Promotion is as simple as one, two, three for ’Frew

Jul 30 2011 by Andy Newport, Paisley Daily Express

RENFREW skipper Sajid Majeed has targeted three straight wins as he looks to get his side’s promotion charge back on track.

The KGV side sit just one place outside the top four who will split off next month and battle it out on their own for a place in the SNCL Premiership.

But having sat idle last week – seven days after he watched helplessly as their game against Freuchie was washed out by rain – Majeed knows his men need to start picking up wins if they are to overtake fourth-placed Dumfries for the chance at a promotion slot.

With games against Falkland today and further fixtures against Ferguslie and Penicuik to follow before the split, the ’Frew captain insists they can’t afford to slip up.

He told Express Sports: “It’s been a disappointing couple of weeks for us.

“We were not scheduled to play last weekend in the league and our game the week before that was called off.

“So now that leaves us looking to play the next three games and win them so we can hopefully pinch a place in the top four.

“Some of the teams above us still have to play one another, so someone will have to drop points. If they cut each other’s throats, that should let us in.

“We just need to hope we can get the games on – starting with Falkland on Saturday.”

Poloc, Weirs, West Lothian and Dumfries all currently hold the whip hand over Renfrew with better win percentages.

However, Majeed is confident he and his men can rein them in and then battle their way to the title once the SNCL Championship split kicks in to decide the eventual destination of the league crown.

“We played Poloc last month but the match had to be abandoned,” said the all-rounder. “However, we were playing well enough to win had the game gone full time.

“We have also beaten Weirs away from home already this season and saw off Dumfries in the Scottish Cup.

“Our game against West Lothian had just got started when it was abandoned but we fancied our chances in that one too, so none of the teams above us concerns me.

“It’s not just us who are in with a chance of promotion, as East Kilbride and Stewarts Melville Royal High are not far away either.

“It will be a tight finish but we have got a great opportunity to get involved in the mix.”

Renfrew will be sweating over the fitness of their wicket-keeper Zia Ul-Haq after he picked up a knee injury.

“Zia has been icing it for a few days so hopefully he will be okay for Saturday’s match with Falkland,” said Majeed. “We’ll make a decision before the game but we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”

Today’s SNCL Championship match between Renfrew and Falkland at KGV starts at 1pm.