Renfrew extend winning run with late derby victory at Johnstone Burgh

Renfrew made it three away wins in a row as they claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Johnstone Burgh at Keanie Park, with a stoppage-time winner sealing all three points.

The win sends Renfrew into a run of three home matches, starting this weekend, and keeps their momentum going after a strong spell on the road.

Burgh manager Murdo MacKinnon made one change from the side that beat Rutherglen Glencairn, with Matty Grant coming in for Lewis King, while Renfrew made one change from Saturday’s win at Glenafton Athletic, with Kerr replacing Rutherford.

Renfrew started quickly and should have taken the lead inside the opening minute when Dominic Innes cut the ball back to Aiden Malcolm, but he fired wide from close range.

The visitors continued to dominate the early stages, with Malcolm forcing a fine save from Luke Scullion before further chances fell to Innes and Sean Fyfe.

The pressure told in the 31st minute when Innes broke down the left and squared for Malcolm, who tapped in from close range.

Renfrew nearly added a second soon after when an inswinging corner from Innes struck the post, but they did double their lead in the 40th minute as David McCallum headed home from another delivery.

Burgh struggled to create in the first half, with their best chance falling to Aiden Gilmartin, who fired over from distance.

The home side made two changes at the break and showed more intent after half-time, with Blair Rossiter testing Jack Donohoe from a free-kick.

Renfrew almost made it three in the 56th minute when a quick counter ended with Innes striking the crossbar from close range.

Burgh gradually built pressure and pulled a goal back in the 76th minute. Rossiter found Broque Watson, who controlled well before firing into the bottom corner.

That lifted the home side and they pushed for an equaliser, with Watson, Kyle Lafferty and Jude Cummins all denied by the impressive Donohoe.

The equaliser finally came in the 86th minute when Cummins reacted quickest to score from close range after his initial effort was saved, marking his first senior goal.

Burgh looked the more likely to go on and win it and came close deep into added time when Lafferty dragged a shot just wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

But in the 96th minute, Renfrew struck the decisive blow. A defensive error allowed the ball to fall to Malcolm, who fired into the bottom corner to spark celebrations among the visitors.

Renfrew saw out the remaining seconds to secure the win.

Full-time: Johnstone Burgh 2-3 Renfrew FC

Johnstone Burgh manager Murdo McKinnon did not hold back after the match, saying his side “got what we deserved”.

“I thought our first-half performance was diabolical – probably the worst I’ve seen in my time at the club.

“Defensively we were atrocious. We got back into the game, but to be honest we were probably lucky to still be in it.

“We had chances at the end, but that would have been undeserved. I don’t think we deserved anything out of the game.

“Some individuals need to take a look at themselves. That standard of performance is miles off where we need to be.”

Following the result, Johnstone Burgh remain 6th in the table on 40 points after 23 matches, while Renfrew move up to 9th with 33 points from 24 games.

Next up for the Burgh is Shotts Bon Accord at Keanie Park on Saturday 18th April. Renfrew face Rutherglen Glencairn at New Western Park in the first of three home games, following a run of three away wins. Both matches kick off at 2pm.

Teams:
Johnstone Burgh:
Scullion, Grant, MacKinnon, Forrester, McDonald, McShane, Christie, Esplin, Gilmartin, Watson, Gallagher
Subs: Menzies, Currie, Lafferty, Rossiter, Faulds, Cummins, O’Neill

Renfrew:
Donohoe, Cameron, Punton, McCallum, Healy, Fyfe, Wylie, Kerr, Malcolm, Mahon, Innes
Subs: Rutherford, Ferguson, Mullen, Harwood, McLernan, Morton, McLeay