Source: Team_Talk
Hibs cruise past Meadow in cup
The home side were not on their game in the first half and enjoyed a huge slice of luck when Alexander Ryan put through his own net.[LNB]Merouane Zemmama and Paul Hanlon made the game safe but Irvine had already seen Richie Barr controversially booked for diving when appealing for a penalty and missed a glorious chance through Chris Strain, while Brian McGinty also hit the post.[LNB]Hibs boss John Hughes lived up to his promise to pick a strong side by making just one change from Sunday's Edinburgh derby, recalling Colin Nish in attack for suspended defender Darren McCormack.[LNB]Irvine, who beat Arbroath in November to set up the first ever cup clash between an SPL and junior side, arrived at Easter Road having not played a competitive match for more than a month.[LNB]But they boasted a number of former full-time professionals in their ranks and one of them even had the first two efforts on goal, ex-Rangers and St Mirren striker McGinty dragging a shot wide before firing over from long range.[LNB]The visitors were playing without fear, looking to hit Hibs on the break when possible.[LNB]Hibs left-back Hanlon then saw a shot blocked after a neat one-two with Nish before Stokes volleyed over David Wotherspoon's right-wing cross.[LNB]Riordan had the ball in the net when he headed home Zemmama's ball from point-blank range but the goal was disallowed for a push, much to the amusement of the significant travelling support.[LNB]There was plenty more ironic cheering from the away end as Hibs became increasingly careless.[LNB]And they survived a real scare in the 29th minute when former Easter Road trainee Barr beat goalkeeper Graeme Smith to a loose ball before going down.[LNB]The visitors screamed for a penalty but referee Euan Norris booked Barr for diving, to the vocal chagrin of team-mate McGinty.[LNB]It proved a pivotal moment as Hibs took the lead three minutes later when Ryan could only divert Wotherspoon's low cross into his own net with Riordan ready to pounce.[LNB]Chris Strain, son of the Irvine manager, wasted a glorious chance to level when he fired wide on the rebound after Smith had parried his first effort.[LNB]McGinty was then desperately unlucky when he saw his delicate looped curler come back off the post.[LNB]It was another turning point as a mazy run from Stokes three minutes before the break set up Zemmama to fire into the top corner from 20 yards via what appeared a slight deflection.[LNB]In stoppage-time, a vital interception from Ryan and a shocking miss from Nish prevented Hibs making it 3-0.[LNB]The second half heralded a flurry of snow as Hibs captain Chris Hogg became the second player booked for tripping Barr just outside the box.[LNB]There was plenty of unsavoury shoving in the area before David Lowing sent his low free-kick wide.[LNB]John Rankin looked certain to make the game safe for Hibs after dummies from two of his team-mates set him up, but Gareth Turner just beat the midfielder to the ball.[LNB]Strain then shot straight at Smith and Hanlon forced a fine near-post save from Michael Wardrope.[LNB]Hanlon got the better of the Irvine keeper on the hour mark when he was allowed to gallop towards goal unchallenged before slotting home.[LNB]Nish failed to connect from close range and Stokes saw an angled shot saved as Hibs looked for more goals.[LNB]Both sides then made two changes in the space of five minutes as the game began to wind down.[LNB]Hibs then took off Nish for Abdessalam Benjelloun.[LNB]Stokes was unfortunate not to net his eighth goal in six matches when he curled a brilliant shot against the post before Turner failed to find the target after a lovely move.[LNB]And there was to be no late consolation for the junior side, whose efforts were highlighted when the midfielder went off with cramp before a heavy touch prevented Stokes making it four.[LNB][LNB]
