Renfrew Ladies got back to winning ways in some style on Sunday with an emphatic 7-2 win away to Ayr United.
On the back of a three-match losing streak that included a heartbreaking Division One Cup final loss to Celtic Academy, Frew Ladies overcame injuries and work commitments to put pressure on the hosts from the off and secure a well-deserved three points.
Dominating the early stages and comfortably on top in terms of possession, the opening goal came from a route one ball over the top from Sam McQuillian in goal which found Karen Baillie, who calmly chipped the Ayr keeper.
That set the tempo, with Renfrew able to control the game with some great passing on show.
And their dominance would pay off when Claire Rae’s precise pass found Lindsay Fitzpatrick, who in turn crossed to Baillie to double the lead with a brilliant finish.
READ MORE: Renfrew LFC ready for Division One Cup final against Celtic
Baillie then grabbed her hat-trick 17 minutes in to make it 3-0.
And no sooner had the referee blown the whistle to restart the match than Baillie took advantage of sloppy play to nick in for her fourth inside the opening 20 minutes.
The frantic pace couldn’t last, with both teams beginning to settle down in a fairly open period.
However, it was the Frew ladies who went even further ahead on the half-hour mark after Rae was fouled in the box.
Lauren McMurray stepped up to leave the keeper with no chance as she grabbed her first goal for the club after two and a half years, peeling off to celebrate in style.
Renfrew were cruising at this stage, which allowed the home side to carve out a number of chances, with a long, hopeful ball over the top beating the offside trap as they pulled one back just before the break.
Four-goal hero Baillie was rested at half-time, with Eilish McCaskill taking her place to make her debut as the second half kicked off with Ayr on the front foot.
The hosts quickly pulled another one back to reduce the deficit to 5-2, with Frew’s resolute defence happy to soak up a number of half-chances thereafter.
Renfrew upped the pace as they began to dictate once again, with a great passing move down the left-hand side finished off well by Fitzpatrick, who brushed aside the Ayr defender before comfortably slotting it home.
With the clock ticking away, Frew were hungry for more goals, with McCaskill and Rae both seeing efforts come crashing back off the crossbar.
Renfrew Ladies’ top scorer Rae, however, was not to be denied much longer, showing a fine burst of pace to catch the Ayr defence sleeping before tucking away a simple effort.
Renfrew Ladies: McQuillian, McMurray, McDowell, McGunnigle, McGarrell, Baird, Fitzpatrick, Houston, Smith, Rae, Baillie (McCaskill).
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