Lions put Meadow out to grass

LIVINGSTON put paid to any hopes Junior outfit Irvine Meadow had of reaching the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday, as the First Division side strolled to a 6-0 victory over the Super League Premier Division champions at Meadow Park.

A first-half hat-trick from striker Marc McNulty and a Rory Boulding effort had the Lions 4-0 up at the break, before Kenny Deuchar and Bobby Barr added to the tally in the second half.

Less than five minutes were on the clock when McNulty worked space for himself at the edge of the box, before stroking the ball into the bottom corner past Michael Wardrope.

Meadow then created a glorious chance to equalise, but Richie Barr side footed the ball wide from only five yards out when it looked easier to score.

The home side were left to rue that miss, as Livi piled on the pressure. Deuchar was unlucky after his half-volley went wide, before McNulty’s header from a Boulding cross bounced the wrong side of the post.

Bollan’s men got their second in the 26th minute. McNulty latched on to a deft through ball and drilled low across Wardrope, before Bobby Barr had a great chance to add to Livi’s tally but he dragged his shot off target. McNulty then completed his hat-trick not long after with a copy of his first effort, his low drive again evading the grasp of Wardrope.

Boulding got his first and the Lions’ fourth within a minute, shooting from 20 yards. Livi got their fifth only six minutes after the break. Good work from Bobby Barr and sub Iain Russell set up Deuchar for a simple tap in. Livi were clearly enjoying passing the ball about on Meadow’s magnificent surface, and in stoppage time Bobby Barr notched the sixth with a low shot from 12 yards.