Young guns are the Darlings of Renfrew
Magificent under-21s bring home club’s first national trophy
(Renfrew win on penalties) Lady Darling Cup final
Craig Ritchie
Renfrew U21s are the toast of the town after sealing their first ever piece of national silverware.
On the hottest day of the year so far, a bumper crowd descended on New Western Park for the Lady Darling Cup final clash between ’ Frew and Drumchapel.
And the natives were not to go home disappointed as the young Renfrew side held their nerve to lift the trophy following penalty kicks.
Both teams entered the field accompanied by youngsters from their youth academies, some as young as three-years-old, with the future clearly bright for both sides.
Renfrew dominated the first half and managed to open the scoring midway through the first-half.
A long kick by Kyle Pirie was contested in the Drumchapel half and the ball fell to Myer McKinnon. He turned in behind the defence and was clean through on goal, only to be brought down in the box.
Up stepped Darren Marshall as he coolly slotted home in the bottom corner to put Renfrew in front.
Renfrew then thought they had scored a second through Sidebotham, however, the referee deemed the ball hadn’t crossed the line as their lead remained at just one at half-time.
The second half started with Drumchapel dominating the first 25 minutes and they had Renfrew pinned back. But the ’Frew managed to restore parity 15 minutes into the second half as they capitalised on some slack defending to head home from a corner.
And 10 minutes later, it was a case of déjà vu as the Drum then headed themselves in front from another corner.
At this point, it looked like the older, more experienced Drumchapel team had their tails up and were heading for victory. But Renfrew rolled up their sleeves and came back fighting.
And with 10 minutes to go in normal time, Iain Sharp chipped a delightful diagonal ball over the Drumchapel defence to McKinnon who laid it off first time to an onrushing Dom Innes to slot the ball beyond the keeper and into the corner of the net.
The stadium erupted as the players celebrated their equaliser.
There were a couple of breaks and half chances, but no further clear scoring opportunities in normal time.
In extra time the fitness of Renfrew was a telling factor as they continually pressed for the winner to avoid the prospect of penalty kicks.
With only minutes remaining, Mikey McGowan was involved in some swift interplay, with several players resulting in the ball being fizzed across to the back post where Nathan Marriott pounced,.
Unfortunately, he was only able to send the ball into the side netting.
The penalty shootout provided the huge crowd with some great entertainment. Both sides had opportunities to win the cup but both failed to convert.
It was the 18th penalty with Renfrew leading 6-5 and Drumchapel having to score to keep their hopes alive that was to prove decisive.
Kyle Pirie, for the fourth time in the shootout, was the hero as he dived to block the penalty and break Drumchapel hearts.
The players and fans of Renfrew FC erupted in celebration as the realisation of victory sunk in.
All that was left was for Iain Sharp, the Renfrew captain on the night, to lead his players up to collect their medals and the cup.
Renfrew FC: Pirie, McAllister, Gibbons, McEwan, McFarlane, Doyle, McCabe, Sharp, Innes, Dougan, Hamilton, Marriott, Marshall, McKinnon, McGowan, Sidebotham.