Another King

• Renwick 5 – 1 “Ministers”
• Ministers dismissed by second half rally
• Dunwoody bows out with assist and applause

AK Sport is honoured to receive Philip’s final match report. According to the Renwick Director of Football coverage rights expire after 7 days. We’re still looking forward to hearing Shall We Sing’s side of the story.

The annual “Jonny McCollum Cup”, or RP Football Day as it’s also known, was contested recently between Renwick FC and what was generously described as a Ministers’ XI, which consisted of only three practising preachers and random collection of students, short term servants, former short terms servants, and others with no real theological titles to hide under whatsoever. Anyway, setting aside the issue, both teams met in the centre circle to begin the game in the traditional form, with ministers and renwickians coming together in a pre-match opening prayer.

It being the biggest day in the RP sporting calendar, Renwick manager Andy Morrison suddenly found himself with all sorts of selection problems, with everyone wanting to jump on the bandwagon for the day! Morrison however stuck to a trusted line-up, with Andy McKelvey stepping into midfield in place of the absent Gavin Blackwell, and Ian Buchanan partnering Mark upfront. Robert Cromie graciously (or perhaps just because he wanted a full game, having looked at the oversubscribed Renwick bench!) lent his services to the ministers’ cause, and Chris Carson was handed refereeing duties for the first half.

The first half, unfortunately was a fairly forgettable affair. As has been the norm in previous years, Renwick’s winter break of a month and a half without a game showed clearly in an opening half hour of scrappy play and misplaced passes. The Brothers Loughridge, one at the back and one at the front, bellowed out their encouragement to the “ministers” all day, eager to keep things scrappy and physical and slow down the tempo whenever they could. Their stand-out player this half was probably student Robert McCollum, who broke up play in midfield and tried to play in P Mo and Jonny McCollum out wide at every opportunity. Renwick, by contrast, were unable to establish much fluency, and Mark McCavery was restricted to only half chances in the danger area. The break-through came late in the half, when Ian Buchanan latched onto the ball inside the box on the left, and poked it into the corner past Andy Lytle. Renwick barely merited the goal, having given a fairly awful display thus far, but in fairness James hadn’t much to do at the other end. Soon after Renwick doubled their lead, when Phil sent in a corner from the left low at the near post, and substitute Tim McCollum stole in to poke home his third of the season. This was a killer blow to the ministers, who had battled hard all half and must surely have been deflated by what was a slightly harsh half time score of 2-0.

In the first photo, Tim attacks the ball, and then wheels away in celebration after scoring

The Renwick lads were thoroughly annoyed with themselves at half time, having failed to produce the sort of football that has steered them to the top of the league this season, but with a two goal cushion they had no reason not to step it up in attack in the second half. Phil Aicken and Tim McCollum had already come on in the first half; now Andy McKelvey went to the back, Alistair Rollestion replaced Ben Hanna (who shamelessly galloped to the “ministers’” huddle to replace the injured P Mo) and Mark Porter came on to add some muscle to the midfield in place of Ian. Renwick took the game to their opponents more forcefully this half, but Mark McCavery had as tough a battle as he is likely to face all season with Rev. Nigel Agnew, and Renwick were shut out by Aggers and Pete Loughridge repeatedly this half. Andy Lytle also excelled in goal, coming off his line early and securing the ball in the area. Joel Loughridge was also battling away at the other end, determined to get one over his old team-mates in Carlos Tevez fashion, but the centre back combination of Andy McKelvey and Dave Smith were having none of it.

The “ministers’” gave Renwick a scare by responding with a goal which halved the deficit. Ben Hanna swung it over and Pete Loughridge stole in to rise highest at the back post and power home a header. Joel was beside himself with joy at this, but it was to be nothing more than consolation. Renwick eventually scored what was perhaps the decisive goal of the game, when some good passing in midfield with Phil Aicken and Rob McCaughan set up Mark Porter on the edge of the area, who hit a great strike into the far corner, giving the keeper no chance. As the “ministers” tired, and Renwick continually rotated in their various subs, the Elmwood side got more time and space in the final third. Rob McCaughan gave Prof. Norris Wilson a particularly torrid time, and bagged himself a goal shortly after the “ministers’” first.

Rob on another mazy run, having left his marker for dead

Philip Dunwoody, playing his last game for Renwick, was desperate to get on the score sheet and bow out in the grand manner, but despite a freer role in the second half, didn’t manage to fashion a chance. Instead, and perhaps more appropriately given the nature of his role for Renwick over the years, he set up an audacious fifth for Rob McCaughan with five minutes to go – a loose ball seemed to be heading out for a “minister” throw in the corner, but Dunwoody kept it in, beat Bun, and hit in a dangerous low ball along the six yard line for McCaughan to poke in (excuse the indulgence, but it was the captain’s last contribution for Renwick!). Just before the end, Manager Morrison pulled the winger off, and he was given a warm and generous round of applause for his part in the game and the past few seasons. For the record, it’s been great craic and I already miss it. Folding up that no. 7 for someone else to wear for the next game was not easy!

So eventually the game wound down to an end, the ministers and the others having given Renwick a good scrap for much of the game and enjoying the good fellowship and friendly banter that goes along with this wonderful competition. It probably wasn’t the greatest game to watch, but ticks the box for Renwick in terms of brushing off the winter cobwebs and gearing up for the league run-in. Man-of-the-match was surely Nigel Agnew, who played like a lion at the back for the ministers and ensured Renwick thought twice before launching the ball to his vicinity! A great contribution too from Robert McCaughan on the left wing; with more game time he should play an important part for Renwick over the next few weeks.

No nonsense

Finally, thanks to the Loughridges for assembling and organising the opposition, and for ensuring it was a meaningful and hard fought contest! It only remains for me to point out that, having failed to fulfil his promise to report the game on SWS, this is surely the end of Steelo’s days as a serious and significant sports broadcaster. You read it here first on Another King!

More excellent photography from Sam and Erin (and maybe in due course, video highlights of the match):

Jonny bearing down on goal

Rev. Cromie

Short shorts award

Gareth appears out of nowhere to deny the ministers a goal with the keeper well beaten

“Ministers”

Renwick

What is Joel doing?