GARI Lewis was happy enough with a hard-fought point as Penrhyncoch finished all square with Denbigh Town in a finely poised Huws Gray Cymru Alliance game at Cae Baker.

The 1-1 draw kept the Roosters above their visitors on goal difference, but it’s getting tight at the bottom, with just one point now separating four teams.

On reflection, Penrhyncoch boss Lewis felt that both sides deserved something for their efforts, with his side now continuing their quest for safety away against Porthmadog on Saturday.

“In the end, it was a good point for us as Denbigh are talented side with a lot of players with Welsh Premier experience, and I fully expect them to climb the table in the coming weeks,” said Lewis.“It was one of those games which we could have edged, while they would also have felt they could have won it, so a draw was probably fair.

“We missed a good chance when we were 1-0 up, and they got their equaliser just moments later, which shows the fine margins in these games.

“Lee Jenkins made some good saves in goal after that, and all in all I’m happy to come away with the point.”

Lewis expects it to be a real dogfight in the bottom half of the Cymru Alliance table for the rest of the season.

“There’s nothing between the sides, everyone’s scrapping for points and capable of beating each other, and that’s how I expect it to be,” he added.

“It’s incredibly tight, but we can go to Porthmadog on Saturday with confidence after another good result.

“They lost to Gresford last weekend, so they will want to bounce back, so it’s another big game for both sides.”

Denbigh made the trip to Cae Baker on the back of a poor run that led to the club parting company with manager Gareth Thomas, with Gresford ’s Eddie Maurice-Jones taking charge.

With a new man at the helm, the visitors were up for the challenge as they made a promising start with Gareth Partridge firing over from 18 yards.

Penrhyn came stronger as the half progressed, with Elian Evans going close with a header as Lewis rejigged his side’s formation with skipper Owain James out with a one-match ban.

Evans, on his switch up front, made no mistake six minutes before half time when breaking the offside trap before coolly slotting the ball home.

Jonathan Evans missed a good opportunity to double the lead when put through on goal, which was to prove a key moment as Denbigh were back on terms just moments later.

A corner was played into the Roosters’ box eight minutes into the second half, the home defence failed to clear and ex-Liverpool and Aberystwyth Town defender Stephen Wright smashed a deflected shot into the net.

That goal spurred Denbigh on, while knocking back the hosts for a time, and the visitors finished well with Jenkins called into action with a terrific double save to ensure a draw.

The point ensured the Roosters stayed above their visitors on goal difference, and Penrhyn have skipper Owain James back for Saturday’s trip to Porthmadog, while Dafydd Carruthers faces a midweek fitness check.

Sion Meredith is unavailable, while midfielder Florin Burcea could be back in training in a couple of weeks’ time, following his shoulder injury.

PENRHYNCOCH: L Jenkins, E Evans, M Mousley, S James, J Foligno, A Corbisiero, J Shaw (H Horwood 80), J Evans, A Lemon, M Gornall, G Mansell (L Doherty 70). Substitutes not used: S Meredith, D Carruthers, A Thomas.