MEADOW OUT AS LADESIDE GRAB WIN

Stewart McConnell • Published 26 Aug 2009 12:00

Ardagh Glass Cup Semi-Final Irvine Meadow 0 Kilbirnie Ladeside 1

FEARLESS Ladeside stunned the holders and red hot favourites on Tuesday with Alain Kinney's glorious first-half strike sending Tommy Bryce's men into the first final of the season.

The Premier Division newcomers fully deserved to beat their flight rivals as they looked the hungrier side and jubilant Bryce later saluted his players following their against-the-odds triumph which earns them a final showdown with Cumnock or Craigmark Burntonians

"I am proud of the players, we deserved victory. We were the better side for the first 15 minutes and Meadow dominated until we got our goal but then we restricted them to shooting from distance. Our goalkeeper Paul McCann had a good game and we defended well. As far as the final goes a lot of games have to be played before that but we don't fear anyone," the victorious boss told Sportscene.

Counterpart Chris Strain said: "It's really disappointing, we are have a team of winners here. We had 70 per cent of the play but did not take our chances. But well done to Kilbirnie."

There was a sign of things to come when as early as the opening minute Kinney's 25-yard shot was well saved by Michael Wardrope. It was a lively opening and back at the other end Gareth Turner made a darting run and outstripped David Anderson before pinging a cross over to Richie Barr to head narrowly over the bar from 12 yards in 12 minutes.

Meadow had their best opening in 17 minutes as a swerving shot from Chris Strain Junior was deflected behind for a corner and three minutes later the hosts came agonisingly close as Mark Crilly smashed a free-kick from just outside the box off the crossbar. However against the run of play in 33 minutes the visitors took the lead, Kinney finishing clinically with a 20- yarder which gave Wardrope absolutely no chance.

Right on half-time a Zander Ryan effort from the edge of the box was hooked away by a Ladeside defender. Former Meadow target Liam McGuinness sent a rasping 20-yarder over the bar in 55 minutes but four minutes later at the other end, McCann saved Crilly's shot from 20 yards.

In 67 minutes McCann, who was helped by a very confident defence who snuffed out Meadow's attacking threat, especially after the break, produced a superb reflex save to thwart impressive Turner from 18 yards. Meadow, however were living dangerously and a minute later a flying McGuinness header from 10 yards went inches over the bar. At the death McCann thwarted Meadow's top scorer John-Paul Boyle 10 yards from goal as Kilbirnie held on for a famous triumph.

IRVINE MEADOW: Wardrope; Ryan, Lowing (McGowan 79); Swift, Robertson, Crilly, Strain (McGinty 87); Turner, Barr (Jaconelli 71); Boyle, Hamilton. Subs not used: Dillon, Hewitt.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE: McCannn; Jordan, Frew, Cochrane, Bell, Anderson, Chang (Collins 72); McGuinness, Longworth, Kinney (McRobert 86); Miller (Boyd 89)

* Meadow's away game against Bellshill Athletic next Wednesday has been switched to Vale of Clyde's Fullarton Park.

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