PENRHYNCOCH’s excellent recent run ended in the JD Cymru North as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat at Conwy Borough in their top six showdown last weekend.

Penrhyn had been unbeaten on their travels this season, which included a draw at Rhyl and a win against Llanrhaeadr, and had gone into the game having notched four successive clean sheets.

Hopes were dashed, however, as they were reduced to 10 men at Y Morfa, when Lance Jones was sent off, and two goals from the prolific Corrig McGonigle helped Conwy set up the home win.

After a scoreless first half, Craig Whelan finally broke the deadlock against the 10-man visitors in the 64th minute, and McGonigle found the net on 71 and 78 minutes to secure the three points.

Their third defeat of the season saw Penrhyn drop a place to sixth position in the table, but Gari Lewis’ side are just four points off second-placed Borough, with a game in hand on their rivals.

Borough, looking to extend their own fine run of results and stay within reach of leaders Prestatyn Town at the top of the table, always posed a very tough test for the Roosers at their own ground.

Indeed, the home side dominated possession for the much of the early stages, without taking full advantage of their opportunities.

Liam Morris fired an attempt narrowly over, after good work from Tom Clarke, but with the Penrhyn defence looking solid, the visitors started to get on top.

The hosts, however, received a boost early in the second period when the Roosters’ were reduced to 10 men, following a lash out on Sean McCaffrey by Jones.

The red card ultimately turned the game just as Penrhyn were in the ascendency, and a revitalised Borough soon took advantage of their numerical supremacy.

The Tangerines went ahead on 64 minutes when Craig Whelan finally made the most of his chance, after being teed up superbly by the very influential McCaffrey.

This opened the floodgates and shortly after Williams’ ambitious effort sailed inches wide of the visitors’ goal.

McGonigle then latched on to a long ball from keeper Ben Heald to double their cushion with 71 on the clock, and there was to be no way back for Penrhyn from there.

The introduction of Harry Galoetti brought some added pace in the final third for the home side in the closing stages, and they wrapped up another three points on 78 minutes when McGonigle converted his second of the afternoon from a rebound, after seeing penalty saved.

Penrhyn boss Gari Lewis could take plenty of positives from his side’s performance, especially with 11 men, and the Roosters will feel that the match could have gone their way, without the red card.

The Roosters will be keen to make a positive response to last weekend’s defeat when they host fifth-from-bottom side Buckley Town at Cae Baker this Saturday - and with a game in hand on the top four teams, they are still very well-placed in the table.CONWY BOROUGH: Heald, Craven, Hogan, Pritchard, Clarke (I Hughes), Jones, McCaffery, Whelan, Williams, McGonigle Morris (Galeotti). Subs: G Hughes, Parry.PENRHYNCOCH: Jenkins, T Evans, Pemberthy, O James, Foligno, S James, Pugh-Jones, L Jones, Davies (Meredith 83), Lewis, Burrel. Subs: Gittins, Rees, Thomas.