GRATEFUL Irvine Meadow boss Brian McGinty this week thanked old pal Mark Roberts for unearthing a real find in striker Brendan Sharpe after he helped clinch victory in a derby showdown.

Sharpe joined the Irvine club on a short-term loan from Queens' Park late last and the deal has now been extended until the end of the season.

McGinty is impressed with the striker's contribution and said: "I was team-mates with Marco at St Mirren and he spoke to me about a striker who was a bit rough round the edges but needed developing and he felt I could do that. Brendan has fitted in well and scored an important goal for us on Saturday. He is a talented striker and knows his way to goal. Jared Willet also scored an important goal and has chipped in for us at important times. It was a good win and we are on a good run. I would say it was a team effort as everyone contributed to t.

"Our first objective is to make sure we are safe in this league - that's the first priority. We have come a long way when you think a year ago we were third bottom of the Super First Division and in danger of going down."

Meadow on Saturday host Petershill.

However McGinty is expecting a tough task and said: "They might go into the game thinking they owe us one (Meadow won at Petershill in December) but we are at home and looking to win the match."