McBookie Super League First Division
IRVINE VICTORIA 4
IRVINE MEADOW 1
By Matt Speirs
A LANDMARK victory for the hosts saw them beat their derby rivals for the first time in more than a decade.
Vics, who had former Largs Thistle manager Bryan Slavin in their ranks, were more up for this game than their opponents and thoroughly deserved their victory which lifted them off the bottom of the league and gave Meadow's promotion hopes a nasty knock.
The Westenders were on the front foot from the start and took the lead in four minutes when David Adams played in Jamie Anderson and although he missed his first
effort he made no mistake with his second.
Meadow went all-out for an equaliser and a minute later an effort by striker Joe Young was turned away by Chris Lamb.
The leveller arrived in 18 minutes when a ball was played out to Ben Black and he shot back across goal and into the net.
Five minutes before half-time, Adams saw his header turned away for a corner. Vics started the second half the way they did the first and went ahead in 49 minutes when Eddie Ablohr played in Adams and he slid the ball into the net.
Four minutes later the ball was played through to Slavin and home goalie Shaun Newman slipped as he came out and left the striker with the simple task of scoring.
Midway through the half, Meadow substitute and new signing Chris McKnight sent in a low free-kick which was well saved by home goalie Chris Lamb.
A minute later home striker Graham Boyd shot across goal but his effort was turned away for a corner.
With Meadow looking for a way back it took a fine save by Lamb to deny Boyd.
Ten minutes from the end, Jamie Anderson latched on to a ball that had been dropped by Newman and drove the ball into the net.
IRVINE VICTORIA: Lamb; Young, Hambleton, Longair, Bonner, Craig, Anderson, Singleton, Slavin, Adams, Ablohr. Subs: Condon, Mears, Adam, Hollis, Scott.
IRVINE MEADOW: Newman; McLennan, McCrea, Strachan, Begley, Carson, Muir, Hannah, Cripps, Young, Black. Subs: Boyd, Murray, Willett, Wells, McKnight.
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