By Ricky Kelly
Kilwinning Rangers claimed a 4-2 victory over Renfrew at New Western Park in the opening Lowland League West match of the season.
Sean Fyfe and Josh Winton were on target for Renfrew, while Ryan Wilson scored twice for Kilwinning, including a stoppage-time goal which secured the points.
Kilwinning made a bright start and Wilson almost opened the scoring after three minutes when he broke clear and struck the post.
Renfrew responded at the other end. Oliver Smith won a corner before David McCallum got his head to the resulting delivery.
The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute. Carlo Monti delivered a corner into the box and captain Danny O’Neill rose highest to head beyond Renfrew goalkeeper Thomas McLeay.
Renfrew looked for a response, with Ben Harwood firing straight at Dylan Brown. Kilwinning’s Nick Lockhart later sent a long-range effort over the bar.
The home side had another opportunity in the 21st minute when Smith found Logan Punton. He sent a cross into the box, but there was nobody there to meet it.
McCallum headed over from another Renfrew chance before Kilwinning countered quickly following a home corner, with Robbie Scullion seeing an effort blocked.
Wilson was shown the first yellow card of the match in the 38th minute after kicking the ball away following the referee stopping play.
Renfrew then produced a quick counter from a Kilwinning corner, only for Adam Hodge to stop the attack.
Christopher Mahon raced down the wing shortly afterwards and won another corner for Renfrew, but the opportunity came to nothing.
Renfrew found their equaliser with the final play of the first half.
Fyfe’s initial effort was saved before he made it 1-1 with a volley just before the break.
Kilwinning manager Chris Strain had been shouting from the touchline following the equaliser and headed towards the dressing room before the half-time whistle.
Kilwinning regained the lead six minutes after the restart. Ross Love found Lewis Morrison, who lashed a volley into the net to make it 2-1.
Renfrew tried to respond immediately. Mahon found Cameron Kerr, who was brought down, but the resulting free-kick was blocked.
McLeay was increasingly called into action as Kilwinning pushed for another goal. He saved from Paul Frize before Smith broke up the field for Renfrew, although the counter came to nothing.
Ryan Paterson was replaced by Dominic Innes in the 55th minute before Mahon tested Brown with a right-footed effort.
McLeay punched away a Kilwinning corner before Fyfe was booked in the 61st minute for pulling Wilson’s shirt.
The Renfrew goalkeeper then made a series of saves as the visitors looked to extend their lead.
Monti had an effort stopped before McLeay saved again from Morrison. He then used his knee to keep out an effort from Scullion.
Morrison had another two efforts saved in quick succession.
Mahon was booked for Renfrew in the 71st minute before Kilwinning made three changes.
The visitors found their third goal in the 75th minute when Wilson hammered the ball beyond McLeay to put Kilwinning 3-1 ahead.
Renfrew were given a route back into the match five minutes later when Argyll McCoist was brought down by goalkeeper Brown.
The referee awarded a penalty and Winton converted into the bottom-right corner to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
Morrison was later booked for a challenge on Mahon as Renfrew continued to search for an equaliser.
Kilwinning secured the three points in stoppage time when Wilson scored his second of the afternoon to complete the 4-2 scoreline.
Full-time: Renfrew FC 2-4 Kilwinning Rangers
Renfrew: Thomas Daniel McLeay (GK, captain), Gregor John Wylie, Logan Punton, David McCallum, Kieran Healy, Cameron Kerr, Oliver Smith, Sean Fyfe, Ben Harwood, Christopher Mahon, Ryan Paterson.
Subs: Logan Percival, Curtis Smith, Josh Winton, Jack Haggerty, Dominic Innes, Jack Donohoe (GK), Argyll McCoist.
Kilwinning Rangers: Dylan Brown (GK), Murray MacKintosh, Daniel O’Neill (captain), Ross Love, Carlo Monti, Paul Frize, Robbie Scullion, Ryan Wilson, Nicholas Lockhart, Adam Hodge, Lewis Morrison.
Subs: Ben Lewis, Bryan Boylan, Christopher Callander, Ewan McLevy, Matthew Jack McLean, Harry Lockwood, Ben Coutts.
Match officials: Referee: Olivia Crawford. Assistant referee 1: Matthew Fraser. Assistant referee 2: Will.
Attendance: 267
