Cup draw Ranks up with best; WEST.

STEVIE RANKIN hailed his Ashfield side's effort after they secured a Scottish Cup replay with Irvine Meadow.

The boss admits they had to ride their luck in the 2-2 draw against the side that underlined its status as one of the Cup favourites.

Mark Thomson opened the scoring for Ashfield but Frank Haggerty equalised. Ally Martin put Ashfield in front before the break but Haggerty grabbed his second after the interval.

Rankin said: "I can't praise my lads enough for effort and commitment and I'm sure we have surprised a few people.

"In the second half they put us under severe pressure but my players defended well and got a rub of the green.

"From the financial view it's terrific for Ashfield as we need finances through the gates and to play a team the size of Irvine Meadow twice in a week is great for us.

"If you had offered me a draw I would have taken it and although we'll go into the replay as underdogs, we will at least compete and hopefully cause a shock."