RUTHIN TOWN 1

FLINT TOWN UNITED 1

DETERMINED Ruthin Town did brilliantly to secure a weekend point.

Flint Town United are eyeing up a lofty Huws Gray Alliance finish this season and they must have felt confident of claiming the three points when Ruthin were reduced to 10 men early during Saturday's encounter.

However, Chris Williams' hosts gave their all to secure a share of the spoils.

The home side laid down a marker after just five minutes.

A free kick found Gwion Owen in the box and his shot from a tight angle forced Aaron Jones into a good block.

Ruthin continued their bright start and Gwydion Ifan had a clear sight of goal from six yards out, but he shot straight at Jones.

Then came a major talking point on 11 minutes.

Andy Brown looked to have broken clear, but was felled from behind just outside the box.

The referee issued a straight red to the offender Tom Dyer as he was the last man, although whether Brown would have reached the loose ball was debatable as it was running away from him.

Young full back Dafydd Evans moved to the heart of the defence after the sending off and he performed really well in his new role.

If anything, this setback only seemed to spur Ruthin on and they looked the most likely team to score for the rest of the half. They were having great success in playing long diagonal balls in behind the Flint full backs and getting runners on the end of them.

Hesitancy in the Flint backline almost allowed Ruthin to take the lead in the 23rd minute.

Jones came out to meet Tom Williams and the Ruthin player hit his shot through the Flint keeper's legs, but it went into the side netting.

Ruthin continued to impress and on 37 minutes, Ryan Jones demonstrated good ball control to jink his way into the box, before hitting his effort just wide.

Five minutes before the break and Ruthin deservedly claimed the lead.

Gwydion Ifan was fouled after he made a surge into the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Captain Ilan Hughes took the penalty and he sent Jones the wrong way to make it 1-0.

Looking for a route back into the match Flint, adopted a different formation for the second half, with Brown moving out to the left flank and Hampson high up on the right.

This more attack-minded approach, which also encouraged the central midfielders to get up and support the attack, almost paid dividends soon after the restart.

Ged Kinsella set up Mark Cadwallader to hit a crisp shot, which forced Ruthin goalkeeper Ryan Goldston to pull off his first serious save of the game.

The Silkmen were now starting to look like a much more dangerous outfit going forward and they began working the Ruthin number one much more.

On the hour, Richie Foulkes got his head to a corner, with his effort clipping the top of the crossbar.

The equalising strike eventually arrived after 68 minutes.

Jake Hampson put in a dangerous inswinging corner from the right and Andy Brown was there to head home at the far post.

To their credit, Ruthin regrouped after this and they started to counter the visitors' threat.

Top scorer Llyr Morris was introduced from the bench and he looked dangerous on the break.

Flint could have won it right at the death.

Luke Blondel battled well to get a sight of goal and he crashed his shot against the Ruthin crossbar.