McBookie Premiership

IRVINE MEADOW 2

CUMNOCK JUNIORS 0

TWO soft goals in the second half for the home side were the difference in an otherwise even contest at blustery Meadow Park. They are goals which stand in Nock ‘keeper Lewis McMurdo will want to forget.

Cumnock’s lack of firepower up front, with not a shot at goal registered, was also alarming.

Meadow kicked off with the wind behind them and had a few early shots at goal which McMurdo dealt with comfortably. In only seven minutes, Meadow centre half Darren Miller had to be substituted with what looked like a knee injury.

Meadow striker Adam Forsyth was finding space in behind the ‘Nock defence and had an early attempt which saw his lob go narrowly over the bar. Mark McLennan was next to try his luck with McMurdo equal to his low drive.

Rhuaridh McIntyre then had an excellent block from Andy McLaughlin before the Meadow striker found himself in the book for a late tackle on Nock keeper McMurdo.

Cumnock’s only danger was coming from Chris Campbell down the right with some dangerous crosses into the box but as in previous games there were no takers to add the finishing touch.

Adam Forsyth was booked late in the first half for simulation, going down far too easily under a slight nudge from McIntyre in the Cumnock penalty area.

In the second half Cumnock introduced Jamie Conn who added a bit more impetus up front but nothing of great note in the way of goalscoring chances was created.

On the hour, ‘Nock player/assistant manager Stephen McKenna was yellow-carded for a foul on Jared Willet.

Seconds later, Meadow took the lead against the run of play. McMurdo’s positioning was called into question when he tried to close down Reece Pearson who then squared for Andy McLaughlin to tap in to an empty net.

Cumnock’s Alan Murdoch was then cautioned for a tackle on Jared Willet and team-mate Jordan Kemoe was yellow -carded for persistent fouling.

In 71 minutes Meadow killed the visitors off.

A high through ball by Mark McLennan seemed to get caught up in the swirling wind and confused McMurdo who made a hash of his attempted clearance, McLaughlin getting to the ball first and knocking it into the path of Willet, who stroked home.

CUMNOCK JUNIORS: McMurdo; Baird, McIntyre, Murdoch(c), Crawford, Mckenna, McLeish, Miller, Campbell, Anderson, Kemoe

Subs: Burns, Ferry, Conn, Hunter.