Ardagh Group West of Scotland Cup Second Round

BEITH JUNIORS 4

IRVINE MEADOW 2

SPECTATORS received full value for their admission at Bellsdale, witnessing a hard-fought cup tie played in brutal weather.

The outcome was uncertain until late on, despite the visitors playing a man down for the second half.

Beith started well playing down the slope but Meadow successfully defended a series of corners with the best early chance falling to Kevin Green who shot past with his right foot from a great position on the left side of the goalmouth.

Meadow gradually created a few openings of their own but a Reece Pearson cut back found no takers and an Aaron Connolly shot was blocked in the box. However the hosts remained well on top but then somehow found themselves behind in 29 minutes when, from a quick break, Connolly cut the ball back into the box for Andy McLaughlin to react the quickest to force the ball home in a busy box.

Beith promptly went on the attack again and Meadow goalie Shaun Newman enjoyed some good fortune to claim the ball in a tussle with Peter Haggarty from an opening created by Darren Christie. The hosts kept the pressure on and Meadow were reduced to 10 men when Callum Gow was shown a red card for a last man challenge when he hauled down Peter Haggarty as he sped through onto a Milliken pass.

Meadow's resistance was eventually broken in almost the last action of the half when a McGowan cross was turned home by Darren Christie.

The hosts turned the screw again after the restart winning a number of corners, while Meadow still continued to offer a threat on the break with Roddy Paterson shooting over.

Beith missed further chances with David McGowan shooting straight at Newman and Jamie Wilson having a shot blocked in a crowded box before they were again caught on the break when Meadow were awarded a penalty for a challenge on McLaughlin in the box. Skipper Ben Carson duly converted confidently from the spot.

The hosts duly applied the pressure again but efforts from Paul Frize, McGowan and Christie all missed the target. However Beith boss Johnny Millar duly made changes and Thomas Collins quickly made an impact when he got an all-important touch to a ball in the box to wrong-foot Newman and level.

Meadow were fully focused on trying to hold out to take the game to a penalty shoot out and their gallant resistance was only broken when Beith were awarded a similarly soft looking penalty as Meadow’s when Thomas Collins went down in the box under a challenge from Devlin. Substitute Kenny McLean made no mistake from the spot to give Beith the lead.

Christie then rubber-stamped the outcome in the final seconds when he cut in and found the top corner with a nice finish.

BEITH: Grindlay, N Docherty, Noble, Green, Sheridan, Wilson, Christie, Frize, Milliken, Haggarty, McGowan. Subs: Collins, McLean, Bradley, McGlinchey, Miller

IRVINE MEADOW: Newman, Wells, Willet, Devlin, Gow, Carson, Pearson, Carnwath, Paterson, Connolly, Mclaughlin. Subs: Sharpe, Woods, Bannister.