PENRHYNCOCH’s hopes of closing in the JD Cymru North frontrunners were dented as they slipped to 3-1 defeat to Flint Town United at Cae y Castell.

Callum Bratley, with a brace, and Richie Foulkes moved the Silkmen up to second position in the table, and six points clear of Gari Lewis’ side, after Jonathan Evans had levelled matters for Penrhyn.

Bratley had opened the scoring for the hosts after just six minutes when he played a neat one-two with Mark Cadwallader, and expertly fired home from the right side of the penalty box.

Penrhyn keeper Leigh Jenkins then kept out Richie Foulkes’ powerful drive, and Cadwallader’s header from close-in, as Flint pushed forward - but on 17 minutes, Penrhyn hit back to level the scores.

From a free kick deep in their own half, Jenkins sent a long ball upfield, that Stefan Davies met and flicked into the path of Jon Evans, who beat keeper John Danby with a first time shot.

This spurred the visitors on, and a Jack Rimmer free kick found the head of Steff Davies, but his effort went over, and Tom Evans sliced wide after going through.

As the half wore on, the hosts got back on top, and Foulkes went just wide with a header, and hit a 20 yarder that Jenkins, at full stretch, turned around the post.

Just after the restart, however, Alex Titchner was brought down on the edge of the box, and Foulkes fired his free kick beyond the reach of Jenkins to snatch a 2-1 lead.

Rimmer fired over after a neat lay off from Steff Davies, but Flint then turned on the style, despite Penrhyn putting their bodies on the line. Jenkins denied Bratley in a one-on-one with a wonderful save with his foot, and Rimmer made a last-ditch challenge to deny Cadwallader.

Thomas Kemp crashed a header against the post from Bratley’s deep cross - but on 79 minutes a neat move saw Kyle Smyth supply a sublime ball into the path of Bratley, who expertly lobbed the advancing Jenkins.

Penrhyn will now turn attention to this Saturday’s Welsh Cup match at Llanelli.

FLINT: J. Danby, K. Smyth, D. McHugh, J. Davies, T. Kemp, B. Burrows (D. Andrews 84), C. Li (J. Welsh 86), R. Foulkes (c), A. Titchner (N. Brown 67), M. Cadwallader, C. Bratley. Unused Subs - A. Jones (GK), T. Davies

PENRHYNCOCH: L. Jenkins, T. Rimmer, M. Pemberthy, S. James (C. Morgan 80), J. Foligno, O. James (c), E. Rees, T. Evans, S. Davies (I. Burrel 63), J. Evans, G. Pugh-Jones (S. Gittens 78). Unused Subs - S. Meredith, T. Spruce