MIGHTY MEADOW MAKE HISTORY

Stewart McConnell • Published 2 Dec 2009 14:09

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Irvine Meadow 1 Arbroath 0

ALL-conquering Meadow made history in the national competition by becoming the first Junior side to knock out an SFL team and Chris Strain's men did it with both style and swagger.

Playing what was the first ever Scottish Cup tie at Meadow Park they turned on the style in front of a 1,300 crowd which included SFA supremos Gordon Smith and George Peat, making one of the most momentous days in their 112-year history truly one to remember.

Richie Barr bagged the goal which put the Barr's Irn-Bru Scottish Division Two team to the sword and sent the fans into raptures, paving the way for a night of celebrations.

The doubting bookies were quoting the Super Premier Division champions at 5-1 to win the match with the Red Lichties firm favourites to progress. But they made a mockery of the odds and before toasting their heroes many fans were bound for the bookies to collect their winnings.

Some were sceptical when SFA Chief Executive Smith decided to open up the senior competition to Juniors in one of his first acts since taking on the job. They shouldn't be there was the feeling among some fans but after a result like this you have to say there is really a fine line between sides in the Second and Third Divisions and the Junior game and it makes things much more interesting.

Astute Strain clearly had a game plan, fielding Barr upfront with McGinty and their pace caused maximum frustration for the visitors.

The most surprising thing about this victory was the ease with which Meadow pulled it off. Michael Wardrope was a virtual bystander and any questions the defence had to answer they did with some aplomb.

There was a sign of things to come as early as the second minute when a loose ball from an Arbroath defender was pounced on by Brian McGinty and he rolled a pass to Gareth Turner, whose eight-yard shot was saved by goalkeeper Darren Hill. Then two minutes later the visiting number one made a fine save to thwart David Hamilton.

In eight minutes a Derek Wingate free-kick was headed narrowly over the bar at the back post by Stephen Swift. The first sniff Arbroath had at goal wasn't until the 19th minute when a Barry Sellars shot from 25 yards was deflected wide.

Barr was through on goal in 25 minutes but Hill saved confidently.

However only 10 minutes later the roof was nearly blown off this famous old stadium as Meadow made the breakthrough their pressure deserved. A great burst of pace from former St Mirren man McGinty found Barr to lash home from eight yards, sending the fans delirious.

Barely a minute later Hill pulled off more heroics, brilliantly tipping a netbound 25-yard effort from former Ayr United man Hamilton over the bar.

There was more of the same after the break and three minutes in a 25-yard effort from McGinty was saved well by Hill. It looked as if the hosts had doubled their advantage in 58 minutes when Chris Strain flicked an inspired pass to Turner and the visiting number one somehow got his hands to the midfielder's fierce eight-yard effort.

Arbroath did step it up a bit in search of an equaliser and substitute Robbie Ross sent a close range header from close range over the bar in 72 minutes. Then Wardrope got down well to thwart the same player from 25 yards just a minute later.

In 78 minutes Turner sent a fine through ball to substitute John-Paul Boyle to shoot just past a post from 16 yards but the result never looked in doubt as Meadow seized the moment and booked their berth in the all-inclusive Fourth Round.

Best for the home side was workhorse Turner, who covered every blade of grass and was as creative as I have seen him. McGinty and Barr also formed a deadly partnership and David Hamilton was impressive. Roll on the Fourth Round.

IRVINE MEADOW: Michael Wardrope; Stephen Swift (Zander Ryan 66); Derek Wingate, Chris McGowan, Chris Robertson, Mark Crilly, Chris Strain, Gareth Turner, Richie Barr (John-Paul Boyle 74); Brian McGinty, David Hamilton. Subs not used: Steve Cuddihy, Blair McClymont, Brian Hewitt,

ARBROATH: Darren Hill; Steven Rennie, Marc McCulloch, Gerry Bishop, Alan Rattray, Keith Gibson, Paul Lunan, Jamie Redman, Barry Sellars, Steve Hyslop, Brian Scott. Subs: Scott Morrison, Kevin McMillan, Robbie Ross, Steven Doris, Scott Gates.

This article appeared in Irvine Times 02 Dec 09

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