With an excellent pre-season behind them it was time for the real football to kick off with a home league game against newly promoted Strathclyde Uni who came up as Div B champions. The two sides have not met for several seasons so there was a bit of the unknown coming into this opening league game.
The Town finished last season on a real high and the challenge this season was to keep that run going and they certainly got off to the perfect start. Within a couple of minutes a brilliant cross on the left from Paul Ronald was met brilliantly by Burky who directed a header into the keepers top left hand corner from 12 yards. 1-0 Renfrew. Less than 2 minutes later the lead was doubled. Again Paul was the architect getting to the bye-line and cutting it back for McLeish to finish from close range. 2-0.
The Uni team were now well up against after RT’s brilliant start but they certainly came back into it playing some nice football on a great surface. A break from midfield and a couple of one-two’s ended with a sweet finish and it was 2-1 at the break.
Into the second half and the next goal would be crucial. Burky chased down a back pass and it spelled disaster for the visitors defence as confusion saw the ball smashed off the RT attacker and straight into the net. 3-1 Renfrew. A fourth soon followed for the home side as Renfrew hit on the counter. A long ball from McLeish was chased down by Burky who chipped the keeper perfectly to complete his hat-trick. Four soon became five and again it was the Burkster netting his fourth of the day. Strathclyde must have been wondering what had hit them. A Renfrew free kick was played into the box and when the keeper spilled under pressure from Brian, Niall finished from close range 6-1. Fair play to ‘Clyde as they kept battling on managing a consolation goal to complete a slightly flattering 6-2 scoreline for Renfrew.
Next up Glasgow Islay in the league cup group section.