RUTHIN TOWN 1

GRESFORD ATHLETIC 2

POOR performances been a rarity from Ruthin Town this season.

Targeting a top-six finish in the Huws Gray Alliance, Chris Williams' side have managed to garner positive reviews from opposition teams for their performances this season.

However, returning to action following a three-week break, Ruthin struggled to get going in their home encounter versus Gresford Athletic.

It was a poor day at the office for the Memorial Park Fields hosts on a difficult playing surface and in tricky weather conditions.

Ruthin went into the clash on the back of a seven-match unbeaten run at home and they looked likely to extend this to eight games when they claimed an early lead.

Only eight minutes had been played when Llyr Morris got on the end of a pass from skipper Ilan Hughes pass and the Ruthin attacker was brought down by keeper Mike Price for a penalty to be awarded.

Morris stepped up to convert the spot kick with ease for his 26th league goal of a brilliant campaign.

This lead wasn't destined to last too long, though, and Gresford levelled things up within 60 seconds.

A mistake by home centre half Kevin Evans allowed Gresford forward Owen Roberts a clear run at goal and he supplied a good finish, which left Ruthin keeper Ryan Goldston with no chance.

Gresford spurned a couple of very good chances after this, when poor play by Ruthin saw them give the ball away cheaply.

Athletic missed these clear-cut chances, though, while Ruthin did create one breakaway opportunity at the other end of the pitch.

Home man of the match Osian Davies released Llyr Morris, but the Town attacker chose to go alone when maybe a return pass to the supporting Davies was the better option.

Wil Owen was introduced by Ruthin at half-time, but the home side still found it difficult to get going in the testing conditions.

Gresford made the most of this when took the lead in the 66th minute.

Central midfielder Jack Challinor was the best player on the pitch and he ghosted in at the far post to score from Tom Freeman's pinpoint cross.

This goal did wake Ruthin from their slumber for the remainder of the game.

They went close to levelling things up when Dave Finnie's shot was cleared off the line.

A few minutes later, Llyr Morris's back header was also cleared off the line by a Gresford defender as Ruthin finally turned up the heat.

In an effort to get something from the game, Ruthin introduced two more youngsters off the bench, with Tom Watkin-Jones and Rhys Rowlands coming on.

Both players showed nice touches and tried to force the issue, but the game ended with a first home defeat for Ruthin since September.