Stagecoach Super League Premier Division IRVINE MEADOW 0 AUCHINLECK TALBOT 3 RUTHLESS Talbot heaped more misery on the hosts by completing a hat-trick of victories over Stevie Rankin’s team at Meadow Park this season.

The victory helped the champions move into top spot, two points clear of their opponents and leave them as firm favourites to clinch a third successive title.

While the scoreline perhaps slightly flattered Talbot, they once again demonstrated the art of clinical finishing against a team who failed to cash in on any chances they had.

Meadow had long given up hope of regaining the title following a bitterly disappointing run but at least they battled hard and showed more fight than in their previous league match at Shotts, who are their opponents in the West of Scotland Cup this weekend.

The West represents their only chance of salvaging silverware, although a trip to Beechwood Park to face Talbot will await them should they see off the Lanarkshire side on Saturday Back to the action and Talbot set the tone for the match in the opening minute when home goalie Graeme Shepherd was forced into a one-handed save to keep out a rasping drive from David Gormley. Back at the other end, a Chris Hall shot from just outside the six-yard box was well handled by Andy Leishman in the visiting goal. As Meadow made a promising start, wideman Gary McCann aimed a cross at Hall’s head but the Talbot keeper beat him to the ball in nine minutes, Seven minutes later, McCann dodged past two opponents before shooting narrowly over the bar from 20 yard and just a minute later the ball broke to Liam Finnigan on the edge of the box, but his shot was deflected wide.

Back at the other end home defender Grant Evans made a telling tackle just inside the box on ex-Meadow man Keir Milliken as he was about to shoot in 21 minutes.

Then eight minutes from half-time ‘Bot came close when Bryan “Butch” Young shot narrowly wide from 20 yards.

The hosts had a lucky escape a minute from the interval when a Gormley headed glanced just past the post with Shepherd beaten, Three minutes after the break Shepherd spectacularly tipped a 22-yard Mark Shankland free-kick over the bar. However 10 minutes later the same player made no mistake with another free-kick from 25 yards which soared into the top corner of the net. Five minutes later Shepherd blocked a Shankland effort from just inside the box.

Talbot should have scored again in 68 minutes but a Gormley effort from 20 yards trickled narrowly wide. The same player then dodged two challenges before having a close range shot well saved five minutes later.

Four minutes from time the visitors doubled their advantage when A Campbell header was saved by Shepherd, but Steven White pounced to rifle home the rebound.

Then three minutes into stoppage time, Talbot completed a miserable night for Meadow as Gormley blasted home from just inside the box with literally the last kick of the ball.

IRVINE MEAOOW: Shepherd; Horne, Sideserf, Evans, Keenan, Murch, G McCann, Hal, Maxwell, Finnigan, Halliday. Subs: McParland, Hughes, S McCann, Thompson.

AUCHINLECK TALBOT: Leishman; Park, Latta, McGoldrick, Campbell, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, Milliken, Gormley, Shankland. Subs: Spence, Cochrane, White, Lavan.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.

Stagecoach Super League Premier Division IRVINE MEADOW 0 AUCHINLECK TALBOT 3 RUTHLESS Talbot heaped more misery on the hosts by completing a hat-trick of victories over Stevie Rankin’s team at Meadow Park this season.

The victory helped the champions move into top spot, two points clear of their opponents and leave them as firm favourites to clinch a third successive title.

While the scoreline perhaps slightly flattered Talbot, they once again demonstrated the art of clinical finishing against a team who failed to cash in on any chances they had.

Meadow had long given up hope of regaining the title following a bitterly disappointing run but at least they battled hard and showed more fight than in their previous league match at Shotts, who are their opponents in the West of Scotland Cup this weekend.

The West represents their only chance of salvaging silverware, although a trip to Beechwood Park to face Talbot will await them should they see off the Lanarkshire side on Saturday Back to the action and Talbot set the tone for the match in the opening minute when home goalie Graeme Shepherd was forced into a one-handed save to keep out a rasping drive from David Gormley. Back at the other end, a Chris Hall shot from just outside the six-yard box was well handled by Andy Leishman in the visiting goal. As Meadow made a promising start, wideman Gary McCann aimed a cross at Hall’s head but the Talbot keeper beat him to the ball in nine minutes, Seven minutes later, McCann dodged past two opponents before shooting narrowly over the bar from 20 yard and just a minute later the ball broke to Liam Finnigan on the edge of the box, but his shot was deflected wide.

Back at the other end home defender Grant Evans made a telling tackle just inside the box on ex-Meadow man Keir Milliken as he was about to shoot in 21 minutes.

Then eight minutes from half-time ‘Bot came close when Bryan “Butch” Young shot narrowly wide from 20 yards.

The hosts had a lucky escape a minute from the interval when a Gormley headed glanced just past the post with Shepherd beaten, Three minutes after the break Shepherd spectacularly tipped a 22-yard Mark Shankland free-kick over the bar. However 10 minutes later the same player made no mistake with another free-kick from 25 yards which soared into the top corner of the net. Five minutes later Shepherd blocked a Shankland effort from just inside the box.

Talbot should have scored again in 68 minutes but a Gormley effort from 20 yards trickled narrowly wide. The same player then dodged two challenges before having a close range shot well saved five minutes later.

Four minutes from time the visitors doubled their advantage when A Campbell header was saved by Shepherd, but Steven White pounced to rifle home the rebound.

Then three minutes into stoppage time, Talbot completed a miserable night for Meadow as Gormley blasted home from just inside the box with literally the last kick of the ball.

IRVINE MEAOOW: Shepherd; Horne, Sideserf, Evans, Keenan, Murch, G McCann, Hal, Maxwell, Finnigan, Halliday. Subs: McParland, Hughes, S McCann, Thompson.

AUCHINLECK TALBOT: Leishman; Park, Latta, McGoldrick, Campbell, Boyd, Young, Hyslop, Milliken, Gormley, Shankland. Subs: Spence, Cochrane, White, Lavan.

For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.