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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Eric McGowan

Cumnock defender scores TWO own goals in 3-1 defeat against Irvine Meadow

Cumnock defender Greg Ferry had an afternoon to forget as he scored two own goals in a 3-1 defeat at Irvine Meadow.

The 'Nock left-back's nightmare 90 minutes began midway through the first half when, with the score at 1-1, he flicked a free-kick into his own net.

Shortly before the interval, he was holding his head in his hands again after turning a cross past his own goalkeeper from point blank range.

The blunders proved to be the difference in the end, but Ferry was fortunate not to give away a second half penalty after appearing to tug back Meadow striker Graham Boyd in the box.

Victory lifts Meadow to seventh in the West of Scotland League Premier Division while Cumnock drop to 12th - two places above the drop zone.

Just three points separated the sides before kick-off and it looked liked a nip and tuck affair was on the cards in a keenly-fought opening 20 minutes.

Meadow got their noses in front with just six minutes on the clock when Connor Boyd ghosted in at the front post to stroke home Jared Willet's pin-point cross from the left.

But three minutes later, Cumnock were back on level terms.

Meadow defender Jamie Whyte was pick-pocketed by Smart Osadolor as he tried to usher the ball over the byline and the 'Nock striker cut the ball back for Findlay Frye who slotted home from 12 yards.

The visitors should have bagged a quickfire second when a kamikaze pass back by Kyle Faulds fell perfectly for frontman Jordan Moore but he volleyed straight at goalkeeper Marc Waters with the goal at his mercy.

Jared Willet was a rock at the back and a threat going forward (Irvine Herald)

Meadow had another lucky escape soon after when Moore's header clipped the top of the crossbar and the rebound narrowly evaded the onrushing Osadolor.

At the other end, Cumnock keeper Kieran Hughes was called into action to turn Neil Slooves' rasping 30 yard strike behind for a corner.

But he could do nothing to prevent the home side from regaining the lead in 21 minutes.

Willet's whipped free-kick delivery from the right was just too high for Whyte but glanced off the head of the tracking Ferry and into the the corner of the net.

Hughes made another smart save to keep out a Graham Boyd header before he was beaten for a second time in 41 minutes.

Willet's teasing cross from the left touchline had the keeper scrambling across his line and the unfortunate Ferry slid the ball into his own net at the back post under pressure from Sam McCloy.

Moore should have reduced the deficit when he raced through on goal after pouncing onMark McLennan's horribly heavy touch but he dragged his shot wide with just Waters to beat.

The last chance of the first half fell Meadow's way when Hughes parried a Mick Wardrope shot into McCloy's path but he could only find the side netting.

The second half failed to throw up as much drama.

Graham Boyd had an early effort saved by Hughes' trailing leg before his pleas for a penalty after Ferry's shoulder tug fell on deaf ears.

Graham Boyd was a handful for the Cumnock defence (Irvine Herald)

Osadolor rattled the Medda crossbar with a strike from a tight angle as Cumnock tried to get back in the match.

Frye then had the ball in the back of the net in 61 minutes only for referee Alan Newlands to rule that the midfielder had applied the finishing touch with his hand.

The rest of the match petered out with few clear cut chances at either end as Meadow made it two home wins in a row.

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