IRVINE MEADOW are standing out from the crowd for all the wrong reasons this season much to the chagrin of team boss Stevie Rankin.

Finishing third top of the pile last time out and as championship runners-up in the previous campaign had the Ayrshire club’s supporters dreaming of a fourth Super Premier Division title success particularly after Rankin strengthened his playing hand over the summer months with seven new signings inclusive of former Stranraer goalkeeper Daniel Tobin and ex-Queen's Park duo Shaun Fraser and Ross “Archie” McPherson.

Everything looked to be in place for mounting a stiffer challenge to the supremacy of reigning kingpins Auchinleck Talbot, however the Medda players appeared to have the stuffing knocked out of them by an opening day 1-0 league defeat at home to Arthurlie from which it’s probably true to say they have never recovered.

Hard to think otherwise seeing as their ensuing seven McBookie.com fixtures have brought a further five league defeats to leave the Irvine club sitting rank bottom of the standings ahead of heading through to Barrhead for a crucial return meeting with Arthurlie this coming Saturday.

And the Dunterlie showdown takes on even greater importance with the hosts just three points better off and occupying fourth bottom spot on the back of a dismal run of five McBookie contests without a win to their name.

Scottish Junior Cup triumphs last weekend have afforded both clubs a welcome shot in the arm and there’s an understandable swagger about the Ayrshiremen following a 6-1 hammering of Blackburn United even though Rankin insists his side have “played far better this season and lost”.

He insisted: “Our performance level was excellent for the best part of an hour but there is definitely room for improvement.

“I would say the crucial difference was being able to put away our chances in front of goal and the forward line pairing of Archie and Ryan Deas did well in this respect with a brace of goals apiece to go along with a double from Gary McCann.

“They linked up superbly at times and could have the makings of a partnership so our hope is they can stay injury and suspension free to enjoy a run of games together not least because they and Gary’s younger brother Stuart who looked the part as a second-half substitute are the only recognised out-and-out strikers at our disposal.

“Chrissy Hall has been posted missing lately on account of struggling to recover from a groin strain which has troubled him for the past six weeks and even visits to a specialist have failed to resolve his problem up to now.

“We’re also resigned to going without Paul Maxwell who reckons he is still not getting full freedom of movement in the knee he had surgery on last year and it’s also concerning that he’s in pain following matches.

“Maxi is awaiting a consultation with the surgeon who carried out his operation to try and get a few answers.”

The Medda gaffer went on to shower praise on Stirling Albion loan signing Davie Sinclair’s display against the East Region outfit.

He said: “People might think it was a bit of a gamble throwing Davie in for his Junior debut in a Scottish Cup third-round tie, but we were well aware of his abilities and it’s fair to say he took the 90 minutes in his stride and looked like he’d played at the this level of the game for years.

“He works the channels to make terrific supporting runs and will only get better as he gets used to the other players and of course them to him.”

Arthurlie manager Robert Downs has owned up to going without two key players for a game he terms as a “massive clash” for both clubs.

Gavin Rushford and Gary Carroll are ruled out through suspension, however Downsy reckons his side’s display in the 4-1 Cup triumph against Dunipace bodes well for their encounter against the visiting Ayrshiremen.

He insisted: “Firstly let me say that Irvine Meadow have too many good players and it’s a case of when and not if they start winning games though for obvious reasons I hope they don’t turn the corner for at least another week.

“It could be said theirs is a false position but I feel the same about my own team and think we are not far away from making moves up the table going by the manner in which we dealt with Dunipace.

“The players worked hard preparing for the game and reaped their reward with passages of great football and some top-notch goals so you can imagine there’s been a good spirit in the camp this week.

“Winning this week’s game would open a sizeable gap on Irvine Meadow, but not an impossible one to bridge given this league is still taking shape.

“It’s still too early in the season to get a clear picture of what clubs will figure in the basement mix but we have to be positive and try to make upward moves rather than be looking down the way.”