The Buffs grabbed their first win of the season, under the lights at New Western Park, after a difficult test against a hardworking Renfrew FC side. “The Frew” were reduced to 10 men late in the second half, which allowed The Buffs to really control the second 45 and eventually convert 2 chances through headers from Bryan Boylan and Ryan Wilson.
Renfrew dominated the early moments of the game and earned the first chance of the game thanks to their energetic high press. Defender, David McCallum, launched a hopeful ball in behind the Buffs’ defence, which was originally read well by Lawrence Hendry, who intercepted the ball before playing the ball back to Glen Cameron, in goal. Hendry’s pass lacked pace, which allowed Renfrew winger, Chris Mahon, to nick in front of Glen and take the ball round the goalkeeper. Fortunately for The Buffs, Mahon’s touch took him slightly wide, which narrowed the angle for his shot and enabled Logan Burgess to get across and block the strike before clearing.
Renfrew would go on to create another chance soon after when forward Ben Harwood managed to just about get on the end of a long ball over the top before crossing into the box. Harwood cut the ball back across the Buffs’ box and found Mahon at the back post, who turned and tried to get a shot off but was defended very well by Logan Burgess, who stuck very tight to his man, allowing him to block Mahon’s effort.
Buffs’ first chance of the game came around the 15th minute through some great play by Blair MacIntyre. Blair received the ball in the middle of the park and beat his man with an excellent turn before splitting the Renfrew defence open with a pass into Olly Smith. The ball would get stuck under the feet of Smith, but Olly still managed to squeeze a pass through to Ryan Wilson on the edge of the box, who shot first time. The effort looked dangerous but was deflected behind for the Buffs’ first corner of the match.
The first goal of the game would come Renfrew’s way as Cammy Kerr converted from the penalty spot in the 20th minute. It was a soft penalty to give away from the Buffs’ point of view as the Renfrew midfielder picked the ball up in too much space on the edge of the box before driving through the middle of the Buffs’ defence, forcing Lawrence Hendry to stick a leg out, which sent the Renfrew man falling. Glen Cameron wasn’t far away from pushing Kerr’s penalty past the post, but just couldn’t get a strong enough hand on it, allowing the ball to roll into the bottom right corner.
Just 5 minutes later, a great Buffs move would allow Smith to get in behind the Frew defence and run through on goal. Smith picked up the pass around 25 yards from goal and took a touch past defender, Logan Punton, which looked to set him through on goal. Punton sensed the danger and made a desperate attempt to win the ball off of Smith, which resulted in the winger being tripped and a foul being given. The referee, Robert Thomson, decided that Punton’s tackle denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity and showed the defender a red card before a conversation with his assistant referee convinced Thomson to rescind Punton’s sending off and instead give him just a yellow card.
The Buffs should’ve had an equaliser when Ryan Wilson had a chance to open his goal-scoring account for the season. The Buffs recycled possession well across the pitch before Jack Maccalman played a perfect switch out to the right-hand side for Olly Smith. Olly’s brilliant first touch took him past his defender, which allowed the winger to find Wilson in space around the penalty spot. Ryan controlled before hitting an effort at goal, which was saved well with the feet of Renfrew goalkeeper Thomas McLeay, from close range.
It wouldn’t take long for Logan Punton to see red for the second time in the game, as the defender foolishly kicked the ball away after a Buffs free-kick was given, giving the referee no choice but to show him another yellow card to send the defender off, less than 10 minutes after his first caution.
The Buffs would’ve been hopeful of a second-half turnaround, despite being a goal down, due to their man advantage, but would need to be more ruthless in front of goal than they had shown in the first game and a half of the season.
It was a slow start to the half as Renfrew sat deep in an attempt to protect their lead, which allowed The Buffs to keep possession for long periods but prevented the visitors from finding any space in high areas. It would take around 10 minutes of the half for The Buffs to find any sort of breakthrough when substitute Bryan Boylan got in behind down the right flank. Bryan flashed a dangerous ball across the box, which looked destined to set Ryan Wilson up for a tap-in in but the Renfrew goalkeeper got down well to cut out the cross and snuff out the danger.
After many missed chances, the Buffs would finally get their first goal of the season in the 60th minute when Jack Maccalman sent a long throw into the box from the right touchline. Jack’s throw made it to the back post, where it was met by the head of Bryan Boylan, who won it well and sent it bouncing back across goal and into the right side of the net.
The Buffs should’ve had another just after, but this time it was Oli Black with the miss. Ryan Wilson had a chance to volley from a tight angle on the right-hand side of the box, but his effort was blocked, and the loose ball fell to defender Oli Black, who found time and space for his attempt but totally miss-hit the ball and skied it well over the bar from inside the box.
A rare, second-half, Renfrew attack would’ve ended with them retaking the lead late on if it wasn’t for Glen Cameron, who made a great save from point-blank range after the ball was crossed in low and found the unmarked Jordan McMahon, who struck goal-ward.
The Buffs’ second-half dominance would finally pay off in the 85th minute when a corner from the right was swung into the back post for Boylan to attack. Boylan got up well and headed on target, but was saved well by McLeay in goal, who showed fast reactions to make the save. Unfortunately for McLeay, he couldn’t keep hold of the effort, with the rebound falling to Ryan Wilson, whose header found its way into the back of the net to give The Buffs a lead late on.
An impressive win for the Buffs, regardless of their man advantage, at a venue which has proved very difficult to visit in recent times. It’s another quick turnaround for Kevin Kelly’s side, who now must go to Portland Park on Saturday to face Troon in what will be one of the toughest tests The Buffs will face this season.
