PENRHYNCOCH were left with scant reward after a stirring effort failed to prevent a 1-0 defeat at Airbus UK Broughton that kept them just above the basement pack in the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance last weekend.

An eighth minute strike from Ryan Edwards proved enough to separate the sides, but the Roosters felt they had enough of the game to have returned with at least a point for their efforts at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.

Manager Gari Lewis, whose side face a crunch clash against basement rivals Caersws on Saturday, felt the Roosters were unfortunate to return from Broughton empty handed.

"I was gutted for the boys who put in a magnificent effort, but when you’re near the bottom, you often don’t get the rub of the green, and that was again the case," said the Penrhyn manager.

"We had six out on Saturday, so we’re being pushed to the limit at the moment, and we then lost Carwyn Jones with injury at half time. We just had two subs, including myself, so things are tough for us at the moment,

"When we went behind early on, I feared the worst, but the lads were brilliant and deserve a lot of credit. I was immensely proud of them.

"Even the Airbus management said we were the best side to go there, but that doesn’t mean a lot when you lose the game.

"But we can take confidence from the performance, and now look to take that forward into next Saturday."

Despite the defeat, the Roosters remain seven points clear of this weekend’s opponents Caersws, whose home clash with Holywell Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

"It’s a derby, and a big game for both sides," added Lewis.

"If we can win, it would be a massive boost, but it’s not the be-all-and-end-all as there is still a long way to go this season.

"They’ve got two games in hand, but I’d much prefer to have points on the board."

Captain Owain James, Liam Doherty and Sion Meredith are all back in contention, but Carwyn Jones is unlikely to figure with a groin strain.

Steff Davies, who has been troubled with a hamstring injury, will have his fitness assessed this week, while Niall Coleridge (shin) is again a doubt and Antonio Corbisiero is a certain non-starter.

The Roosters were on the back foot early on against the Wingmakers, who led from the eighth minute when keeper Leigh Jenkins could only beat away a fierce shot from Alfons Fosu-Mensah and Edwards drove home the rebound from the edge of the box.

Jenkins then made a point-blank save to deny Fosu-Mensah and Krtistian Platt saw a free kick tipped over the bar, before the visiting keeper made a smart double save, first from Fosu-Mensah and then debutant About Sanogo.

Penrnhyn began to give as good as they got, however, with keeper Andy Coughlin tipping a shot from Nashwan Blake on to a post while Jon Foligno had the ball in the net but his header was flagged offside.

After the break, the visitors continued to battle hard, but the hosts went closest to doubling the lead when Leo Riley crashed a 20-yard shot against the bar.

At the other end, Jonathan Evans had a late chance to earn parity for Penrhyn but dragged his shot well wide.

PENRHYNCOCH (v Airbus UK): L Jenkins, E Evans, C Davies, S James, J Foligno, C Jones (N Warren 46), R Murfet, M Mousley, L Lewis, N Blake, J Evans. Sub not used: G Lewis