Cambuslang Rangers 1 Irvine Meadow 2
Kevin Deeney reckons Irvine Meadow’s strength of character came to the fore as they came from behind to clinch a dramatic late win at Somervell Park yesterday afternoon.
Grant Brennan’s early goal had Meadow on the back foot and they were fortunate not to go two down when Scott Anson’s second half penalty struck the post.
That miss proved to be the turning point in the West of Scotland League Premier Division clash with brothers Isaac and Louis Kerr going on to find the net for the visitors – the latter with a last-gasp winner.
And on an afternoon when a heavy, bobbly, playing surface made life extremely difficult for both sets of players, Medda caretaker boss Deeney reckons his side showed their cojones to come away with all three points.
“We said to the players before the game, we’re going to need to play the park and not the team,” said Deeney.
“At one point in the second half I proper lost it with them. When you play at the back you invite mistakes and that’s what we were doing.
“I know it wasn’t pretty but it was never going to be pretty. I’m delighted with the absolute guts the boys showed. I think over the piece we deserved the win, I really do.”
Brennan fired Cambuslang in front from point blank range with just four minutes on the clock.
Meadow struggled to carve open a well-drilled home defence as they went in search of an equaliser.
Skipper Kyle Faulds had their best chance of the opening 45 minutes but his free header from a corner kick was straight at Camby goalkeeper Andy Wilson.
Faulds was forced off injured early in the second half and Meadow’s afternoon looked like going from bad to worse when referee Ross Anderson blew for a spot kick in 53 minutes much to the bemusement of defenders Rhys Wallace and Martin Findlay.
Veteran Camby striker Anson’s aim was just out, his effort from 12 yards hitting the post and rebounding kindly for defender Paul Byrne who hooked clear.
Three minutes later the match was all-square with centre-half Isaac Kerr turning home a dangerous delivery from close range.
Waters made a fantastic flying save to keep out Anson’s smart shot on the turn in 82 minutes before substitute Louis Kerr tapped home the winner with just 60 seconds left on the clock.
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