35 yards.

'Hill came close again in 37 minutes when Clark shot inches over the bar from 12 yards.

A long ball was played in the direction of Ben Black but he just failed to reach it inside the box in 39 minutes.

Ryan Tiffney shot home for Maryhill from four yards in 47 minutes but the "goal" was chalked off for offside.

The home number six was booked for a challenge on McKay in 50 minutes.

Maryhill came so close when a rocket shot from Alistair Crawford was skilfully tipped over the bar by Craig Gordon in 51 minutes,

Meadow should have scored in 53 minutes when a McTernan shot was cleared off the line and seconds later a Ben Black effort was kicked clear on the goal-line.

Visiting player Jared Willett was booked for a foul in 63 minutes. Ten minutes later Marks was introduced and showed some nice touches.

Ben Carson turned a 22-yard free-kick well over the bar for Meadow five minutes later.

Lee McCrea saw his effort from just outside the box well saved in 79 minutes.

McKeown had a shot blocked from just outside the box two minutes later.

Anthony Marenghi shot just over the bar for the hosts from yards two minutes into injury-time as the match ended in stalemate, with the replay at Meadow Park on Saturday.

MARYHILL: Moore; Tiffney, McGillion, McFarlane, Banks, Furay, Clark, Marenghi, Preston, Crawford, McNicol. Subs: Kelly, Eaglesham, Smith, Owens, Cassidy.

IRVINE MEADOW: Gordon; McLennan, McKinnon, Buchanan, Miller, Carson, Black, McKeown, McKay, McTernan, Willett. Subs: Begley, Cairns, McCrea, Marks, Newman.