GRESFORD ATHLETIC’S Cymru Alliance Cup semi-final clash with Llandudno Junction will define the club’s season, according to manager Steve Halliwell.

With their league season set to end in mid-table obscurity, Halliwell insists that winning a trophy would be ‘huge’ for the club.

Athletic advanced to the last four with convincing away victories over Caersws and Penrhyncoch and now face a struggling Junction side who remain in the competition on a technicality.

Rhyl fielded an ineligible player in their 7-0 thrashing of Junction in round two, resulting in the Lilywhites being disqualified.

Halliwell said: “This is a massive game for us - the cup is basically our season after what’s been a pretty frustrating campaign all round.

“Winning the Newfa Cup and finishing third last year gave everyone at the club a lift and we want to experience that feeling again.

“We’ve done well to get ourselves this far with some decent results and now we want to make sure our name’s on the trophy.

“With respect to the opposition, we’re glad we’re coming up against Llandudno. I’m sure 99 per cent of people think we’re going to go there and beat them convincingly, but we won’t be taking them lightly at all.

“They’ll know they are lucky to still be in the competition at this stage and they’ll be giving it a right go to get themselves into the final and finish on a high.”

Athletic will be without on-loan full-back Ben Burrows who has rejoined Cefn Druids for their Welsh Premier League run-in.

But Gresford are buoyed by the return of Owen Roberts, Aeron Edwards, Joey Jones and Cavan Daley to their squad.

Niall McGuinness believes that cup glory for Flint Town United can provide a platform for long-term success at the club.

The Silkmen’s semi-final berth was clinched by impressive wins over Flintshire rivals Holywell and Airbus in the last two rounds.

And United now travel to Holyhead after the Anglesey side advanced with a 2-0 win over Porthmadog in midweek.

McGuinness said: “The club’s done really well to come this far with solid wins against some strong sides, so if we are to reach the final, we won’t have done it the easy way.

“We’ve been beaten finalists in the last two years so it’s a competition we’re taking really seriously and trying to go one better.

“It would certainly give our fans a bit more hope and something to cheer after a difficult season.

“I think there’s been steady improvement and if we can end the season with a trophy it’s something to build on.”

Jack Lewis is cup-tied for Flint.