Two-goal ace Emilio in cup semi shocker by Jeff Holmes
EMILIO JACONELLI struck twice as Irvine Meadow mauled Arthurlie 5-2 in the Evening Times Cup-Winners' Cup - then revealed he is OUT of Monday's semi-final at Blantyre Vics.
The former Kilmarnock hit-man was in devastating form - as was hat-trick hero Richie Barr - as rampant Medda ripped sorry Lie apart in a devastating 40-minute first-half spell.
But the plucky Barrhead side clawed their way back into the match, although poor defending - and a couple of debatable refereeing decisions - cost them in the end.
Jaconelli said: "We've been on a fantastic run of form recently so it was nice to keep it going with such an emphatic victory.
"We started brightly and were cruising at 3-0, but we took our feet off the gas and allowed Arthurlie back into the game. We stepped it up again after the break, though, and ran out comfortable winners."
Medda are now angling for a fourth final of the season, with Central District Second Division champions Blantyre Vics standing in their way.
But Jaconelli won't play any further part in this season's competition after pulling up with a hamstring injury midway through the second half.
He moaned: "It's so frustrating. I waited a while to get into the team and now I'm out again.
"I'll definitely miss the semi-final and the final if we get there, which is frustrating because I'm really enjoying my football again.
"I knew that if I got my chance I would score goals and that's exactly what's happened. My main priority now is to get some rest and make sure I'm back in time for the pre-season training."
The visitors went ahead in 13 minutes when Richie Barr reacted quickest to fire home after Lie keeper Peter Shaw had blocked a Zander Ryan cross.
Referee Derek Nicholls then had a big call to make in the 17th minute when home favourite Craig Malcolm wriggled his way into the box.
The ball seemed to strike Chris McGowan on the hand, but Nicholls waved away Lie's protests.
Lie shot themselves in the foot on the half-hour when Lee Sharp fouled Jaconelli just 16 yards from goal out wide.
Mark Crilly struck the kick and ex-Pollok star David Hamilton rose highest to nod home. Medda went three-up in the 35th minute when Jaconelli steered the ball home from eight yards.
Game over, or so we thought - for we hadn't reckoned on Lie's Stephen Anderson doubling his tally for the season.
Sharp's lofted free-kick was cleared to the edge of the area where Anderson fired home.
And, on 41 minutes, he ran on to a pass from John McLay to pick his spot from 12 yards.
Lie had a great chance to level on the stroke of half-time but Pedram Ardalany blazed over and were dealt a hammer blow just seconds after the re-start when George Wallace was harshly red-carded for a challenge on Crilly.
Medda used the extra man advantage well and Barr capitalised on sloppy defending to lash home from 18 yards.
And, just 60 seconds later, the former Renfrew star completed his hat-trick.
Gutted Lie boss Mark Cameron said: "You can't gift a team of Irvine Meadow's stature three goals and expect to get anything.
"We then manage to get back into the game and conspire to shoot ourselves in the foot again. It's so frustrating.
"The sending-off doesn't help but that's been the story of our season. George gave the ref a decision to make, and he did, rightly or wrongly.
"We managed to beat the likes of Cumnock, Whitburn and Lochee after getting men sent off, but this was just a bridge too far."
Cameron added: "I'll go away now and take stock. I'll take a look back at how we've performed. We need to make it harder for other teams to score. We've leaked goals at times and that's not on.
"Tough decisions will be made and I won't hesitate to make them. I have to make us harder to beat - that's the aim."
Meadow Team:
Meadow Goal: Robertson [38]
MOTM: Chris Robertson
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