Renfrew 3 Ashfield F & A C 1 , Western Park, Renfrew - Kick-Off 2pm

Ashfield headed over to Renfrew yesterday looking to consolidate their position at the Top of the Division and also looking to bounce back from last week`s exit from the Scottish Junior Cup. The Match itself turned out to be an absolute cracker with both teams having a real go at each other with the visitors from Springburn producing a very good display only for it to go wrong in the closing minutes. Unfortunately the crowd leaving the ground should have been talking about the Match itself however the Referee`s decisions took centre stage in the discussions.

Ashfield had made a couple of changes from last week`s Match at McKenna Park and started the game very well with a tempo that Renfrew struggled to Match. In the 2nd Minute the Referee had a big decision to make when Paul Maxwell rounded the Keeper in the box and was unceremoniously brought down. A stonewall penalty ? and a possible Red Card for the Keeper - `no` was the Referee`s decision as he decided to give Ashfield the advantage ? The Ball was eventually cleared by the Renfrew defence.

Ashfield did not let this affect them and Mark Thomson & Alistair Martin were linking up well with the front two and in 7 Minutes Ashfield got their reward when Mark Thomson played a lovely floated ball through to Paul Maxwell who broke the Renfrew offside trap to glance a header past the onrushing Keeper to put the `field 1-0 up. Renfrew 0 Ashfield 1.

To their Credit the home side gradually forced their way back into the Match and started to test the Ashfield back four with the Renfrew No 9 McLean and the No 11 causing problems. Ashfield to their credit however managed to restrict the `frew to Free-Kicks from outside the box. In the 24th Minute Ashfield should have gone further ahead when Ali Martin found himself running through on goal only for his floated shot to be well saved by the Renfrew keeper. Shortly after Darren O`Donnell found himself through however miscontrolled in front of goal to the relief of the home support.

Just on the half hour mark Ashfield had a major let off after Chris Prior saved well from the Renfrew forward. The ball was parried out to the edge of the six yard box and the onrushing Renfrew Midfielder lashed the ball against the upright and the ball was eventually cleared to safety. This relief for Ashfield was only short-lived and Renfrew pulled level in the 36th Minute when a low hard ball into the six yard box was met by McLean, who stabbed the ball under Prior to put the home side level. Renfrew 1 Ashfield 1.

The game continued to flow from end to end and despite the committed & physical challenges that were going on it had never been a particularly dirty match.

HALF TIME:- RENFREW 1 ASHFIELD 1

As in the first half Ashfield started at great pace again and were unlucky not to go ahead in the 47th Minute. A terrific free-kick from Mark Thomson cracked against the base of the Renfrew post. Mark Smith who started only his 2nd game for Ashfield played very well in the middle of the park & can be very pleased with his contribution. Mark was replaced by Shaun Fraser midway through the half and he carried on the good work driving hard at the Renfrew defence.

It was all Ashfield this half as the visitors took command and were unlucky with two chances from Corners kicks. Firstly Paul Maxwell outjumped the Renfrew keeper only to see his effort cleared on the goal line. Shortly after Mark Thomson headed narrowly wide from a great delivery by Alistair Martin. Darren O`Donnell was replaced by Craig Smith and shortly after the woodwork came to Renfrew`s aid when Ali Martin`s shot at the far post came back off the upright. No one could have envisaged what was about to happen in the game, however it started with Ashfield`s Jamie Reilly being given a straight Red for a late tackle. It had been Jamie`s first infringement in the Match & a yellow would have sufficied.sufficed. Anyway it didn`t deter Ashfield from pushing forward to try and secure the three points.

The game turned on its head in the 84th Minute when Ali Martin & Craig Smith had a great chance at the far post to prod Ashfield ahead however the ball somehow got trapped between them and the chance was over. Immediately the ball was played long and over the top of the `field defence. McLean raced onto the ball and lobbed Chris Prior in the Ashfield goal from 25 yards out. It was an excellent finish from the Renfrew forward. Renfrew 2 Ashfield 1. The home side then used their experience to see the minutes out with many injuries taking place. Craig Smith for Ashfield had been caught by the `frew`s keeper`s follow through from a clearance on the 90th Minute however the game raged on. The ball broke through to Chris Prior in the visitors goal who lost control and brought down the Renfrew forward. The Referee pointed straight to the spot despite the visitor`s protests. No more so than Jim Smith who was given a Red Card for dissent along with Chris Prior in the Ashfield goal.

With Ashfield down to 8 Men, Centre Forward Paul Maxwell took over in goal however had no chance from the penalty as McLean lashed in Renfrew`s third and his own hat-trick. Renfrew 3 Ashfield 1. A real cruel blow for Ashfield who couldn`t believe what had unfolded. The Match itself now was extremely tousy and the Referee brought the Match to a close amid scenes of players squaring up to each other. The Referee obviously not content with 3 Red Cards, sent off Craig Smith of Ashfield and the No 11 of Renfrew to leave everyone in the crowd bewildered.


FULL TIME:- RENFREW 3 ASHFIELD 1

Man of the Match:- An all round good performance from Ashfield despite the result. The `field were up against a physical challenge this week and young Paul Mangan had an exceptional match at left back in only his 2nd season in Junior Football.

Attendance:- 125

Photographs by:- Inga