WINGER Gary McCann is hoping fans’ backing can help steer IRVINE MEADOW into the Scottish Junior Cup semi-finals for the first time in eight years as they square up to trophy favourites Bo’ness.

And manager Stevie Rankin has put local rivalries aside to glean information on the East Coast big guns from Auchinleck Talbot manager Tommy Sloan, whose holders were defeated by them in the second round of the national competition.

Meadow warmed up for the quarter-final clash, which is set to draw a bumper crowd of 2000 to Meadow Park, with a narrow 1-0 home win against relegation-threatened Largs Thistle. However the gaffer concedes his team had their minds on the Scottish showdown.

McCann told Sporttimes: “It’s our biggest game of the season by a long way and my first time in a Scottish Cup quarter-final. I get nervous before all games, but the guys are really looking forward to it. We know Bo’ness are a strong side but hopefully we can progress, the fans have been great all season and they can make a difference, I know they will get right behind us.

“It will be a big test but we want to win the Scottish Cup. We have exceeded our expectations and it would be a great achievement if we could reach the semi-finals, especially since we are virtually a new team from last season. We want to win as the team who lose the tie will be on a downer.” McCann, meanwhile says his side are not out of the title running following the weekend win against the Barrfields Park side as favourites Talbot suffered a surprise defeat at Clydebank.

He said: “We are still in contention for the league, especially since we still have to play Talbot away, that could be a big game. They still have to go to Hurlford and Kilbirnie, which won’t be easy. We were not at our best on Saturday but we still managed to grind out a result to keep our run going.” Rankin, whose team have suffered just one defeat in 19 games is under no illusions at the task ahead.

He said: “It’s a massive game, the biggest of the season by a long way and it will be very tough as Bo’ness are the trophy favourites and they beat Auchinleck earlier in the competition. But we have done our homework on Bo’ness and have spoken to Tucker Sloan, who has given me some tips on them. I expect they will bring at least 800 fans. Hopefully our fans will turn out in big numbers and give us their backing, they have been great all season. If we play as well as I know we can we should win.” Meadow will be without striker Chris Hall, who has been out for 10 weeks with medial ligament damage. However the good news is he is back in training and should be fit soon.

Of his team’s weekend display, Rankin said: “It was a poor performance although I knew the players’ minds were on the cup tie.

“We had a great training session on Monday and everyone is really up for the game.” IRVINE VICTORIA co-manager Iain McMillan is expecting a testing game away to an ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS side who are still in promotion contention.

The Westenders had no game on Saturday but had a training session as they aim to continue their promotion push. Winton will have striker Conor Browning in their line-up after he moved from KILWINNING RANGERS in a swap deal which saw defender Stuart Wilson return to Abbey Park.

McMillan said: “Winton are challenging for promotion and it will be a difficult game but we have been going well and are looking to take three points.

Buffs chairman Danny Watt conceded his side face a survival fight following a surprise 3-2 home loss against struggling Greenock.

He said: “It was a disappointing result, we had chances when it was 10 men against eight but could not put the ball in the net. I would say we now need to take 12 to 14 points from our last eight games to stay up, It’s a big ask but we will give it our best shot.” The Abbey Park side aim to add up to three players before the signing deadline at the end of the month, with defenders a priority.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.