MUCH as he loves to see the beautiful game played the way it should be, Colin Clark will be happy to see Renfrew win ugly again tomorrow if it means their step-up dream comes closer to being realised.

Frew co-boss Clarky is the first to admit his players have been nowhere near their best since the turn of the year, yet to his and dugout partner Martin Ferry's astonishment, they have strung together six wins and a draw to edge themselves into the Super First Division promotion running.

Taking time out from preparations for tomorrow's Western Park contest against relegation-threatened East Kilbride Thistle, he said: "It's not been pretty to watch, but Martin and I have to give credit to the lads for toughing it out in so many of our games to crucially come away with the points.

"If we can just continue our winning ways, then there has to be every chance of a second or third-top finish which really would represent some achievement given where we were sitting back in January."

Clarky was recalling Renfrew's position one above the foot of the table that was their sorry lot, ironically going into their corresponding league meeting with East Kilbride at the Showpark, where they came back from a 2-0 deficit with half-an-hour remaining to steal a last-gasp, 3-2 victory.

The co-gaffer said: "Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat gave the dressing room a huge lift and instilled a new-found confidence among players who had previously been feeling sorry for themselves.

"It hasn't improved performances but we are now a team in every sense of the word with everyone battling their corner. Nobody will ever accuse us of giving give up the ghost in games.

"Yet while it's great to have a feelgood factor about the place we cannot lose sight of the fact that the wheels can just as quickly come off our bandwagon, especially in this league where Martin and I believe every team is capable of taking points from each other.

"With our run-in down to only nine games left to play, we cannot afford any slackening and I would certainly like to think the lads will be 100% committed considering just how near East Kilbride came to giving us a bloody nose last time out."

As a footnote, Clarky has confirmed plans are well underway to afford due recognition to long-serving Renfrew stalwart John Hammond, right-back in their Junior Cup-winning side of 2001.

The schoolteacher's 11 years' sterling service at Western Park are to be rewarded with a May 3 game against celebrity outfit Dukla Pumpherston as well as a Sportsmans' Dinner one week later which many of John's former team-mates have promised to attend. Tickets for the events can be obtained from Frew officials.

Elsewhere, table-topping Largs Thistle face both a long jaunt and a tough time of it in heading down for a Hamilton Park confrontation with Girvan.

Hoping for a slip by Sandy Maclean's men are second-placed Lanark United, who have Tam Hanlon suspended for the visit of Annbank United.

Kilbirnie Ladeside host bottom markers Hurlford United, while yet another of the relegation fearful, Kilwinning Rangers, are facing a must-win clash away to Maybole.

On the comings and goings front, one hears Bellshill Athletic and Vale of Clyde are linked with approaches for recently-released Shotts pair Jamie White and Chris Gardiner ahead of the Junior transfer deadline.

And Maryhill are reportedly on the verge of signing striker John Clifford from Pumpherston in time for him to debut away to Cambuslang Rangers tomorrow.

On the lookout for a new club is Lugar Boswell's versatile ace Scott Clelland, formerly of Girvan and Winton Rovers after he asked to be transfer-listed. SATURDAY'S FIXTURES

(2pm unless stated) New Coin Automatics West of Scotland Cup. Third round: Clydebank v Pollok.

Stagecoach Super Premier: Vale of Clyde v Irvine Meadow, Rob Roy v Beith, Glenafton v Petershill, Auchinleck v Neilston, Arthurlie v Cumnock.

Stagecoach Super First: Lanark v Annbank, Girvan v Largs, Maybole v Kilwinning, Renfrew v East Kilbride, Kilbirnie v Hurlford, Shotts v Kilsyth.

Stagecoach Central First: Thorniewood v St Anthony's, Ashfield v Benburb, Cambuslang v Maryhill, Cumbernauld v Lesmahagow, Johnstone Burgh v Glencairn.

Stagecoach Central Second: Carluke v Blantyre Vics, Shettleston v St Roch's, Royal Albert v Newmains, Dunipace v Greenock, Forth v Perthshire.

Stagecoach Ayrshire Division: Kello v Lugar, Irvine Vics v Dalry, Winton Rovers v Darvel, Craigmark v Troon.

Central League Cup. First round: Port Glasgow v Larkhall.

Ayrshire Cup. First round: Muirkirk v Saltcoats.