Irvine Meadow co-manager Colin Spence says conceding a late goal was a ‘sucker punch’ as his side lost 3-2 to Auchinleck Talbot at the weekend.

Meadow travelled to Beechwood Park looking to avenge their two prior defeats to Talbot this season and progress into the quarter -final of the Scottish Junior Cup.

Medda got off to the perfect start to doing just that when they took the lead early on in the first half.

A chipped cross from the right by Sam McCloy found Mick Wardrope in the box, who headed an effort goalwards.

The midfielder’s header initially hit the bar before spinning back over the line to give the away side the lead at the break.

In the second half, the hosts grabbed a leveller via Graham Wilson who tapped in a cross at the back post.

Medda had a chance at going back ahead when Wardrope was bundled over in the box resulting in a spot kick.

Up stepped Mark McLennan who sent Bot keeper Andy Leishman the wrong way and stroked the ball into the bottom right corner.

Talbot then rallied once more and grabbed another equaliser via the head of Keir Samson to set up a tense ending.

Despite Meadow having chances in the closing stages it was the hosts who grabbed a winner from Craig McCracken’s header to progress.

Speaking to the Times, Spence said: “The last 15 minutes they attacked and we attacked but the big chances of the game fell to us.

“Unfortunately, we have hit the post and then Leishman has had a great save from the rebound.

“Then Wardrope has missed a glaring opportunity from a couple of yards out with a header.

“We were also denied, in my view, a real stonewall penalty kick.

“All the pressure was coming from us trying to get that winning goal.

“Just when you think we will have to settle for penalties Auchinleck hit us with the sucker punch in the last couple of minutes of the game.

“But the lesson there is you have got to go and try kill them off because they will keep coming.”