Renfrew continued their excellent start to the season with a deserved 2-0 win over Maryhill on Saturday.

And if this entertaining 90 minutes is an indication of what their sumptuous New Western Park surroundings have in store then Frew supporters could be in for a highly successful Central First Division campaign.

There were so many pluses for the home side with Davie Gordon’s supreme plugging of the defensive gaps ensuring Maryhill were given few sights of goal, while Alan Kinney’s target-man qualities were always to the fore in Frew’s attacking forays.

Yet arguably the game’s outstanding performer only played due to a stroke of bad luck befalling Brian Mulgrew, who picked up an injury during his team’s warm-up routines to open the door for Fraser Barbour to get the nod for a starting jersey.

And didn’t the wide right midfielder make the most of his opportunity to impress as he served up an energetic and strong running display that ensured the visiting backline were forever stretched trying to contain him.

Maryhill’s line-up, already in a sorry state with five regulars posted missing, was further ravaged by first-half injuries that forced defenders Luke Tolland and Eddie Walton to be substituted; however, assistant boss Michael Tolland refused to offer up his side’s injury woes as an excuse when speaking afterwards.

He admitted, “Yes, we could have been a lot stronger personnel wise but ultimately we lost out today because Renfrew appeared hungrier. It is also disappointing that both goals came from our mistakes. Pulling a goal back in the second half could have made things uncomfortable for them but we just weren’t sharp enough in and around the penalty area.”

Kinney came close with an audacious 40 yard shot that only just cleared the crossbar, and visiting striker Andy Monaghan had a net bound shot foiled by a fine block by Gordon prior to Renfrew taking the lead from the penalty spot with 22 minutes on the clock.

Hill goalkeeper Grant Hay’s attempts to get his hands on the ball following a corner kick saw him barge over Kinney and the big front man got up to despatch an unstoppable shot high into the net.

Almost immediately the young keeper redeemed himself with a fingertip save to keep out a low 30 yarder from Scott Arthur but he was picking the ball out of his net again right on the half hour mark.

An attack from the visitors was ended by a clearance upfield that found Jamie Benton running clear of a Maryhill rearguard claiming offside and he expertly lobbed the ball over the advancing Hay for a 2-0 advantage.

The lead should have been halved before half time but Hill midfielder David Quinn headed a Jamie Docherty free kick over the crossbar when it looked easier to score.

The second half saw Renfrew initially dominate with the lively Arthur wastefully sclaffing a header wide before Gary McGarroch had an angular shot blocked when a pass across goal to the lurking Kinney would almost certainly have resulted in a goal.

Attacking trio Arthur, Benton and McGarroch were later replaced as Frew co-bosses Colin Clark and Martin Ferry opted to close up shop and, despite dominating, Maryhill failed to create any clear cut scoring chances.

The visitors' frustration might well have saw them reduced to ten men after Paul McLernon stopped a Frew break upfield by downing Ross Hocknull with a swinging arm and the Hill defender was fortunate that whistler Ross McLeod felt the challenge merited only a yellow card.

His experienced team-mate Paul Coyle said later, “That decision maybe went our way but others didn’t as the penalty kick was definitely dubious and Renfrew’s second goal was clearly offside from where I was standing.

“That said we can have few complaints because we just never got going and gave our worst performance for many a day.”

Unsurprisingly, delighted Frew co-gaffers Clark and Ferry saw things differently.

Clarky said “We fully deserved to win on the back of an excellent first half in which we could and should have scored more goals.

“Maryhill came more into things after the break but we comfortably contained them and looked the more likely to score on the break.”

And cohort Ferry added, “The more positive and aggressive team won on the day and I seriously doubt if many people watching would grudge us the points.”

Maryhill’s reverse was seized upon by Thorniewood United, now sitting atop the Central First Division summit on goals difference. Andy Frame’s side made heavy weather of overcoming league bottom markers Dunipace, but emerged with a 3-2 win thanks to goals from Alan Fleming, Paul Hewitt and substitute Chris Lennon.

Rossvale went third top after Joe Bradley(2), Fraser Team, Craig McGregor, Jay Mackay, Michael Hardie and Alex Cassells were on the mark in the 7-1 rout of Wishaw, whose consolation was netted by Michael Collinder.

Also on the six points mark are St Rochs, whose stunning 6-0 demolition of Carluke Rovers was helped no end by the first half dismissal of Rovers full back Willie Soutar for picking up two yellow cards with the scoreline reading 2-0.

Jordan Logan bagged a hat-trick for the Candy Rock whose other marksmen were Robert McGure ,Chris McFadyen and Keiran Martin, who was himself sent packing late on for two yellow card offences.

Neilston were another of the day’s high scorers after recovering from falling behind to an Anton Conway goal for St Anthonys to run out 4-1 winners at the Brig O’Lea through doubles from Daniel Mackay and Derek Kennedy.

Jack Heron (2) and Jonny McStay(pen) were on target as Johnstone Burgh emerged as creditable 3-1 victors away to Lesmahagow.

WEEKEND RESULTS: West Region Super Premier Division. Kilbirnie Ladeside 0 Arthurlie 0, Glenafton 3 Hurlford Utd 2, Beith 3 Troon 2, Shettleston 2 Rob Roy 0, Irvine Meadow 1 Pollok 1, Auchinleck Talbot 4 Petershill 1.West Region Super First Division. Clydebank 4 Bellshill Athletic 1, Cumbernauld Utd 2 Rutherglen Glencairn 1, Greenock 4 Maybole 0, Largs Thistle 3 Kilwinning Rangers 1, Winton Rovers 3 Cumnock 4, Kilsyth Rangers 5 Shotts Bon Accord 1, Blantyre Vics 2 Yoker 3 .West Region Central First Division. Vale of Clyde 1 Larkhall Thistle 1, Neilston 4 St Anthonys 1, Renfrew 2 Maryhill 0, Lesmahagow 1 Johnstone Burgh 3, Rossvale 7 Wishaw 1, St Rochs 6 Carluke Rovers 0. Thorniewood Utd 3 Dunipace2. West Region Central Second Division. Ashfield 3 Gartcairn 4, Royal Albert 1 Forth 1, Port Glasgow 1 Cambuslang Rangers 2, Lanark Utd 0 Benburb 0 ,Vale of Leven 2 East Kilbride Thistle 3, Glasgow Perthshire 5 Newmains Utd 3. West Region Ayrshire District Division. Craigmark 4 Saltcoats Vics, 0,Muirkirk 1 DalryThistle 3, Lugar Boswell 1 Whitletts Vics 1, Darvel 1 Irvine Vics 2.