It was a dismal visit to New Western Park for The Buffs as they fell to a 3-1 defeat to title challengers Renfrew FC after a pretty lacklustre performance from Kevin Kelly’s side. The Buffs took the lead in the first half through Bryan Boylan, but a quickfire double from the hosts gave them the lead into half time. The Buffs never really got going at all in the second half, and The Frew sealed the 3 points from the penalty spot with 15 to go.
It was The Buffs who had the first big chance of the game when Bryan Boylan hit the bar from close range. It was some really tidy play in midfield from The Buffs to start the move when Mark Lamont flicked the ball round the corner to Nathan Lennox, who took a great touch which took him past 3 Renfrew bodies, then played the ball down the right channel for Fraser Malcolm to run onto. Malcolm hit a first time effort, which was deflected towards the back post where Bryan Boylan was waiting to pounce from around 6 yards out. The ball fell perfectly for Bryan, who looked destined to score, but his half volley was hammered straight off the crossbar.
The Buffs were on the attack once again when Boylan picked the ball upon the edge of his own box and drove up the left wing. Bryan made great distance down the wing before passing the ball inside to Lamont, who received the ball around the halfway line with runners either side of him. Lamont decided to try and thread a difficult ball through to the overlapping Conor McLaughlin, but his pass was slightly overhit and rolled through and into the goalkeeper’s hands.
It was a strong start from The Buffs, which continued when Jack Maccalman played a brilliant ping over the top of the Renfrew defence, which Boylan latched onto. Bryan got to the byline and cut the ball back to the edge of the box to Mark Lamont, who took a touch before hitting an effort that was blocked and sent the ball over the bar. It was Lamont who took the following corner and swung the ball into the centre of the box for Boylan, who leaped well and put a header on target, which was seemingly blocked by a Buffs man. The ball rebounded back into the feet of Boylan, whose powerful shot deflected off a Renfrew defender and into the bottom right corner to give The Buffs the lead.
Unfortunately for Kevin Kelly, his side’s lead didn’t last long, as 2 minutes later Dylan Brown came out to try and clear a Renfrew corner but failed to properly connect with the ball, which allowed Kenzie McCrystal to pick the loose ball up on the left side of the box before finishing into the empty net.
As quick as Renfrew equalised, they were in front when they found it far too easy to work the ball down the right side before the ball was slid through for striker Ben Harwood, who got in behind The Buffs defence with ease and finished past Brown into the bottom left to complete Renfrew’s quickfire double and hand his side the lead as they head into the interval.
It was actually a decent first half performance from The Buffs, who were made to rue missed chances when they gave away two poor goals in quick succession. Kevin Kelly would’ve been asking for more from his side as they headed out into the second half, but it ended up being a pretty sloppy second 45 in which The Buffs failed to really get out of first gear in.
There were a few half chances for Fraser Malcolm in the opening exchanges of the half when Bryan Boylan sent 2 crosses into the box, which the big striker managed to get his head to, but both of Malcolm’s attempts were comfortably saved by the Renfrew goalkeeper.
It did look like Boylan was going to level the game for The Buffs when the Frew’s defence failed to fully clear a cross ball in from the left. The clearance landed at the feet of Bryan, who hit a first-time half volley which was headed for the bottom right corner but was cleared off the line by Logan Punton, who was covering his back post excellently.
Renfrew top scorer, Jojo Gillespie sealed the 3 points for The Frew when he placed a penalty into the bottom right. The ball was crossed in from the left wing, which The Buffs couldn’t clear, which allowed Dominic Innes to get on the ball and take a big touch past McLaughlin, who made a clumsy lunge and brought down Innes, forcing the referee to point to the spot.
It was a really frustrating day for The Buffs, who would’ve fancied their chances of leaving New Western Park with 3 points if they had turned up and played to their ability on the day. A mix of conceding 3 sloppy goals and a lack of fluidity going forward meant that the 3 points were kept in Renfrew after a very organised performance from John Quigley’s ‘Frew side. The defeat means that the Buffs’ lead atop the table has been reduced to 3 points, and the chasing pack will feel a lot closer as Kevin Kelly’s team head into the remaining 7 games of the season.
