DEPLETED Penrhyncoch called on all their resolve to twice hit back to earn a 2-2 draw with Rhyl at Cae Baker, as they continued to prove a tough side to beat in the Cymru Alliance.

Shorn of five regulars, the Roosters were down to the bare bones - but they produced a stirring effort to share the spoils with a side tipped to be in the title mix this season.

They were chasing the game after winger Oliver Buckley had cut in before firing home a terrific strike to give Rhyl the lead on the half hour.

That advantage was cancelled out by Jon Foligno’s excellent header five minutes into the second half, however, as the home side rallied well.

The visitors went in front a second time through Alex Jones who nodded in from close range on 63 minutes.

Nashawn Blake, however, scored for the second game running on 74 minutes to earn parity, when swivelling in the penalty box to smash home an unstoppable shot into the net.

Leigh Jenkins made some good stops in the home goal, notably one terrific effort to keep his side in the hunt when they were trailing 2-1.

Manager Gari Lewis was justifiably proud of his charges, who dug deep in the absence of Matt Mousley (back spasm) and Elwyn Edwards (who has joined Aberaeron) along with the unavailable trio of Sion Meredith, Rob Murfet and Jonathan Evans.

Forward Steff Davies, although not fully recovered from a hamstring strain, was called into action, while Nathan Warren had rejoined the club from Aberaeron, to be one of two subs - the other being manager Lewis.

“With the problems we had going into the game, I can’t speak highly enough of the side to come back from being a goal down, not once, but twice,” said the Penrhyn manager.

“We had players who were carrying injury and playing out of position, so to match a side like Rhyl in the way we did was a fantastic achievement.

“We were a bit slow starting, and understandably so, but in the second half I thought we had a real good go at them, and both sides looked a threat. It was a good, open game.

“If I can bottle that spirit for the rest of the season, then we should be okay, but we won’t be getting carried away as we’ve got another tough game coming up on Saturday away at Denbigh, who I rate really highly.”

The Roosters had gone into the game on the back of their 5-2 comeback win at Caersws just a few days before, in which they overturned a two-goal interval lead against the Bluebirds, and Lewis could take heart from another positive performance.

Lying 11th in the table, with eight points from seven games, Penrhyn look to keep up the good work when they head to Denbigh Town on Saturday, where they will hope to have Jonathan Evans, Sion Meredith and Rob Murfet back to boost their cause.

PENRHYNCOCH: L Jenkins, E Evans, S James, J Foligno, A Corbisiero, O James, C Jones, L Lewis, N Blake, R Garner (N Warren 78), S Davies. Not Used: G Lewis.