THE FREW LEFT TO RUE 'SOFT GOALS'

Published 19 Aug 2009 17:36

RENFREW suffered a repeat of last year's disappointing opening fixture as Maybole took all three points back down to Ayrshire with a 3-1 on Saturday.

The 'Bole recorded the same scoreline when they visited Western Park for last year's curtain raiser and were on hand to collect all three points as the Frew pushed the self-destruct button.

Co-manager Colin Clark said: "We committed suicide. In the first 20 minutes we looked fine, we were the best team by a country mile.

"But rather than building on our goal we let them right back into it.

"We handed them the game by giving them a soft goal and no matter how hard we work, we just don't get goals like that.

"We have to work for everything we get and that's what's galling about it.

"We have to create our goals rather than teams giving us them, and that's what's frustrating about it because you can't legislate for that.

"Our strikers didn't get enough service really. Our midfielders worked hard but never really created anything.

"And when you're 3-1 down at half-time, against the wind and with ten men, you will always struggle."

Renfrew were on top during the opening exchanges between the two clubs with new signing Colin Forbes showing a lot of determination in the middle of the park before the Frew notched the opener.

Clinton Maxwell continued his fine form of scoring against Maybole with a clever overhead kick from just inside the penalty box after 15 minutes.

Renfrew looked comfortable and almost made it two but John Hammond's looping header was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Martin McCauley.

Maybole were then gifted an equaliser in the 23rd minute after defender Brain Welsh's failure to clear a cross allowed former Queen's Park striker

Stuart McGrady to latch on and score from 12 yards out.

Matters turned worse when Renfrew skipper Neil Shearer was given his marching orders after a goalmouth tussle with Maybole's Paul Kerr.

Both players went to ground and the referee, rather harshly, pointed to spot and produced a red for a

deliberate hand ball.

Maybole's target man dusted himself down and rifled home the resulting penalty to give the visitors the lead.

Kerr then caused more problems in the Renfrew box when his header crashed off the crossbar only

to land at the feet of McGrady, who slotted away his

second of the day to ensure all three points for Maybole.

The Frew will now be looking ahead to this Saturday's trip to Ayrshire to face an Annbank side after their winning start to season, beating newly relegated Glenafton 3-2.

RENFREW: Sexton, Hammond, Gordon, Welsh, Shearer, Dickie, Forbes, Prentice, Smith (Stewart 72), McLean (Quigley 46), Maxwell (Reid 72). SUBS: Crowhurst, Currie, McKay, Lauchlin.

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This article appeared in The Gazette 19 Aug 09

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