IRVINE MEADOW XI FC

Mighty Meadow

IRVINE MEADOW 5 BEITH 0

Ardagh Cup Quarter Final

Meadow Park

19-08-09

Both teams went into this quarter final tie on the back of comfortable wins at the weekend. Beith were looking to avenge last season's 4-1 defeat at the same stage last year while Meadow were looking to put one over the only team to do the league double over them last season. It took a while for the game to get going as both teams looked to struggle against the wind and rain but Beith began to take a grip of the midfield and managed to create a few half chances which didn't trouble Michael Wardrope in the Meadow goal. Meadow were resorting to long balls in a bid to combat the conditions but these tactics weren't working and it was Beith who had the best two chances of the half. First Wardrope had to dive full length to turn a well hit free kick round his right post and minutes later he had to be alert to tip a close range effort over the bar. There was little other action and very few chances before referee Anderson blew his whistle for half time.

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HT: MEADOW 0 BEITH 0

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The 2nd half started in much the same way as the first half ended with Beith having most of the play but in the 57th minute it was all change. John-Paul Boyle replaced the injured Brian McGinty in the Meadow attack and with his very first touch of the ball he put Meadow in front. Determined play from Richie barr in the Beith half saw Meadow put the visitors under pressure and as the ball broke to Stevie Docherty he hit a cracking shot from the edge of the box which keeper Ross done brilliantly to parry. The rebound fell to Barr 8 yards out and again Ross blocked the striker's shot. This time Boyle was first to the ball and he made no mistake from 6 yards. Ten minutes later Meadow doubled their lead and again it was all started by Richie Barr. The striker collected the ball on the half-way line and superbly held off a defender before releasing Strain down the right. The midfielder was given plenty of space to drive forward before releasing Boyle down the wing and his first time cross was headed into his own net by ex Meadow player Derek McCulloch. Meadow were in control now and a great turn and pass by Boyle found Strain in the box and his fierce shot gave Ross no chance. Beith were dead and buried now and there cause was done no favours when midfielder Spence was shown the red card for throwing a punch at Strain who was also shown a yellow card along with goalkeeper Ross. Things got even worse for Beith just 2 minutes later when a Wardrope kick out was headed on by Hamilton to Barr who played a neat one-two with the midfielder before scoring with a low shot from 20 yards. Meadow still weren't finished and in the 83rd minute a long clearance from Robertson deep in his own half found Barr in the clear who took the ball wide round the keeper before passing to Boyle who slotted home to complete the rout. This might have been the last goal but it wasn't the last of the action as keeper Ross was then shown a second yellow card for throwing the ball at the celebrating Meadow players. McCulloch took over in goals as 9 man Beith managed to see out the final 7 minutes without incurring any more damage.

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FT: MEADOW 5 BEITH 0
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