Irvine Meadow co-boss Colin Spence tipped Troon’s defenders for a sleepless Saturday night after strike ace Callum Graham ran them ragged at Portland Park.
March signing Graham capped a bustling display with an assist as goals from Connor Boyd and Jamie Martin proved enough to give the visitors a 2-1 win last weekend.
Troon made Meadow sweat for the three points when Sam Jamieson atoned for an earlier penalty miss by netting with 20 minutes to go.
But a late red card for home centre-half Tommy Maitland - for a cynical last-man foul on tormentor-in-chief Graham – was the final nail in the coffin for the Seasiders.
Spence hailed a battling display from his side and reckons Graham’s role as lone striker played a major part in the win.
He said: “We decided to go with something a wee bit different with Callum up front on his own and Connor and Jamie playing in wee pockets behind him.
“We felt Callum could occupy their two centre-halfs and he certainly did just that.
“I think they’ll have nightmares after coming up against him. He really roughed them up and it paid dividends with the first goal.
“I think that’s Callum’s best game in a Meadow shirt. He hadn’t played a lot of football before joining us from Pollok and we’ve been working with him to get him up to speed.
“That’s him got four or five games under his belt now and hopefully we are now starting to see the best of him.”
Both sides were locked on 53 points going into the clash but Troon, playing their final league match of the season, knew only a win would give them a realistic chance of finishing above Meadow, who still have two games to play.
Jamieson had an opportunity to fire the hosts into an early lead when a cross picked him out alone at the back post, but Medda goalkeeper Marc Waters rushed from his line to make a fine block with an outstretched leg.
Meadow had to wait until the 18th minute for their first sniff of goal, Graham’s threaded pass sending Boyd beyond the Troon back line, but the striker’s heavy first touch allowed Troon keeper Marc Fisher to make a clearance on the edge of his area.
There was plenty of energy and endeavour on display but not much quality as both sides looked to gain the upper hand.
Meadow carved the next decent opportunity in 37 minutes, Graham turning Jack Sherrie inside out before firing a shot into the side netting from a tight angle.
But just when it looked like the first half would end goalless, Meadow struck with virtually the last kick of the ball.
Graham outmuscled Maitland in an aerial duel on the fringes of the penalty box and, as the Troon defender gathered his bearings, rolled a simple square ball to Boyd who drilled home a first time finish from eight yards.
Troon started the second half on the front foot and they were awarded a penalty on the hour mark after Ryan McKie chopped down Ben Black in the box.
Jamieson assumed spot kick duties but his effort clipped the top of the crossbar on the way over.
Meadow took full advantage of the let-off by racing up the park and doubling their lead.
This time Boyd was at the centre of the move, his pace vital as Meadow broke away before his cross from the right was headed home by the unmarked Martin in the six yard box.
Troon threw caution to the wind in an attempt to get back in the tie and they reduced the deficit in 70 minutes when Jamieson expertly swivelled to steer home Aaron Black’s cross.
The Seasiders gambled on an equaliser by going gung-ho but it backfired in the final minute when Maitland unceremoniously stopped Graham in his tracks as the striker homed in on goal and was sent off for his troubles.
Spence admitted: “We said to the boys before the game that it was important not to lose.
"That’s us now guaranteed to finish above Troon but with two games left I haven’t given up hope of making the top five.”
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