Thorn Athletic turned in an impressive performance as they beat Scottish Lowland League West side Renfrew 6-1 in a pre-season friendly at Thorn Park on Saturday.
Played on an overcast and breezy afternoon, conditions were ideal for football as the West of Scotland Football League Division One side continued their preparations for the new season.
Renfrew, meanwhile, fielded a much-changed squad. The club said several first-team players had only recently returned from holiday, while others were still away. A number of Under-20 players were also given an opportunity, along with six trialists, as the management team continued to assess the squad ahead of the new campaign. The focus, the club said, was on getting minutes into players’ legs.
Thorn settled quickly and created the first chance after three minutes when Morton combined with Jacob Shields before seeing his effort finish in the side netting.
Renfrew responded with a spell of possession and won an early corner after a neat move from a throw-in, but Thorn defended comfortably.
The hosts made the breakthrough after nine minutes. A dangerous ball into the box caused problems in the Renfrew defence and was turned into the visitors’ own net to make it 1-0.
Crerand then created another opportunity when he picked out Nathan McClelland, but the striker’s effort was well saved.
Thorn doubled their lead in the 13th minute. Crerand again caused problems with a driven ball into the penalty area, which deflected off a Renfrew defender and into the net. The goal was officially recorded as an own goal.
Play was halted after 18 minutes following an injury inside the Renfrew penalty area. When play resumed, goalkeeper Thomas Daniel McLeay was shown a yellow card.
Moments later Thorn were awarded a penalty after Morton’s header struck a hand inside the box. McClelland stepped up and confidently sent McLeay the wrong way, placing his spot-kick into the bottom-left corner to make it 3-0.
Renfrew continued to look for a route back into the game through Christopher Mahon, Ben Harwood and Cameron Kerr, while Thorn remained dangerous from set-pieces and quick attacks.
Thorn took a deserved 3-0 advantage into half-time.
McClelland tested the Renfrew goalkeeper again early in the second half before Renfrew enjoyed one of their better spells of possession, although the Thorn defence remained comfortable.
The home side freshened things up with substitutions and continued to dominate.
McClelland added his second goal of the afternoon on the hour mark after being left unmarked inside the penalty area, calmly finishing to make it 4-0.
Five minutes later he completed his hat-trick in style. After Josh Keenan was fouled on the edge of the penalty area, McClelland curled an excellent free-kick into the top-left corner to extend Thorn’s lead to 5-0.
He almost grabbed another shortly afterwards when another free-kick found the side netting.
As the match entered its closing stages, Thorn continued to control possession and press high up the pitch. Whenever Renfrew regained the ball during the final 10 minutes, they struggled to work their way out of their own half.
The pressure eventually brought a sixth goal with 10 minutes remaining. Aiden McKay played David McKenna through on goal and he finished low beyond the goalkeeper.
Thorn continued to create chances before Renfrew grabbed a late consolation. Ross McKellar finished a passing move in the closing minutes to make the final score 6-1.
The scoreline capped an impressive afternoon for Thorn as they continued their preparations for the new West of Scotland Football League Division One season, while Renfrew’s focus remains on building fitness and assessing a much-changed squad ahead of their first campaign in the Scottish Lowland League West.
Photo: Players from Thorn Athletic and Renfrew battle for position inside the penalty area during Saturday’s pre-season friendly at Thorn Park, which Thorn won 6-1
Photo Credit: Renfrewshire News