Renfrew suffer 4-2 defeat to Kilwinning Rangers in league opener

Renfrew suffered a 4-2 defeat to Kilwinning Rangers at New Western Park in their opening Lowland League West match of the season.

Sean Fyfe and a second-half penalty from Josh Winton gave Renfrew their two goals. Ryan Wilson scored twice for the visitors, including a stoppage-time goal which secured the points.

Kilwinning started brightly and Wilson almost opened the scoring after just three minutes when he broke clear and struck the post.

Renfrew responded at the other end, with Oliver Smith winning a corner before David McCallum got his head to the resulting delivery.

The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute. Carlo Monti swung a corner into the box and captain Danny O’Neill rose highest to head beyond Renfrew goalkeeper Thomas McLeay.

Renfrew looked for a response and Ben Harwood fired straight at Dylan Brown, while Kilwinning’s Nick Lockhart later sent a long-range effort over the bar.

The home side passed up a good opportunity in the 21st minute. Smith found Logan Punton, who sent a cross into the box, but there was nobody there to meet it despite Kilwinning having few players back.

McCallum headed over from another Renfrew opportunity before the visitors countered quickly following a home corner, with Robbie Scullion seeing an effort blocked.

Wilson was shown the first yellow card of the match in the 38th minute after kicking the ball away following the referee stopping play.

Renfrew then produced a quick counter from a Kilwinning corner, only for Adam Hodge to stop the attack.

Christopher Mahon raced down the wing shortly afterwards and won another corner for Renfrew, but the opportunity came to nothing.

Renfrew found their equaliser with the final play of the first half.

Fyfe’s initial effort was saved before he made it 1-1 with a volley just before the break.

Photo: Renfrew in action against Kilwinning Rangers at New Western Park Photo Credit: Renfrewshire News

Kilwinning manager Chris Strain had been shouting from the touchline following the equaliser and headed towards the dressing room before the half-time whistle.

Kilwinning regained the lead six minutes after the restart when Ross Love found Lewis Morrison, who lashed a volley into the net to make it 2-1.

Renfrew tried to respond immediately. Mahon found Cameron Kerr, who was brought down, but the resulting free-kick was blocked.

McLeay was increasingly called into action as Kilwinning pushed for another goal. He saved from Paul Frize before Smith broke up the field for Renfrew, although the counter came to nothing.

Ryan Paterson was replaced by Dominic Innes in the 55th minute before Mahon tested Brown with a right-footed effort.

McLeay punched away a Kilwinning corner before Fyfe was booked in the 61st minute for pulling Wilson’s shirt.

The Renfrew goalkeeper then made a series of saves as the visitors looked to extend their lead.

Carlo Monti had an effort stopped before McLeay saved again from Morrison. Another Kilwinning attack brought one of his best stops of the afternoon when he used his knee to keep out an effort from Scullion.

Morrison then had two efforts in quick succession saved.

Mahon was booked for Renfrew in the 71st minute before Kilwinning made three changes.

The visitors eventually found their third in the 75th minute when Wilson hammered the ball beyond McLeay to put Kilwinning 3-1 ahead.

Renfrew refused to give up and were given a route back into the match in the 80th minute when Argyll McCoist was brought down by goalkeeper Brown.

The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Josh Winton converted the resulting kick into the bottom-right corner to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Morrison was later booked for a challenge on Mahon as Renfrew continued to look for another equaliser.

Kilwinning made sure of the three points in stoppage time when Wilson scored his second of the afternoon to complete the 4-2 scoreline.

Full-time: Renfrew 2-4 Kilwinning Rangers

Teams:
Renfrew: 1. Thomas Daniel McLeay (GK, captain), 2. Gregor John Wylie, 3. Logan Punton, 4. David McCallum, 5. Kieran Healy, 6. Cameron Kerr, 7. Oliver Smith, 8. Sean Fyfe, 9. Ben Harwood, 10. Christopher Mahon, 11. Ryan Paterson.
Subs: 12. Logan Percival, 14. Curtis Smith, 15. Josh Winton, 16. Jack Haggerty, 17. Dominic Innes, 18. Jack Donohoe (GK), 19. Argyll McCoist.

Kilwinning Rangers: 1. Dylan Brown (GK), 2. Murray MacKintosh, 4. Daniel O’Neill (captain), 5. Ross Love, 7. Carlo Monti, 8. Paul Frize, 10. Robbie Scullion, 11. Ryan Wilson, 12. Nicholas Lockhart, 18. Adam Hodge, 20. Lewis Morrison.
Subs: 6. Ben Lewis, 9. Bryan Boylan, 13. Christopher Callander, 16. Ewan McLevy, 17. Matthew Jack McLean, 19. Harry Lockwood, 22. Ben Coutts.

Match officials: Referee: Olivia Crawford. Assistant referee 1: Matthew Fraser. Assistant referee 2: Will.
Attendance: 267