PENRHYNCOCH suffered a tough day in their fight to avoid basement danger in the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance after being downed 3-0 by Flint Town United.

The damage was done in the first half with Morgan Jones getting the first goal, before Flint captain Richie Foulkes completed a brace, one from the penalty spot.

After that, there was no way back, despite a spirited second half showing, with the defeat keeping them fourth bottom.

The Roosters, however, remain seven points clear of the bottom three after Caersws, Queens Park and Llandudno Junction all suffered losses on Saturday.

Flint have now moved five points above the Roosters, and Penrhyn boss Gari Lewis admitted the visitors were stronger than their league position suggests.

“They are a big, physical side, who are in a false position in the table,” Lewis said.“They’ve got a new manager, who has brought in seven or eight new players, and they are desperate to get into the Welsh Premier League in the future.

“It shows the calibre of the league, but we were disappointed with the goals, as we felt they never really opened us up. Credit to the boys, who played with a lot of pride in the second half, they pushed hard and tried to win the half.

“As I have said before, it’s tough for us at the moment, with the amount of injuries, but we have to battle on and look to get bodies back in the next few weeks.”

Such were the injury problems that Nashawn Blake was called to action against Flint, despite his broken hand.

Penrhyn had started well enough, with Liam Lewis going close - but Flint took the lead on 13 minutes when, from a harshly awarded free kick, the ball was played back in for new signing Morgan Jones to plant his header into the net.

The Silkmen doubled their advantage with a Foulkes penalty on the half hour, when Chris Budrys was tripped by Mat Mousley, and Foulkes then headed a second goal for the visitors three minutes before half time from another set play from Joe Palmer, to make it 3-0 at the break.

Playing down the slope in the second period, Penrhyn came out with purpose, with Jonathan Evans just failing to find the target with a header, while firing another effort over as the visitors held firm.

• Earlier in the week, Penrhyncoch had crashed out of the Central Wales Cup with a 3-2 third round exit against Spar Mid Wales League high fliers Welshpool in a tie played at TNS’ Park Hall ground.

They looked in charge after taking an interval lead through Liam Lewis, but faded after the break as two second half goals from Will Thomas and one from Ian Probert put Pool in the ascendancy, before Cledan Davies pulled one back

Penrhyn now face a tough trek to Airbus UK on Saturday, with the Wingmakers a strong proposition on their 3G pitch.

Penrhyn are without Antonio Corbisiero, Stef Davies, Owain James, Sion Meredith and Niall Coleridge, while Rob Murfet faces a fitness check on a dead leg.

PENRHYNCOCH: L Jenkins, M Mousley (N Warren), C Davies, C Jones, J Folignio, S James (c), R Murfet (N Blake), E Evans, J Evans, L Doherty, L Lewis. Unused sub: G Lewis.

FLINT TOWN UNITED: N Lee-Bulmer, I Hewitt, J Lewis, J Lever, J Welsh, R Foulkes, J Stewart (M Cadwallader 83), J Palmer (A Brown 83), M Jones (O Anoruo 69), C Budrys, K Smyth. Unused sub: K Price