FORMER trophy winners Meadow came out on top in a disappointing match totally spoiled] by the wind.

Neither side could master the testing conditions on a day when skilful football was at a premium.

Despite having the advantage of the wind the only chance Meadow had in the early minutes was when Gary McCann sent over a fine cross in minutes but former Petershill man Jordan Murch headed over the bar from close range.

Despite playing into the wind, Benburb had a few raids on goal but did not trouble keeper Graeme Shepherd.

Meadow went ahead six minutes from the interval when the visitors half cleared the ball.

Summer signing Ryan Deas capitalised and sent a low shot into the net from 18 yards to continue his excellent run of form.

Two minutes from the break, Scott Hendry had a chance to level the score but his shot went across the goal and wide.

Benburb manager Frank Lovering was then ordered from the dug out at half-time for dissent.

Five minutes after the break, visiting player Stevie McGurgan was ordered off following an incident in rthe corner of the park Six minutes later Meadow should have doubled their advantage but Mark Thomson shot wide.

Meadow substituted former Queen’s Park man Michael Keenan with Mark McLennan and his first action was to send McCann clear. The little winger rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net for the all-important second goal.

Right on the final whistle Benburb pulled a goal bac whenk Scott Jarvie sent a cross into the penalty area and Ryan Livingston forced the ball home.

But last season’s semi-finalists deservedly progressed to the third round of the national competition.

IRVINE MEADOW: Shepherd;, Keenan, Sideserf, Staunton, Twaddle, Thomson, McCann, Murch, Hall, Deas, Halliday. Subs: Sawyer, Flood,