By Ricky Kelly & John Armour
Photo credit: Iain Rankin
Renfrew were beaten at the death at Keanie Park as Thomas Orr’s added-time goal gave Johnstone Burgh a 3-2 win in the Renfrewshire derby.
The Frew had fought back from 2-0 down at half-time, with Jordan Moore and Alan Cook scoring within four second-half minutes to bring James Quigley’s side level.
Renfrew then had several opportunities to complete the turnaround, but Burgh goalkeeper Brett Long kept them out before substitute Orr struck in the first minute of added time.
Renfrew manager Quigley named an unchanged starting XI from the side that beat Beith Juniors 3-0 in their previous league match. There were two changes on the bench, with Kenzie McCrystal and Joe Sexton replacing Dylan Innes and A. McCoist in the matchday squad.
Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made two changes from the starting XI that lost 1-0 to Largs Thistle at Barrfields Park on Wednesday night, 23rd September. Lewis King and Leon Murphy dropped out, with Kian Gilday and Del Esplin coming in.
Renfrew created the first chance of the match in the sixth minute when Moore found space inside the right-hand side of the box, but he dragged his left-foot shot wide of the right-hand post from six yards.
Burgh responded in the 12th minute when Max Kerr’s left-foot shot from 20 yards was saved by Renfrew goalkeeper Jack Donohoe.
The home side went ahead a minute later. Ian McShane crossed from the right and Mark Barrowman sent a glancing header into the right side of the net from eight yards.
Renfrew had a chance to equalise in the 20th minute when Aedan Gilfedder had only Long to beat from eight yards, but his right-foot shot went wide.
Kristopher Kerr then tested Donohoe with a left-foot effort from 20 yards in the 24th minute.
Burgh doubled their advantage in the 34th minute. Kristopher Kerr released McShane on the right and his low ball across goal found Aaron Mason, who tapped into the empty net from two yards.
Renfrew looked for a response and Alan Cook’s free-kick found Olly Smith in the 36th minute, but his header from six yards went just over the crossbar.
Donohoe prevented Burgh from extending their lead in the 40th minute when Kian Gilday’s cross found Max Kerr, whose header from six yards was saved.
Max Kerr had another opportunity three minutes later, but his right-foot shot from 14 yards went over.
Renfrew went into the interval 2-0 behind, with the club describing it as a disappointing first half in which they had created chances without taking them while Burgh had made the most of theirs.
Renfrew started the second half looking for a way back into the match.
Former Burgh player Darren Christie crossed for Sean Fyfe in the 49th minute, but his header from six yards went just over the crossbar.
Burgh threatened three minutes later when McShane’s corner found Mark Durnan, whose header was deflected wide.
Renfrew’s breakthrough arrived on the hour mark.
Smith’s pass released Moore and the former Johnstone Burgh player finished with a left-foot shot from eight yards which went in off the right-hand post.
Three minutes later, Renfrew were awarded a penalty after Burgh captain Del Esplin fouled Gilfedder.
Cook stepped up and fired his left-foot penalty into the bottom right-hand corner in the 64th minute to make it 2-2.
Renfrew now had an opportunity to turn the match around.
Fyfe’s first-time right-foot volley from 10 yards was saved by Long in the 66th minute before Gilfedder fired over from 20 yards two minutes later.
Moore had another opportunity in the 75th minute, but his low right-foot shot from 10 yards was saved by Long.
Renfrew continued to push for a third. Christie saw a low effort from 14 yards saved in the 83rd minute before McCrystal’s left-foot shot from the same distance was stopped by Long two minutes later.
But after Renfrew had fought their way back into the derby, Burgh struck at the other end in the first minute of added time.
Max Kerr’s inswinging corner from the right found substitute Orr, who sent a right-foot volley into the net from two yards to give the home side a 3-2 lead.
The referee blew the full-time whistle two minutes later to confirm Renfrew’s late defeat.
In their post-match reaction, Renfrew said: “After getting it back level we threw everything at Burgh but some terrific saves from the keeper kept it 2-2 until an overtime winner gives the hosts the win.”
Burgh manager Farrell also acknowledged Renfrew’s performance after the break.
He said: “I thought first half we were exceptional and then I thought second half we were mediocre, if I’m being honest.”
Farrell added: “I thought Renfrew were good second half,” before saying Burgh had found “a togetherness and a belief” to claim the late victory.
The result leaves Renfrew 15th in the Scottish Lowland League West with seven points from ten matches. Johnstone Burgh moved up two places to seventh with 18 points from ten games.
Renfrew now turn their attention to a historic afternoon at New Western Park on Saturday, 3rd October, when the club will play in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup for the first time.
They welcome Scottish Lowland League East side Broxburn Athletic in the first round, with kick-off at 3.00pm.
Johnstone Burgh are also in Scottish Cup action and travel to Blairmount Park to face Newton Stewart at 3.00pm.
Johnstone Burgh goals: Barrowman 13, Mason 34, Orr 90+1.
Renfrew goals: Moore 60, Cook (pen) 64.
Johnstone Burgh: Long, Faulds, Gilday, Barrowman, Durnan, Esplin (C) (King 67), M. Kerr, Watson, K. Kerr (Orr 74), McShane, Mason (Jamieson 53).
Unused substitutes: Scullion (GK), Williamson, Grady, Nosa.
Renfrew: Donohoe, Doyle (Sexton 46), Cook, McCallum (C), Healy, Fyfe, Black (Christie 46), Smith (Murphy 65), Moore (O’Toole 81), Mahon, Gilfedder (McCrystal 81).
Unused substitutes: Rutherford, Punton.
Match officials: Referee Liam MacDougall; assistant referees Cal Cunningham and Lyon Fernie.
