That Irvine Meadow are a different team this season can no longer be denied following Saturday's 2-0 Scottish Junior Cup victory over Cambuslang Rangers.

This much was clearly evident to Somervell Park onlookers as the Ayrshire big guns made hard work of knocking out Central Second Division opponents reduced to 10 men for the closing half hour after striker Craig Grierson picked up a second booking.

And there is more to it than the selection woes which ruled out frontmen Paul Maxwell, Paul McLaughlin and Chris Hall on top of Grant Evans and Tony McParland filling substitute berths when neither was fit enough to take part in proceedings.

True, most of the components are still in place of the Medda side that embarked on a storming run to the Scottish semi-finals last time out.

However, the flowing style that picked teams apart is not so much in evidence - not least because they badly miss the flair and attacking dimension provided by Shaun Fraser, now at Queen's Park.

Putting this point to team boss Stevie Rankin after the final whistle provoked a defiant defence of his playing charges.

"Shaun had it in his locker to get into the box and score key goals, but let's not forget he was in the team last season when we struggled to beat Scone Thistle 2-1 at home in this same first round stage of the cup," he said.

"There were similarities this time as we just never got going as an attacking force and that in itself creates frustrations in players, but a win's a win, so we should be pleased with the overall result but not the performance.

"And yes there were many things we needed to do better out there, but what should not be overlooked is the players were always in control against a battling Cambuslang and never at any point looked to be in danger of conceding a goal.

"It's just unfortunate that our second goal came along in the closing minutes because the players would have undoubtedly been more relaxed if we'd netted it earlier and might have gone on to score more goals."

The deadlock was broken by a goalkeeping blunder after Ryan Deas let fly from 30 yards.

Andy Finnigan - following a string of fine saves earlier - parried the ball back towards the penalty spot where Willie Sawyers pounced to clip the ball into the net for 1-0.

The visitors were on top, but without looking like adding to their lead and the only other first-half talking point was when fussy whistler Willie Wilson's penchant for issuing yellow cards to Wee Gers players evoked a verbal blast from team boss John Doyle who was duly sent to the pavilion.

The second period followed much the same pattern as before with Medda continuing to surge down both flanks through Robert Halliday and Gary McCann, however nothing came of their procession of crosses and passes.

Sawyers contriving to miss the target from four yards range and put the 10 men out of their misery around the 80-minute mark after good set up play by McCann set a raft of Irvine supporters heading for the exit gates believing the game was destined to finish 1-0.

But a final sting in the tail was provided by skipper Mark Thomson when he powered home one of his trademark free kicks to leave Finnigan helpless and seal Medda's passage into the second round draw, taking place in their social club on Sunday at 1pm.

Beaten Cambuslang co-manager Doyle said: "Paddy Flannery and I are proud of the effort and commitment shown by the players in hanging in there against all the odds

"Injuries forced us to play Simon Marriot in defence and he may have just found his true position as he was magnificent in the face of Irvine Meadow's pressure.

"It was always my worry that the rash of early bookings for trivial matters would come back to haunt us and that's exactly what happened with Craig's dismissal."

Among those into the second round hat are managerless Arthurlie for whom Craig Smith (2) and Kevin Green netted in a 3-0 defeat of Hall Russell while another North Region opponent, Ellon United, were put to the sword 4-1 at home to Carluke Rovers whose marksmen were Greg Cavanagh (2) , Ian Watt and Gordon Murphy.