Renfrew had bottles of champagne waiting for Cambuslang Rangers – but co-boss Billy Campbell will keep them on ice as they were made to wait another week for Conference B celebrations.
The Somervell Park side were held to a maiden draw in the second tier of the West of Scotland Football League, as they close in on title glory.
A nightmare first half had Renfrew two goals ahead through Cameron Kerr and Dominic Lavelle, with Camby also down to 10 men after Kieran Christie’s sending off. But a strike from Alan Reid and Sam Greenwood’s leveller earned a point for Campbell.
Second-placed Gartcairn come to Cambuslang on Saturday and the leaders know just a point is needed to mathematically seal the title ahead of a summer restructuring process.
Gartcairn can only accumulate six more points with two games to go this season, and overturning a 31-goal deficit looks a mammoth task. But despite a nice gesture from Renfrew, Campbell isn’t keen to celebrate just yet.
He said of the match: “It was really windy conditions and we didn’t have a good first half at all. Renfrew were going long and they came flying out of the traps.
“We struggled first half and then we get the man sent off. Renfrew were up for it and we came in at half-time a couple of goals down, which was deserved.
“We had a wee word with them on our structure and how we proposed to turn it around. We were up against it at that point and overall a draw was fair.
“It would have been unfair for us to come away with a win, even though we were pushing hard and played really well in that second half.
“The committee and management team of Renfrew were very respectful and handed us a few bottles of champagne. That was a lovely touch. We didn’t actually use them to celebrate as we want to make sure, if and when it’s done correctly.”
With an international break in play and Scotland’s friendlies with Poland and either Austria or Wales on Thursday and Tuesday, respectively, Campbell hopes for a big crowd at Somervell Park this weekend.
Campbell added: “Maybe the boys had a bit of nerves on Saturday, but having been there before, it’s really hard to get things over the line.
“We have done well to get where we are but it’s not like we have run away with it. To get it over the line is a difficult thing, but we will eventually do it. We take a draw as at half-time we were looking at a loss.
“What a game it will be now against Gartcairn, it’s all set up to be that way. That’s the next challenge ahead and we are 31 goals ahead at the minute. But we want to get it done mathematically.
“It’s set up for a decent day out for everyone too. So now it is up to us to take that challenge on into Saturday’s match.”
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