Irvine Meadow 3-1 Bathgate Thistle: Meadow cut Thistle down to size to reach next round

TWO goals from Michael Hughes in the first half left Thistle a difficult job to salvage anything from this Emirates Scottish Cup tie.

The first in ten minutes, a free header as a result of poor marking, left Andy Carlin in the Bathgate goal helpless.

The second, in the 25th minute, when Hughes knocked the ball into the Thistle net again was also a result of poor defending.

Ten minutes into the second half, Bathgate's struggle certainly intensified when Fraser Love was red-carded for a harsh tackle.

Seven minutes later, Carlin brought off a great save from Richie Barr but Garry Fleming was first to the loose ball and knocked it past the Thistle goalkeeper for Meadow's third goal.

Twenty minutes from the end, substitute Chris Jeffrey grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors. A scuffle on the edge of Meadow's box eight minutes from time saw two further red cards from referee Robertson, Chris Strain for Meadow and Willie Wilson for Bathgate.

Thistle manager Graeme Love said: "I was disappointed because we gifted them two goals with defensive mistakes. That gave us an uphill struggle but even when we went down to ten men I thought we still had a chance to even the score but all credit to Meadow. They deserved their victory in the end".

Irvine Meadow: Wardrope, Swift (Wingate 88), Dillon, McDonald, Robertson, Strain, Fleming (Ryan 80), McGeown, Barr (Freils 82), Hughes, Hamilton. Subs: Jaconelli, McGowan, Milliken, Hewitt.

Bathgate Thistle: Carlin, W. Wilson, C. Wilson, Leiper, Gupwell, McCulloch, Payne, Andreoni, Johnstone (Jeffrey 49), Lurinsky, F. Love. Subs: Fallon, Frater, Neill, Hunter, G. Love, Lunn.