Few could have predicted the remarkable resurgence of Renfrew Juniors and fewer still would now bet against it continuing on the evidence of Saturday’s impressive 1-0 victory over Girvan.

It’s no exaggeration to say the Frew have morphed into one of the game’s form teams on the back of a 4-2 defeat at home to Cumbernauld United in late November that left them second bottom in the Super First Division stakes and looking an odds-on contender to suffer a relegation fate .

But their stunning revival ever since the triumph over Girvan making four wins and a draw from five outings means they have now clambered eight points clear of their previous basement placing and up into the comparative heady heights of eighth top spot.

A 51st-minute snapshot strike from central defender Kieran Healey, whose no-nonsense approach has earned him the nickname of `Grant Hanley`, was all that separated the combatants at the final whistle.

However, for the most part terracing onlookers must have felt a gulf of New Western Park proportions existed between the teams.

Still, there’s little chance of anyone at Renfrew getting carried away with level headed co-boss pair Colin Clark and Martin Ferry at the helm.

Clarky admitted afterwards: "We dominated today and fully deserved to win, though a 1-0 scoreline doesn’t reflect how much we were on top and the players deserved a few more goals for their efforts .

“It was a terrific team performance against a very good side and altogether a great way to reach the halfway point in our league campaign.

“Martin and I reckon the players probably deserve pass marks up to now, taking into consideration our poor start, but it would be a massive mistake to take our eye off the ball and think the job of cementing our position in this Division is done.”

Other than the opening 15 minutes, Girvan offered little more than stout resistance and appeared a pale shadow of the team that has soared to fourth top spot in the table to emerge as genuine promotion challengers.

The far-flung Junior outfit can count themselves lucky to escape with a mere 1-0 defeat given Renfrew had the ball in the net a further three times only for fresh- faced whistler Euan Birch to disallow each effort on the say so of his assistants, (two of those calls looked dubious at best)

The home side can also look back on Ross Gallagher hitting the top of the crossbar with a late in the day free kick attempt, awarded on the back of the young Referee’s biggest gaffe of the afternoon.

Girvan stopper John Frame’s sliding challenge to intercept a through ball saw Renfrew striker Chris Zok go to ground after standing on his opponent’s legs.

But ref Birch interpreted events as the defender denying a goalscoring opportunity and brandished a red card...much to the amazement of all and sundry.

Girvan boss Peter Leonard later made light of the incident. He said: "It was harsh and John feels hard done by but it wasn’t a decision that had an effect on the outcome out there.

“We just never turned up today and can count ourselves lucky to have gone in 0-0 at half time and luckier still to lose 1-0 in the end.

“It has to go down as our poorest performance of the season by a mile and that’s not to take anything away from Renfrew whose pressing game didn’t allow us to get the ball down and play as we can.”

In the only other Super First Division fixture to beat the winter elements, Cumbernauld United succumbed to a fifth successive league defeat (since beating Renfrew) when losing out 3-0 away to Irvine Meadow for whom Ben Black, Ben Carson and Jared Willett were on the scoresheet.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t a good day for the Super Premier Division basement clubs after all three bottom place clubs suffered defeats.

Kilwinning Rangers remain bottom following a 2-1 defeat by Arthurlie who forged a 2-0 lead through Eddie McTernan and Cary Carroll scores that was halved by a Kenny Hogg strike for the Buffs.

Largs Thistle went down 1-0 to a Calum Watt goal for Beith and third bottom of the pile Troon’s plight worsened despite Scott Chatham and Ross Robertson goals at home against a Cumnock side that netted four times in reply through a double from Scott Anson and counters from Kieron Woods and Paul Burns.

Pollok’s away-day blues, one win on their travels all season, showed no signs of letting up away to Kilbirnie Ladeside for whom Stevie Meechan ,Adam Forde and Martin Grehan were on target with Alan McKenzie netting for the visitors who played the entire second half with ten men following the red card dismissal of Ross McCabe.

In the District Leagues , Glasgow Perthshire stretched their lead atop the Second Division standings after Craig Smith ‘s hat trick sealed a 3-0 victory over nearest challengers Port Glasgow and there was nearly a first league defeat of the season for Ayrshire District leading lights Ardrossan Winton Rovers who needed a 90 th minute equaliser from veteran Tam Jamieson to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Annbank United.

WEEKEND RESULTS:

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

Troon 2 Cumnock 4, Kilbirnie Ladeside 3 Pollok 1, Kilwinning Rangers 1 Arthurlie 2, Largs Thistle 0 Beith 1.

McBookie.com Super First Division.

Irvine Meadow 3 Cumbernauld Utd 0, Renfrew 1 Girvan 0 McBookie.com Central First Division Benburb 1 Vale of Clyde 1.

McBookie.com Central Second Division

Port Glasgow 0 Glasgow Perthshire 3.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League.

Ardrossan Winton Rovers 2 Annbank Utd 2, Saltcoats Vics 2 Craigmark 3.