BY JIM O'DONNELL
RENFREW reaped the good fortune of Scott Morton’s availability – work commitments curtail him to one Saturday in every three – for selection as the speedy front man bagged a hat-trick to help earn a 3-1 victory over Kilwinning Rangers.
Victory delivered back-to-back league wins for the first time this season and the 26-year old’s pace and movement tormented the Buffs throughout. Morton always seemed to be right on the shoulder of a backtracking defender, ready to pounce on a mistake or error in judgement, and it must be said there were numerous opportunities. And now the forward is targeting taking many more in the all-important run-in to the season.
“That’s me onto four goals for the season which isn’t a grand total by any standards,” he admitted. “But it’s been such a stop-start season because of my work that I’m just happy to make a telling contribution.
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“My first goal settled us when Kilwinning were putting our defence under pressure and scoring again so soon afterwards had us on top until the referee saw fit to award them a dubious penalty.
“There was not a lot to choose between the teams second half but I’ve then gambled on chasing a long Danny McLeavy kick out and I’ve been in the right place to take advantage when their defenders have left the ball to each other.
“Getting back our two-goal cushion made a huge difference and allowed us to see the game out comfortably, yet we probably should have scored more goals given the chances created over the closing stages.”
The visiting Ayrshiremen did start the better in this New Western Park contest and Garry Fleming’s run and cross set up a shot from Carlo Monti, easily saved by Frew keeper McLeay, prior to the Buffs front man striking the top of the crossbar with a 20-yard free kick.
But in 13 minutes David McKenna latched onto a through ball down the side, his first touch taking him past goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth, before picking out Morton who duly clipped a curling lob over a couple of chasing Buffs defenders and into the unguarded net for 1-0.
Just two minutes later the scoreline was doubled as Buffs defender David Syme was horribly short with an attempted passback and the alert Morton nipped in to poke the ball past the stranded keeper.
If the visitors were shocked to find themselves trailing 2-0, their bewilderment was nothing compared to that of Renfrew’s players when whistler Chris Graham threw ta lifeline by awarding a spot kick after Sam McLoskey’s driven cross skimmed off Monti’s head to strike Frew defender Bob Campbell’s upper body.
The former Shettleston stalwart’s appeals only landed him with a yellow card, as Fleming expertly tucked away the contentious award for 2-1 which was to remain the scoreline until the interval.
A somewhat tepid second period sprung into life around the hour mark with a concerted Frew flurry which saw shots from McKenna, Morton and Ricky McIntosh kept out by a combination of the upright and last-gasp blocks. However, Kilwinning’s goal was only to remain intact for a further six minutes.
Yet another long McLeay kick saw Buffs defender Jamie Whyte attempt to shepherd the ball back to advancing No.1 Hogarth but that man Morton nipped between them to deftly lob the ball over the goalkeeper for his and Renfrew’s third.
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Renfrew’s triumph lifted them up to sixth from bottom spot in the standings – much to the delight of co-boss Martin Ferry. “We are good value for the performances here at New Western park in front of our own fans where we have shown ourselves a match for anyone,” he said. “But away from home has been a different matter and is why we are at the wrong end of the table.
“I thought we were the better team today and fully deserved our win with Scott going to receive all the plaudits for his three goals yet he probably played better last week against Largs Thistle and didn’t get his name on the scoresheet.”
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