WEST OF SCOTLAND CUP ROUND 3

CUMNOCK 4 IRVINE MEADOW 3

IT was a day to remember for Nock fans after their side came from behind three times to scalp their Premier Division opponents.

Cumnock came a goal down three times in the Rosebank thriller to advance to the fourth round of the West of Scotland Cup.

Things looked ominous when Meadow got off to a quick start and opened the scoring within the first two minutes of the game.

Cumnock failed to clear a long throw in as Paul Murphy mistimed his header, allowing Liam Finnigan to fire a close range shot into the top left hand corner of the net.

Nock almost bounced back just two minutes later after a series of quick passes between Ray Montgomerie, Aiden Malone and Paul Burns released Burns down the right hand side of the pitch. He cut inside onto his weaker left foot before firing a shot over the bar.

Cumnock did finally get back on level terms. when Malone was hauled down inside the box. Malone managed to touch the ball away from Tobin before being brought down by the ‘keeper. Paul Burns stepped up to slot the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

From the next attack, Meadow regained the lead. Watt failed to win a tackle at the edge of the box allowing Gary McCann to have a shot on goal. Darren Johnstone could only parry the ball to Ross McPherson who calmly slotted the ball into the empty net.

Nock once again drew level thanks to a stunner from Malone on 27 minutes.

Watt laid the ball into the feet of Malone who turned and drove a shot from 25 yards straight into the top left hand corner.

The last chance of an entertaining first half fell to Finnigan in the 37th minute. Meadow’s clearance caught the Cumnock defence off guard sending Finnigan through on goal. Johnstone came off his line to narrow the angle and forced Finnigan into dragging the ball wide of the left hand post.

Tobin was called into action three minutes after the restart. Watt played an excellent through ball to McNeil who shot towards the bottom left hand corner of the net was tipped round the post by Tobin.

The away side took the lead for the third time in the 63rd minute. Good football from Meadow sent Ryan Deas through on goal who managed to fire a shot ferociously past Johnstone and into the roof of the net.

Cumnock stunned their higher league opponents when they once again equalised.

Owen Ronald crossed the ball to an unmarked Burns at the back post who fired home from close range.

It was then the turn of the Townhead side to shock Meadow when they went ahead for the first time in the match.

Tobin was unable to hold Watt’s free kick and Burns took advantage to head the ball into the back of the net from close range to send the Cumnock faithful wild.

Tobin then produced the best save of the match in the 80th minute to stop Cumnock from making it five. Watt hit the by line down the left hand side of the pitch before crossing the ball to Andy Scott who’s first time volley was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Tobin.

Burns then almost grabbed his fourth of the game in the 87th minute. Burns was picked out at the back post and his powerful shot towards the left hand side of the net was tipped around the left hand post for a corner.

Cumnock saw the match out to wrap up a sensational victory and a spot in the next round of the cup.

Cumnock - Johnstone, Wood, Crawford, Lundie, Murphy, Esplin, Montgomerie, Burns, McNeil, Malone, Watt.