McKenna is on the spot to set‘Frew on road to glory
RENFREW.....................4
IRVINE VICS.................0
Renfrew went second in the Championship with a composed performance against a hardworking young Vics side.
The visitors proved a tough nut to crack but the home side eventually made the telling breakthrough in the first half from the spot thanks to David McKenna.
Frew turned the screw in the second half though with Scott Morton scoring two and Kieron Maxwell firing home an excellent free-kick.
Co-manager Martin Ferry said:“We played well and broke them down in the end as they are a good young side. We kept doing the right things and scored some good goals after remaining in control for most spells of the game.
“We scored some decent goals today and Kieron Maxwell’s free-kick was a bit special to round things off.
“Craig Dallas was excellent for us today and Scott Morton did well when he came on and took his goals.”
Vics began well and were unlucky not to take the lead when Johnny Baxter found Callum McDade in space in the box to slot home but he was adjudged just offside.
McKenna then hit a post for Frew before Maxwell was tripped and McKenna slotted home the penalty award.
Rikki McIntosh had to be replaced with a knock ten minutes before the break with Morton coming on up-front allowing Dallas to move across to the left-hand side of midfield.
The home side took control after the break although McDade and substitute Gabe Skeogh were constant thorns in the Frew defence with Bob Campbell and a trialist centre-half ever alert to keep them at bay.
Morton added the second following a good run and cross from McKenna and the substitute striker claimed his second just past the hour with a crisp finish from 20 yards following good work from Gregor Wylie.
Morton almost claimed his hat-trick with a header that flashed just wide of the far post before Maxwell claimed a goal his performance deserved with a fabulous free kick from well outside the area with just three minutes remaining.
Renfrew’s attention now turns to the Scottish Cup, and Ferry will be sweating on the fitness of Reece McGillion and McIntosh.
He also admits the league will continue to be the priority.
Ferry added:“This puts us in a good place in the league and sets us up nicely for the Scottish Cup at St Rochs next week and we know it will be a different kind of game from today as it will be on a very different surface.
“We picked up a couple of knocks with Reece McGillion who got a kick on his foot and Rikki McIntosh also got an ankle knock.
“We are looking forward to the Scottish Cup but the league is the main priority and we are hearing some of the results went in our favour today.
“We know it’s going to be a very tight league and there will be six or seven teams up there. We are just looking to take care of ourselves.”