Strathclyde Demolition Cup Final
Friday 27th January 2023, New Tinto Park, attendance 1000
Renfrew FC 1 - 1 Whitletts Victoria (Renfrew FC win 5 - 3 after penalties)
Renfrew, playing from the Clubhouse end, kicked off and were on top in the early stages. Their opening goal came after just 7 minutes and it was Dominic Innes who opened the scoring. A long throw-in from Andrew Wright just inside the Vics half released Ciaran Diver down the left wing, and his low cross into the box found Scott Morton with his back to goal. His first time lay up found Innes running onto the ball and a right footed shot was struck firmly past the keeper, finding the corner of the net. The cheers rang out from the Frew supporters who made up the majority of the crowd.
Soon after Renfrew had a chance to double their lead but Morton’s shot was well over. Whitletts then had a chance of their own, a long diagonal free kick finding their player unmarked at the back post. Luckily, his header landed straight in Danny McLeays arms.
Whitletts started coming into the game more as the half went on, their pace and direct play giving the Renfrew back four all sorts of problems, and their efforts were rewarded with an equaliser after 25 minutes from Kris Brown. An in-swinging corner was punched clear at the front post by McLeay, but only as far as the corner of the 18 yard box where it was then whipped back into an unmarked teammate at the back post. His first time volley across the 6 yard line was an inviting one and Brown made no mistake firing home his shot. It was no more than the men from Ayr deserved and Frew were looking ragged. Moments later Vics almost went ahead. A long clearance from defence found McColm who played in Boyd and he was one on one with McLeay until David McCallum slid in to deflect his effort and take the sting out of the shot which McLeay put behind for a corner. It caused panic in the defence and Boyd should have scored when he found himself unmarked 8 yards out in front of goal but luckily for Frew he lacked composure and his effort sailed high and wide of the goal.
They then had another run in on goal which was cleared for yet another corner but they couldn’t convert. They did have the ball in the net just before the break but the offside flag came to Renfrew’s rescue. Scott Morton conceded a free kick near the Frew corner flag and the crossbar denied Vics a deserved lead. The half time whistle came at a good time for Frew who needed a break to regroup.
Half Time Renfrew FC 1 Whitletts Victoria 1
As the 2nd half got underway there was an early booking for Whitletts no.7 Jason Walker for a high boot on McCallum. Soon after Gregor Wylie making his 150th appearance for Renfrew, was lucky to escape a yellow card after a clumsy challenge on his opponent
Renfrew had a rare chance to take the lead after some neat play between Innes and Lavelle ended with the latter slipping a beautiful pass into the path of Diver coming in from the left wing. Unfortunately, with just the keeper to beat, he screwed his left footed shot wide and into the side netting with Scott Morton unmarked near the penalty spot.
Logan Punton replaced McCallum before Whitletts had another chance to go ahead when Renfrew gave the ball away 25 yards out. Walkers effort struck the post with McLeay rooted to the spot as the blue and white side of the crown breathed a sigh of relief.
Cameron Kerr and Craig Dallas replaced Stephen Stirling and Dominc Innes shortly before Whitletts were reduced to 10 men. A cross field pass from McColm found Walker on the run, and his first touch took him towards Lavelle. The Vics man went to ground, and there was an anxious wait as the referees whistle pierced the air, but he decided there was no contact from the Frew midfielder and showed a 2nd yellow to the Whitletts man. It meant for the third match in a row, Frew would play the remaining minutes against 10 men. Morton, Kerr and Wylie were booked within a short period before the latter made way for Jamie Benton.
Frew’s last chance fell to Lavelle but he shot over, after a good run and cross from Fraser Barbour. Vics had one last chance too but, after a good run from sub Baird, his shot was wide and didn’t trouble McLeay
With no extra time the Cup would be decided after penalties and Renfrew would go first with Ciaran Diver sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0. Danny McLeay, hero of the semi final shootout against St.Cadocs, repeated his feat saving the first Vics spot kick to put Frew in the driving seat. Scott Morton and Cameron Kerr made no mistake with their kicks whilst Whitletts also scored with their next couple. With Frew 3-2 up, man of the match Dominic Lavelle looked to make it 4-2, but hearts were momentarily in mouths as he spot kick hit the inside of one post before running across the goal line and nestling in the net on the other side of the goal. It meant Frew were almost there. Anderson made no mistake for Vics and at 4-3, Craig Dallas stepped up to win it. His left footed strike sent the keeper the wrong way and, as his teammates, backroom staff and supporters burst into the park, Renfrew had won their first Cup Final in 22 years.
TEAMS
Renfrew- Danny McLeay (c), Fraser Barbour, Andrew Wright, David McCallum (Logan Punton), Kerr Allan, Dominic Lavelle, Gregor Wylie (Jamie Benton), Stephen Stirling (Cameron Kerr), Ciaran Diver, Scott Morton, Dominic Innes (Craig Dallas). Unused Subs Kyle PIrie, Ryan Rutherford, David McKenna
Whitletts Victoria- Louis Kerr, Blair Anderson, Sean Ewart, Kris Brown, Jamie Henderon, Ross, George, Jason Walker, Sandy Robertson, Jordan Boyd (c), Andy Kerr, Dean McColm Subs Jamie Wylie, Daniel Hanna, Jordan Baird, David Blyth, Jordan Bruce, Dylan Fraser, Brandon Holland