Irvine Meadow XI 3 – 2 Clydebank FC
Scottish Junior FA (West of Scotland region): Cup Winners’ Cup, quarter final
Thursday, June 7, 2012: Meadow Park, Irvine
Highlights, from Bankies TV, can be viewed at the foot of this page.
A near six month unbeaten run came to end on Thursday as league champions Irvine Meadow knocked Clydebank out the end-of-season cup winners’ cup. The Bankies, who booked their place in the competition with a resounding three – nil defeat of Scottish Cup winners Shotts Bon Accord in last week’s central league cup final, travelled to Ayrshire confident after an incredible 13 straight wins.
Martin and Wilson and MacKinnon all went close in the opening stages as the visitors looked for their second win over Meadow in a month. Strachan was proving to be a handful on the left, and a turn of pace from the Clydebank number seven led to the opening goal after 21 minutes.
Picking up possession on the halfway line Strachan sprinted down the wing, leaving the full back trailing. An inch-perfect cutback to Darian MacKinnon sliced the defence open, and the striker calmly placed his shot inside the keeper’s far post.
Irvine’s equaliser on the half-hour came against the run of play. A high ball through the middle was flicked on by David Hamilton as striker Chris Strain slipped free of marker Paul Bell. Both Bell and Moffat were hot on his heels but one-on-one with goalkeeper Robert Hamilton, Strain fired the champions level.
His strike partner Garry Flemming put Meadow ahead seven minutes later. Irvine retained possession well, switching the play from left to right before working the ball back across the field. Zander Ryan passed laid the ball off to Flemming, who stepped inside Berry and curled a shot past Robert Hamilton from fully 25 yards.
Bankies should have been on even terms by the break but a Gordon Moffat header rebounded off the Meadow crossbar. A defensive mix-up cost Clydebank dear and moments after the restart Irvine had a two-goal cushion.
Moffat and Campbell somehow tripped over one another outside the Bankies’ penalty area, causing the ball to break for Zander Ryan. Hamilton made a fine block from the full back’s first effort at goal, but the Bankies’ keeper had no chance when Ryan blasted home the rebound.
Clydebank snapped into life and surged forward in search of a way back into the tie. Strachan, Martin and MacKinnon all had attempts at goal, but found Irvine goalie Michael Wardrop in top form.
Substitute Ross McPherson headed the Bankies a lifeline in the 72nd minute. After Robert Hamilton made a stunning diving save to keep the Bankies in the match, McPherson had the chance to equalise minutes from time. Wardrop made a fine double block to deny the visitors a third goal and ensure it is the premier division champions who go through to the semi final.
Clydebank FC line-up: 1.Hamilton, 2.Bell, 3.Berry, 4.Moffat, 5.Campbell, 6.McInness, 7.Strachan, 8.Martin, 9.MacKinnon, 10.Dymock, 11.Wilson.
Subs: 12.R.McPherson, 14.Jones, 15.MacAdam, 16.Hailstones, 17.Gold, 18.McCormish, 20.C.McPherson(GK)
View Youtube highlights from Bankies TV:
