GOD HELP US IF I HAD TO COME ON

Renfrew boss Clark hails win but feared he would have to play as injuries took their toll

Injury-hit Renfrew were forced to name their manager on the bench but still ran out 2-1 winners at the expense of Gartcairn.

Short in numbers, Colin Clark had to list himself as a substitute as they welcomed their visitors to New Western Park.

Goalkeeping coach Iain Wilson was also listed in the matchday squad.

It didn’t stop the hosts from fighting back from a goal down as strikes from David McKenna and Paddy O’Keefe clinched a well-deserved victory.

Clark revealed he was watching on in fear athaving to come on as a sub the longer the second half went on after a demanding schedule tore a hole through his side.

He told Express Sport: “Injuries, work, weddings and holidays have killed us at the start of the season and Saturday was probably the worst it has been.

“I knew it was going to be bad numberswise so I ran to the secretary before the game and asked him to make sure he had my registration.

“I was second man up, if we had to have made another sub then I would had to have flung myself on.

“We had a laugh about it a few weeks ago but I said my playing days were long gone. I didn’t think I’d be listed as a sub just a few games later.

“We can joke about it but it has been a real problem for us all season. We have so many injuries and that is down to the fact we have played so many games.

“It is all fine and well cramming in matches at the start of the season but the schedule has been ridiculous and we are counting the cost of it.

“You wouldn’t ask senior players to play the amount of matches we have in such a short period of time.

“These guys are going to their work then having to play three matches in a week. It is unsustainable.”

Renfrew came out the traps fast but failed to make their dominance pay as they went in behind at the interval following Martin Shiels’ strike beyond Danny McLeay.

But Frew rallied and got themselves level through McKenna.

O’Keefe then fired home the winner following a stramash in the Gartcairn box after the visiting defence failed to clear their lines from a corner kick.

Fortunately for Clark, only Alex McEwan had to come on as a second- half sub, leaving him to rest easy.

The gaffer revealed he was delighted with his side’s efforts as they bagged their second win in just three Championship outings.

Clark said: “To come out with a positive record at this stage of the season, considering everything we have had to deal with, is brilliant.

“The boys have really come together, which has been key, especially when we have had guys dropping out all over the place.

“If we can get through this then we can get through just about anything this season will throw at us.

“The hardest part is keeping focused on the games when we have literally 12 fit players.

“But the guys have managed to do that so far and I’m proud of the results we have picked up.”

Renfrew: McLeay, Wylie, MacLennan, Campbell, McGillion, Borris, Dallas, Maxwell, McKenna, Innes, O’Keefe.

Subs: McEwan, Henry, Barbour, Clark, Wilson.