It’s a second trip to New Western Park this season for The Buffs as they travel to face Renfrew FC in Round 1 of the West of Scotland League Cup. The Buffs earned their first win of the season last time the sides met, thanks to Bryan Boylan and Ryan Wilson, whose goals helped The Buffs come back to beat the ten men of Renfrew.
The Frew have played eleven matches since tasting defeat against The Buffs, putting together a great run of form that has seen them lose only two games. Much like The Buffs, it’s been a busy fixture list in recent weeks for Renfrew, which has consisted of five cup ties in their last eight games. Today’s hosts have come out victorious in all five of their cup ties so far this season, defeating the likes of Cumnock, Kirkaldy & Dysart, and most recently Arthurlie, who they defeated 1-2 at Dunterlie Park a fortnight ago. The cups have provided The Frew with some great distraction from the difficult start to the league campaign they have suffered, which has seen them pick up eight points in as many games. Young striker, Aiden Malcolm has been on fire for his side lately, netting five goals in his last five games for Renfrew, including a brace three weeks ago. The teams are inseparable when it comes to the head-to-head record, with two Renfrew wins, two Buffs wins, and two draws coming in the past six contests between the sides, with the Buffs’ recent win at New Western Park coming as a great relief for the club after suffering a pretty torrid time at New Western Park in recent seasons. The winner of today’s tie will welcome Giffnock in Round 2, with the Glasgow-based side drawing a bye in the first round. Should today’s game end in a draw after ninety minutes, we would be headed straight to penalties (I think).
It’s three games unbeaten and back-to-back clean-sheets for The Buffs after last week’s lacklustre draw at Bellsdale Park, served up the Buffs’ first 0-0 of the season. The Buffs will definitely need to look better than they did last week if they hope to advance past a tricky opponent and get themselves into the next round of a competition in which they only made it to the third round in last season.
