PENRHYNCOCH failed to halt high-flying Airbus Broughton as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the runaway Huws Gray Cymru Alliance leaders at a blustery Airfield last weekend.

The Wingmakers made it a perfect 10 wins from 10 to stay firmly on course for a return to the JD Welsh Premier, with Brady McGilloway’s early strike separating the sides at the interval before Leo Riley doubled the advantage with a free kick in the second period.

While Airbus are now 12 points clear at the top, defeat saw Penrhyn slip one place to 12th, but they are still just five points off a top five position.

“We defended well against Airbus, had a couple of chances, but didn’t really ask them enough questions going forward,” said manager Gari Lewis.

“But I’m not too despondent as Airbus are a class outfit, and it will take something special from another team to stop them winning the league.”

Penrhyn started brightly at a windswept Airfield, with Josh Shaw’s header from a Liam James cross well saved by former Aberystwyth keeper Dave Roberts in the early exchanges.

Airbus were in front on 13 minutes, however, as a powerful strike from new signing Joe Chaplin was parried by keeper Oli Farebrother, and McGilloway tucked away the loose ball.

Shaw headed over following a strong break by Tom Evans as Penrhyn battled to get back on level terms, and right on half-time Jon Foligno was superbly denied from point blank range by keeper Roberts, after meeting a Cledan Davies free kick.

Chaplin, a new arrival from Porthmadog, continued an excellent debut when being denied by a last-ditch Cledan Davies tackle, and the same player also fired into the side-netting.

Hopes of the visitors salvaging the game faded seven minutes into the second period when Riley beat keeper Farebrother at his near post with an excellent 20-yard free-kick for 2-0.

Home penalty claims were turned down as Chaplin’s shot was blocked by Owain James, and Fairbrother made a superb save to keep out a goal-bound strike from Chaplin after a neat one-two with Ryan Edwards.

Airbus finished strongly as substitute James Hooper fired over, a Joe Palmer shot was cleared off the line and McGilloway went close as the league leaders ended well on top.

Airbus assistant boss Andy Thomas said that their hard-earned win had upped pressure on their title rivals.

“This winning run we’re on just keeps building the pressure on the teams around us. With other teams’ games being postponed at the weekend, we’ve made the gap between ourselves and them even bigger.

“The other teams are playing catch-up now, so all we’re concerned about is ensuring that we’re focused and we’re prepared for picking up three points from every game this season.”

PENRHYNCOCH: O Farebrother, L James, C Davies (L Doherty 69), S James, J Foligno, O James (A Corbisiero 75), T Evans (M Mousley 55), L Sherbon, J Shaw, C Jones, L Lewis. Subs: I Brooks, G Lewis.