Davie Greig’s view that Irvine Meadow might need a small miracle to retain their Super Premier Division status has altered in the wake of the Ayrshiremen’s 2-2 draw with fellow strugglers Petershill on Saturday.

The passion, commitment and desire shown by his players in dominating the Meadow Park contest had the fired–up team boss eulogising afterwards,

“If we play with the same qualities in our remaining games and don’t come up against goalkeepers having the games of their lives as Stevie McNeil did today then we have a genuine chance of staying up," said the gaffer.

“It’s been a tough week for the players and they could easily have thrown the towel in after going 1-0 behind totally against the run of play.

"But the determination not to let themselves or our supporters down was evident in the manner in which they came roaring back.

“In fact, so well did they perform that a 2-2 scoreline feels like a defeat and it really is mind-boggling to think this group of players have only accumulated five points to their name all season.”

Medda, with ex-Peasy duo Michael Keenan and Jordan Murch bossing the midfield, came roaring out of the blocks albeit without troubling McNeil to the extent he was after a brave 10th minute challenge diving at the feet of Keenan left him limping badly.

The opening goal was nothing short of calamitous for the home side as all their early promise was undone by a moment’s hesitancy between goalkeeper Daniel Tobin and centre-back Kevin Rutkiewicz in 27 minutes.

The lapse allowed Tony Stevenston to reach a ball on the byeline and square for Ciaran McElroy to slide in and net from point-blank range.

Petershill’s lead lasted all of four minutes before a terrific Ryan Deas free kick delivery was met by the towering Paul Maxwell whose powerful header left McNeil helpless.

However, the shotstopper came to his side’s rescue with saves from Deas, Adam Strachan and Ross McPherson to ensure the teams went in on level terms.

And if anything he was even busier on the resumption in the face of wave after wave of Medda attacks and superbly kept out McPherson and Maxwell efforts before conjuring up a superlative reflex save to deny a net bound Keenan header that left him requiring further treatment afterwards .

His discomfort was clearly obvious approaching the hour mark when the impressive Deas, in acres of space, charged in from the right to latch on to a diagonal crossfield pass and power home a low drive that the Peasy keeper could not prevent finding the net despite getting a hand to the midfielder’s shot.

Visiting boss Willie Patterson’s introduction of substitute Peter Bradley then paid dividends when he pounced on a Tobin miskick to send over a cross that Fraser McGhee fired goalwards and McElroy diverted the ball into the net for his second goal of the game.

The on-loan Queen's Park winger came close to a sensational winner with a stunning 25-yard shot that rebounded off the crossbar with Tobin beaten.

B but the tall Rutkiewicz struck woodwork at the other end as the closing stages saw Irvine Meadow try to make the most of McNeil’s hampered state.

The heroic keeper kept his goal intact to earn a 2-2 draw and said later , “I jarred my knee in the early clash with big Mick and then felt something go when I saved his second half header and only a mixture of sheer adrenaline and the knowledge we didn’t have a replacement keeper kept me on the pitch.

“I was disappointed not to keep out Medda’s second goal but overall iIt was one of those games when a lot of things went right for me and I was pleased to play my part.”

News of the honours even outcome was welcomed by supporters of Arthurlie whose delight would have been twofold in the wake of Stevie Kerrigan’s side demonstrating a firm resolve to get themselves clear of the basement with a stirring victory over Rob Roy in an incident-packed Dunterlie affair of four goals , three penalty kick awards and two red cards.

Back in favour defender Gavin Rushford headed two goals for the Barrhead men while Chris Mackie netted the second of his side’s two spot kicks after Gary Carroll saw the first saved by replacement Rabs goalkeeper Jon Murdoch who had come on after regular No.1 Jordan Brown received his marching orders for bringing down Mackie.

Reece Pearson gave hope to the visitors by snatching a goal back for the visitors at 2-0 only for Rushford to restore Lie’s two goals advantage and things went from bad to worse for the depleted Rabs over the closing stages as Chris Duff's striking the crossbar with a penalty kick lifeline was followed by their numbers being reduced to nine after Davie Barr was despatched inside .

Meanwhile, a mixed bag awaited Largs Thistle and Kilwinning Rangers, two of the four sides looking set to contest the step-up places from the Super First Division.

League leaders Largs suffered a surprise reverse at Guys Meadow as veteran Davie Dickson netted the only goal of the game for Cumbrrnauld United whose hopes of climbing away from the relegation dogfight were significantly boosted by their three points haul.

The opening 45 minutes at Abbey Park had ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup semi-finalists Kilwinning appearing to have one eye on next weekend’s last four tilt with Beith as they struggled to break down managerless Ardrossan Winton Rovers however three scores inside 20 second half minutes through Ian Cashmore and a Ben Lewis brace - one from the penalty spot - brought the Buffs their sought after confidence lift.

Blantyre Vics eased themselves away from the drop zone with a precious 1-0 win at home to Greenock with Mark Thomson on target but Rutherglen Glencairn failed in their attempt to secure some breathing space after only managing a 1-1 draw at home to the all but mathematically doomed Maybole.

And the Ru’Glonians ,who finished with ten men following the double yellow card dismissal of Sean McGuire could have come away pointless but for a well struck Alan Muir counter cancelling out a hotly disputed opening goal for their Ayrshire visitors after Glens goalkeeper J.C. Hutchison was controversially adjudged to have stepped back over his goal line after clutching the ball above his head.

A T.J. McLuskey hat trick helped St Roch's emerge 3-2 winners in the city derby clash with St Anthony's in the Central First Division but the most significant result came at Keanie Park where goals from Kevin Barry Grant and Paul McGeogh saw Wishaw defeat Johnstone Burgh 2-1 to move within a point of tabletoppers Renfrew and crucially open up a five points gap on third placed Rossvale.

There were yet another couple of twists in the second division promotion race after fancied pair Cambuslang Rangers and Lanark United succumbed to damaging defeats from Forth Wanderers and Gartcairn respectively .

Barry McGeechan and Ross Dick (pen) goals saw Forth run out 2-0 winners at home to the Wee Gers while winger Lee Pettigrew’s first half strike proved to be the only goal in Gartcairn’s encounter with Lanark.