HIGHLY-rated IRVNE MEADOW targetman Paul Maxwell looks set to miss the rest of the season after learning he will need surgery on a troublesome cruciate ligament injury.

The hammer blow was dealt after Meadow chalked up an eighth straight victory, defeating Benburb 2-1 in a Scottish Junior Cup Second Round tie.

“Maxi” suffered the injury two months ago in his side’s Ardagh Glass League Cup quarter-final defeat against KILBIRNIE LADESIDE, although at first it was thought he may only be out for around eight weeks.

Meanwhile assistant manager Murdie MacKinnon has praised his team for their efforts and winger Gary McCann, on target at the weekend, says a strong defence is the key to their success.

MacKinnon said on Tuesday: “Paul is booked in to see a specialist in a few days and will then need an operation, I don’t know how long he will have to wait for that. It looks like he could miss the rest of the season which is a blow for us as he is a key player, although you never know, he is a strong character. The club will give him every support in his recovery.” The Medda number two is encouraged with his team’s progress.

He said: “Conditions were difficult but the important thing was to win the tie. We have great team spirit and our league form has improved, winning five games in a row, as well as making the Ardagh Cup quarter-finals. In the opening three league games last season we won one, drew one and lost one, so that’s an improvement and we didn’t make it through the league cup section. We have an important league game on Saturday at home to Petershill, with whom we have a strong rivalry. It will be a test but we are at home and looking to make it six league wins.” MacKinnon this week scotched rumours that his side were aiming to sign Largs Thistle striker James Marks.

He said: “James is a player we admire but we have had no contact with him or the club. We are linked with lots of players.” McCann, meanwhile, is delighted with his team’s form.

He said: “Hopefully we can go one better in the cup and go to the final and win it. We are in great form but have to keep it going. Defensively we are very sound and Marc Twaddle and Mark Staunton have been excellent.” Former Meadow striker Richie Barr on Monday night signed for Ladeside.

The Third Round draw for the Scottish Junior Cup will be held at the Sun offices in Glasgow next Tuesday, November 4, at 12.30pm.

Meanwhile KILWINNING RANGERS co-manager Chris Strain Jnr saluted his team as they joined Meadow in the hat for the third round of the nationa competition with a hard-fought 2-1 away win against East Super League side Dalkeith.

Now he is relishing renewing dug-out rivalrieswith dad and fellow manager Chris Snr as Buffs face ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS away in a District League clash on Saturday.

But Buffs have injury worries ahead of the game with John Bradford, Michael Hart, Ben Lewis, who was on target on Saturday, Chris McGowan, Calvin Kemp and Barry Fleeting all facing fitness tests.

Strain said: “It was a thoroughly professional performance from the guys in difficult conditions at Dalkeith and the scoreline flattered them as they got their goal through a soft penalty in the 94th minute.

They were seen as favourites but we totally dominated the match. We look forward to the game against Winton and the pressure is more on them to get a result as they have slipped a couple of times and don’t want to fall further behind. We will look to take three points.” Disappointed IRVINE VICTORIA co-boss Iain McMillan said a controversial refereeing decision proved pivotal as his side’s Scottish Cup campaign came to an end with a 3-1 defeat away to Montrose Roselea.

Darren Baird looked to have put Vics 2-0 up in 55 minutes but the “goal” was chalked off for offside.

McMillan said: “The disallowed goal was a turning point,”