PENRHYNCOCH began 2020 on a losing note in the JD Cymru North as in-form Guilsfield made a flying start to the New Year with a solid 3-1 win at Clos Mytton.

Penrhyn were caught cold as the hosts raced into a three-goal lead inside half an hour, with strikes by Robbie James and Adam Davies, with a brace - and despite a reply from Ifan Burrell there was no way back for the visitors in the second half.

Manager Gari Lewis will be looking for a positive response when his team face Machynlleth in the third round of the Central Wales Senior Challenge Cup on Tuesday evening, before then returning to league action away against lowly-placed Corwen next Saturday, 11 December.

Guilsfield, who made light work of mid Wales rivals Llanfair United on 28 December, took just nine minutes to score through Robbie James, and Adam Davies chipped them further ahead after a great assist from Adam Jenkins from a free kick.

Penrhyn, who had not played in a fortnight, then found themselves 3-0 down on 27 minutes when Davies slotted home his second goal of the game, after keeper Leigh Jenkins had saved the initial shot.

To their credit, Penrhyn fought back well with Burrell reducing the arrears before the break, but the resolute home defence held firm in the second half to move up to fifth place in the league standings.

Elsewhere in the JD Cymru North, Prestatyn Town lifted themselves 10 points clear at the top of the table with a 2-1 away success at Colwyn Bay, in front of a bumper crowd of 912 at Llanelian Road.

The Seasiders took a second-minute lead when a Robbie Hughes corner was headed in at the back post by Michael Parker, and midway through the half Jack Higgins tapped in from a Jordan Davies cross.

Bay’s hopes faded further on 61 minutes when Sion Edwards was red-carded for a dangerous challenge, but the 10-men replied with nine minutes to go, when Alex Downes netted from a Chaplin corner.

Llanrhaeadr are flying high in third position in the JD Cymru North table after they hit back from being three goals down at Rhyl, to claim a stunning 5-3 away win.

Cai Owen, with a brace, and Tom Creamer put the hosts in charge, but a second half hat-trick from Matty Williams, and goals from Gary Meredith-Thompson and Iwan Matthews secured the comeback.

Bryan Roberts, Lee Thomas and Alfons Fosu-Mensah put Llandudno 3-1 up against Colwyn Bay, but Corrig McGonigle took this tally to 23 league goals this season with a brace, before Liam Morris scored a dramatic last-minute equaliser to make it 3-3.

Corwen were 3-0 winners over basement side Llanfair United, with goals from Tom Mann, Dale Davies and Owen Cordiner, whilst Jake Jones, Steffan Jones and Will Hughes were on the scoresheet for Llangefni in a 3-0 triumph at Buckley Town.