Irvine Meadow 2 Cumnock 1
Kevin Deeney insisted he was happy to see Meadow win ugly after they settled an old score against Cumnock on Saturday.
First half goals from Callum Graham and Connor Boyd gave Medda crucial breathing space in a scrappy West of Scotland League Premier Division encounter.
They faced a second half onslaught after James Dolan pulled one back for ‘Nock but rose to the challenge to seal a first win in seven outings.
The result propelled Meadow to fourth in the table and avenged last month’s West of Scotland League Cup exit at the hands of Brian McGinty’s men.
And while assistant boss Deeney admitted there wasn’t much quality on show, he was delighted to see his players battle to a big three points.
He said: “We actually played better when Cumnock beat us in the cup.
“This time it was a bit of an ugly game but we got ourselves in front and from there I felt comfortable to be honest.
“Cumnock scored a scrappy goal and came at us but we stopped them getting in behind us. They’re a physical side, and I said to the players aterwards, it was good to see us stand up against that. We showed a different side to us.”
Deeney added: “We needed a win. Despite the run we’ve been on I don’t think our performances have been that bad. Hopefully we can kick on from here.”
With no less than five ex-Meadow players in Cumnock’s starting 11, and another on the bench , neither side was short of motivation.
But Graham’s opener with just two minutes on the clock settled any home nerves.
The ‘Nock defence made a hash of dealing with a long punt up the park, allowing the striker to nip in and slot past goalkeeper Jamie Barclay.
Jordan Moore spurned a good chance to level matters in the 23rd minute when he tugged a shot wide from 12 yards.
It would prove to be a costly miss as Meadow doubled their lead 10 minutes later, Boyd finding the top corner with a terrific curling strike after the ‘Nock defence failed to clear their lines.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, the visitors had it all to do and they started the second half on the front foot.
Dolan gave them hope when he reduced the deficit from close range after some pinball in the box in the 53rd minute.
But Meadow withstood everything Cumnock could throw at them and almost snatched a third on the counter attack, Barclay denying Graham with a fine, flying save.
‘Nock’s frustration boiled over in injury time when former Medda ace Ryan Carnwath booted the ball into the crowd, earning himself a second yellow card and an early bath.
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