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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Eric McGowan

Irvine Meadow 1 Largs Thistle 1: Spoils shared as Gow cancels out McBryde stunner for visitors

George Grierson was left cursing the opposition goalkeeper for the second week running as his Irvine Meadow side were held at home by Largs.

Meadow had to come from behind to earn a point in today's West of Scotland League Premier Division clash after Simon McBryde's superb second half lob gave Thistle the lead.

Calum Gow's bullet header from a long throw-in ensured a share of the spoils but gaffer Grierson felt Largs keeper Jamie Walker was the difference - just like Petershill stopper Steven McNeil in last week's Scottish Junior Cup defeat.

He told Ayrshire Football News: "I thought a point was the least we deserved.

"Their keeper's pulled off three or four absolutely brilliant saves so on another day it would maybe have been a bit more comfortable for us.

"I really can't fault the boys. I don't think anyone put a foot wrong today. It's a wee bit of luck we needed to be honest with you.

"That's the last two weeks where the star man for the opposing team has been the goalkeeper so that maybe says its own story.

"Am I disappointed? Slightly, but not overly.

"Largs are a good side. Their form last year was title-winning towards the end. They've got the same sort of team."

Meadow started menacingly and Walker was called into action twice in the opening seven minutes.

He made a fine block to deny Callum Graham in a one-on-one with the striker, before getting down well to bat away Kyle Faulds' shot from the edge of the box.

Largs had to wait 14 minutes for their first sniff of goal with defender Laurie McMaster unable to adjust his feet quick enough to turn home a cross in the six yard box.

Meadow midfielder Kyle Faulds gets up well to head clear (Irvine Herald)

Meadow had an even bigger let-off three minutes later when George Sewell crashed a header against the outside of the post after goalkeeper Marc Waters flapped at a free-kick delivery.

The home side seemed to lose their way, abandoning their early possession-based approach in favour of going long.

Largs looked the more threatening side as a result and McMaster flashed a shot inches wide of the target in the last clear-cut chance of the first half.

The interval allowed Meadow to regroup and they reverted to a more controlled, passing game after the restart.

However, they needed Waters to come to their rescue in 58 minutes to keep out a McBryde effort after Faulds was caught on the ball 30 yards from goal.

Sixty seconds later, Walker produced a top drawer save at the other end to keep out Graham's powerful header from Connor Boyd's cross.

The two Medda strikers wasted golden opportunites to break the deadlock in 63 minutes, Boyd striking the crossbar from close range before Graham blazed the loose ball over.

McBryde made them pay as Largs immediately raced up the park, catching Waters out with an exquisite lob that nestled perfectly in the corner of the net.

Meadow now faced a real test of character and they levelled matters in 73 minutes when Gow powered a header past the helpless Walker after getting on the end of Bryan Wharton's long throw-in.

Neither side looked like grabbing a winner as the clocked ticked down and both sets of supporters seemed happy with a point-a-piece when referee Ryan Kennedy blew for full-time.

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