Renfrew Ladies are just two wins away from winning their first championship after a convincing win against a young Stranraer team.
From the off Renfrew were on the front foot against the bottom side and so it was no surprise that they went ahead after just 5 minutes. Gail Hawthorn’s corner caused panic in the visitors defence and Jane Murphy shot home from a couple of yards to make it 1-0. It would only take another minute before the hosts doubled their lead, Claire Rae rounding the keeper and shooting home after being put through by Karen Baillie.
With 10 minutes on the clock it could have been three but Gail shot wide from close range after the keeper spilled Janice McIntyre’s shot from 25 yards. Five minutes later Lindsay played in Gail who forced the keeper to make a stop but Karen was on hand to shoot home to make it 3-0.
There was very little offered by the visitors and Renfrew keeper Sam McQuillian was a virtual spectator. Jane got her second and Renfrews 4th when the keeper spilled one from a corner and presented her with a tap in on 19 minutes. Less than 60 seconds later Lindsay’s shot hit the woodwork after good work by Erin Gould, but she wasn’t to be denied and scored less than ten minutes later after being put through by Debbie McGarrell. That made it five and it was soon six after Gail coolly finished down to the keepers left hand side after reacting quickest to Janices blocked shot.
Erin then got on the scoresheet when she found herself one on one with the keeper, before shooting home to make it 7-0. There were only a couple of minutes left in the half, but there was no let up from the home side as first Claire then Karen doubled their own tally and meant at the break it was Renfrew Ladies 9 Stranraer 0.
Within a minute of the restart it was 10 for the home side as Karen completed her hat trick with a good individual effort that had a slice of luck about it. After going past a couple of players, she got lucky when her shot came back off a defender before dropping nicely for her to shoot past the keeper. A few minutes later she turned provider to play in Erin who crossed for Claire to complete her own hat trick and make it 11-0.
Lindsay shot at the keeper with team mates in space before Renfrew rung the changes with Erin and Karen making way for Sian Francis and Natalie O’Neil. A minute later Sophie Laird replaced Eilidh McDonald and shortly afterwards Renfrew increased their lead.
Gail charged down a clearance and Claire ran through on goal before passing to Sian who shot home from 12 yards to make it 12-0. That was Claire’s last involvement as she made was for Sammy Jo Smith. Just after the hour Sian found Natalie whose cross found Gail unmarked at the back post and she made no mistake for her 2nd of the game. It was soon 14-0 when Sian ran clear of the defence giving the keeper no chance as she fired home. Another sub got in on the act when Sammy reacted quickest to Lindsay’s cross making no mistake from 6 yards to make it 15-0. Lindsay then scored her second after latching onto Natalie’s cross before Gail completed her hat trick in the 80th minute. Stranraer had a chance from the edge of the box after a rare foray upfield, but the shot didn’t trouble Sam in the Renfrew goal.
After some good work supplying crosses for others, Natalie deservedly opened her own account, firing home to make it 18-0. The last five minutes saw another couple of goals with substitute Sian completing her hat trick, before captain Janice rounded off the scoring after some unselfish play by Gail.
Renfrew Ladies are still unbeaten in the league this season. They were clinical but know they can still do better in certain areas. The next game is a local derby with Bishopton Ladies at New Western Park next Sunday. Renfrew can win the title next week if they win and nearest rivals Ayr Utd lose, but should that not happen, then the following weeks game between the two top sides could be the match that secures the league trophy for Renfrew.
Renfrew McQuillian, Murphy, McDonald, McGarrell, McIntyre, Rossi, Fitzpatrick, Gould, Hawthorn, Rae, Baillie Subs Francis, O’Neill, Smith, Laird
Reported by Alan Liddell
Renfrew Ladies FC