Blow as Medda hold out
The Glens remain at the top of the league table as the season moves in to its closing stages.
But Saturday’s result was a blow to Glencairn’s promotion hopes as the teams with games in hand continue to hover just below them.
Willie Harvey named an unchanged side from the team that defeated Maryhill 3-1 in midweek, with the same substitutes as well, with influential midfielder Sean McGuire still sidelined by injury.
The match was every bit as important to Meadow, who knew that nothing less than a win was required if they were to remain in contention for promotion themselves.
Glencairn started positively, and Meadow goalkeeper Shaun Newman was at the heart of the action straight away as he raced out of his area and body-checked Stewart Hall as the wide man lobbed the ball over him. Newman was shown a yellow card before he parried away Tony Fraser’s driven free kick and Ryan Docherty’s rebound effort was blocked for a corner kick.
The next big chance of the game arrived in the 12th minute as Fraser Team latched onto a ball over the top. However, just as he swung his right leg back to hit his shot, the ball hit off his standing left leg and rolled out of play.
Team’s bad luck continued in the 38th minute as Jay McKay’s long throw came right into the six-yard box where it hit the striker’s knee right in front of goal and rebounded wide of the target.
JC Hutchison made his first save on the brink of half-time as he dived full length to his right to beat away a near post shot.
A goal seemed certain in the 71st minute when Jamie Hamilton’s driving run and weighted pass set up Team who was denied by the studs of Newman and his shot was deflected wide.
Irvine’s Conor Browning and Glens Craig Johnston were booked as the referee continued to flash cards right to the end. And a harsh earlier booking for Andy Neil came back to haunt him in the 94th minute when he threw the ball in dissent at a foul. It resulted in a second yellow followed by a red for the Glencairn captain.