RENFREW may just have elevated themselves to the ranks of Super First Division title contenders with the 2-1 defeat of Irvine Meadow.

Frew co-boss Colin Clark tried his best to play down his side's achievement, saying: "You can't read too much into a friendly."

But there was no disguising the delight in his team's battling performance.

They were under the cosh for long spells, but a backline that stood firm in the face of incessant pressure was just one of a number of positives to leave Clarky and sidekick Martin Ferry buoyant ahead of Wednesday's big kick-off.

Clark said: "Given that Martin and I asked the players to use pre-season games as a means to work hard and get their fitness levels up then we have to be happy.

"Medda gave us the runaround early on, but once our lads started to get in about them then we more than held our own."

The victory margin could have been greater but for glaring misses by Chris Faulds and substitute Michael Wilson when the visitors had thrown men forward in search of an equaliser.

It was the Ayrshiremen who deservedly went ahead 11 minutes in when Chris Strain's corner to the front post was headed home by Davie Hamilton.

A long day beckoned for Renfrew's management duo when the scoreline almost read 2-0 after Brian McGinty raced clear only to pull his shot wide of the target with just keeper Dean Sexton to beat.

But a lifeline was thrown by Alex Smith bagging a well-taken 37th-minute equaliser.

The home side went on to enjoy a fair slice of good fortune when getting their noses in front early in the second half.

A Faulds shot from 22 yards appeared to be going wide until it deflected wickedly off Medda sub Chris Robertson to wrong-foot goalkeeper John Wight.

Pollok had to come from a goal down to get the better of Bonnyrigg. The visitors led through a John Laidlaw counter until late scores by Bryan Dingwall and David McGeown.

Clydebank emerged top of the Shettleston Tournament after defeating Hurlford 2-0 in the final through a Gary Lynn free-kick and a 25-yarder from substitute Alan Jack.

The hosts missed the opportunity to take the scalp of Kilwinning after James Tyler and Gavin Orr cancelled out goals from Willie Da Silva and Brian McEwan.

Charlie Hobbs earned Maryhill a draw at home to Bellshill for whom John Boyle netted while Petershill's Steven McLung bagged a double as his side trounced Tynecastle Amateurs 7-1. West are the best

West Region outfits fared well on the road, most notably Arthurlie, for whom George Wallace and Craig Malcolm were on target in a 2-0 defeat of Tayport.

Also victorious on Tayside were Ashfield in racking up an impressive 4-0 win over Blairgowrie thanks to Ally Martin, Craig Smith, Michael Tolland and Martin Gault, while Kilsyth Rangers were 3-0 conquerors over St Andrews with goals from Andy Thomson (2) and Tony Martin.

Veteran Joe Mulherron bagged a brace to go along with a Thomas Miller counter in helping St Anthony's beat Edinburgh City a 3-1.