RENFREW skipper Davie Gordon reckons he and his team-mates are in need of a pre-season boost going into tomorrow’s encounter at home to Hurlford United.

Last season’s Central First Division champions have a played three and lost three record from friendly games up to now, their latest defeat coming on Wednesday night when goals from Darren Christie, Paul Frize, Cameron Elliot and Richie Burke saw Scottish Junior Cup kingpins Beith run out comprehensive 4-0 winners.

Long-serving defensive mainstay ‘Cisco’ didn’t figure in the latest outing nor indeed during last Monday’s 3-2 reverse at the hands of West Park United, but such is his determination to lead his side out against the Ayrshire big guns that he is prepared to bite the bullet in order to play.

He revealed: “We lost 4-3 against a St Mirren Under 20s side last weekend and I received a sore one when making an attempted clearance led to me connecting with my opponent’s studs.

“My foot being swollen and too painful when kicking a ball consigned me to a spectator role in the next couple of games and I couldn’t help but be impressed with Beith whose sharpness and hunger for the fray proved too much for us on the night.

“We struggled to show any great fluency against them just as we have in all our games but without making excuses that’s only to be expected given we have fielded up to 20 players on each occasion.

“The need to experiment in order to give everyone game time and at the same time have a look at potential signings is a prerequisite at this stage of the season, however the time is fast coming when Clarky and Martin will be looking to get their strongest line-up on the pitch…whatever that may be.”

In this respect 35-year-old Gordon refuses to accept his name will be one of the first down on the Frew team sheet.

He insisted: “The gaffers have gone out and significantly strengthened our backline by adding Martin McInnes, Keiran Healey and Martin Brogan so nobody’s place in the team is a given and the regulars from last season’s side such as Anton Heffron, Fraser Barbour, Bryan Mulgrew and myself face serious competition for the jerseys.

“McInnes has all the qualities of a Super Premier Division centre-back and Brogan is a really determined type while young Keiran has made the step up from Johnstone Burgh Under 21s along with team-mate Lee Cochrane and both of them have looked the part.

“We don’t appear to be so well covered in the middle to front areas where replacing the injured pair of Chris Cameron and Alan Kinney was always going to prove difficult particularly Kinney who is a phenomenal target man and scored a lot of goals for us last season.

“The signing of Scott Morton adds to the threat posed by Darren Jones and Chris Zok but I fancy the gaffers may try to compliment them with a more physical forward type.”

Ex-Johnstone Burgh forward Jason Hardie was reputed to be on the radar of co-managers Colin Clark and Martin Ferry, however he has subsequently opted to join Petershill and terracing whispers believe the next Frew target is Ardrossan Winton Rovers transfer-listed striker Graham Boyd who was previously with Kilbirnie Ladeside.

Experienced hand Gordon is keen to have any newcomers bedded in prior to Renfrew getting their Super First Division campaign underway in early August.

He said: “After the Hurlford workout comes three further friendly contests outs against Tower Hears, Rossvale and Troon to help prepare us for the Euroscot Eng Cup.

“We want to do well in our section but our main focus is on getting away to a good start in what is shaping up as a very competitive league.

“Petershill, Clydebank, Irvine Meadow and Shettleston are regarded as the likely promotion contenders and I don’t want to sound defeatist but realistically Renfrew have to set our sights on consolidating our place at Super First level to provide a platform for kicking on in the season after next.

”You have to remember we have come a long way in a very short time.”

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES

(Various kick-off times)

Arthurlie v Yoker Athletic, Renfrew v Hurlford Utd, Dundee Violet v Irvine Meadow, Benburb v Dundee X1, Ardeer Thistle v Neilston, Thorniewood Utd v East Kilbride Thistle, Troon v Maryhill, Cumnock v Lanark Utd, Blantyre Vics v Blantyre Celtic, Oban Saints v St Anthony's, Haddington Athletic v Rob Roy, Irvine Vics v Glasgow Perthshire, Shotts Bon Accord v Cambuslang Rangers, Kilsyth Rangers v Linlithgow Rose, Larkhall Thistle v Abbey Vale, Saltcoats Vics v Port Glasgow, Lochee Harp v St Roch's, Tranent v Beith, Lugar Boswell v Carluke Rovers, Newmains Utd v Bellshill Athletic, Muirkirk v Creetown Thistle, Pumpherston v Ardrossan Winton Rovers.

ROBBIE GLEN TOURNAMENT: Kilbirnie Ladeside v Wishaw, Rutherglen Glencairn v Shildon.