ASHFIELD manager Stevie Rankin today slammed the performance of whistler Barry Cook as his side suffered a cruel 3-2 defeat by tournament favourites Irvine Meadow.

The Saracen Park boss reckoned the man in the middle was clearly out of his depth in an often absorbing fifth round replay.

Could it be the brandishing of 10 yellow and two red cards which left him furious?

"Not at all, even though I find it difficult to understand how seven of my players ended up with their names taken," said Rankin.

"The one bad tackle in the game saw Stevie Martin needing treatment for fully five minutes as a result of an over-the-ball challenge from Brian McGinty, so why was he not red carded?

"Well, I reckon the answer is in my belief the game was too big for Mr Cook because he was in total awe of Irvine Meadow and therefore reluctant to make any crucial decisions against them."

"When we had went 2-1 up, their manager Chris Strain sent his son Chris on to the far side of the pitch to return the ball when it went out of play.

"We complained about his trackside presence, but the referee's response was to say substitutes have to warm up somewhere. However, he then gave us no answer to being told Medda had already used their quota of three substitutes.

"And I'm better not to say what I feel about him not awarding us a stonewall penalty in injury time or I'll end up in serious bother."

Smith was referring to a searing Craig Smith solo run in the fourth minute of stoppage time with the scores poised at 2-2 where he raced past two defenders before Zander Ryan caught him with a heavy challenge.

Though knocked off balance, the youngster still managed to squeeze a shot goalwards as he fell to ground, but his spot-kick appeals were then waved away by Cook.

Smith said: "The referee said if I'd gone down he would have given a penalty, but surely he still has to give it if there is no obvious advantage?"

Mixed in with Rankin's anger was a fierce pride in his players, who had more than matched up with the Ayrshire cracks whose new signing Richie Barr made his debut.

It was Meadow who took the lead just after the half-hour mark when McGinty converted a penalty after Gareth Turner had been upended by Gordon Passmore.

Ashfield came out after the break in search of an equaliser and, in 57 minutes, Ally Martin flighted over a corner for Paul Maxwell to rise and send a glancing header beyond Meadow keeper Michael Wardrope.

With tails up, the home side went for the kill and their enterprise was rewarded with 10 minutes left when Smith backheeled a Mark Thomson driven free-kick into the net.

A shock looked on the cards but Frank Haggerty, kept quiet by the close-marking Stevie Martin, won a free-kick in 87 minutes which he fired home with the help of a wicked deflection to make it 2-2.

A shoot-out loomed, but the action remained fast and furious, with McGinty sent packing for speaking out of turn followed by Ashfield skipper Thomson in 96 minutes for contesting a corner with the far side assistant.

From the corner, Meadow sub Chris McGowan got the break of the ball and lashed high into the net from almost on the goal-line to send the large band of Ayrshire supporters home happy. No quarter given as Pollok and Rabs march on

TOMORROW night's Citylink Cup quarter-final draw will be hosted by Real Radio at 7pm.

Second favourites Pollok will join Irvine Meadow in the hat following their hard-fought 3-1 success at Thorniewood.

Lok's scorers were Derek Wingate, Bryan Dingwall and Davie Turnbull, with Mark Daly replying.

Rob Roy crushed Glenrothes 3-0 through second-half strikes by Jamie Docherty (pen), Grant Anderson and substitute Paul McQuilken.

Auchinleck did things the hard way after falling behind to a John Craig headed goal for visitors Beith, whose hopes of a memorable victory began to come undone on the stroke of half-time as inspirational stopper Gavin Collins scrambled home a Talbot equaliser.

Their supporters were in full voice and Tommy Sloan's men responded in the best possible way through second-half strikes from Sean McIlroy and Collins again.

Petershill and Clydebank were both held by Tayside opposition.

Peasy will feel a sense of satisfaction at returning from Montrose Rose with a 0-0 stalemate, however Bankies will wonder how they were held in a 3-3 thriller at home against Carnoustie Panmure.

A quarter-final place looked on just after the hour mark when Gary Lynn fired them 2-1 ahead from the penalty spot against 10-man Panmure, however with 10 minutes remaining the depleted visitors got back on level terms through Jon Voigt, who was then red-carded for over-celebrating.

Unbelievably, the nine men went 3-2 up in the 90th minute through Aaron Conway but, deep into stoppage time, Iain Anderson fired home.

Lanark United lost 2-1 against Newtongrange Star.