Winning the NEWFA Cup final would be the ‘perfect farewell’, according to departing Holywell Town boss John Haseldin.

The Wellmen face league rivals Ruthin Town at Airbus tonight, a showpiece final which marks the end of the manager’s six-year tenure at the club.

A promising Cymru Alliance campaign faltered in the final straight, as the Halkyn Road side relinquished a potential runners-up spot to finish fifth for a third successive year.

But Haseldin insists that signing off with silverware in his final game in charge would vanquish any lingering disappointment.

He said: “The season hasn’t finished as we’d hoped and I think maybe our motivation levels dropped off a bit when the title became out of our reach.

“We’d only lost three games up until mid-April and then lost three on the bounce before we drew at Porthmadog on the final day.

“So it’s disappointing, but the positive is that we still have something to play for at this stage.

“Making it to the final has extended my time with the club by another week and I’m massively grateful to have the chance to finish my time at the club in a final.

“Hopefully the lads can come away with a win, which would be the perfect way to say goodbye, really.”

Beaten finalists against Cefn Druids in 2015/16, Holywell atoned in this season’s quarter-finals, inflicting an impressive 2-1 reverse on the Welsh Premier side at The Rock.

That result followed a 4-3 first round win over Brickfield Rangers, while Haseldin’s men advanced to the final with a 3-0 last four victory over Airbus.

Ruthin benefited from a bye in round two, before hammering Plas Madoc 8-0 in the next round.

A battling 3-1 extra-time semi-final win against Mold Alex followed, where Jordan MacCarter’s brace helped Town progress.

MacCarter along with Cymru Alliance top scorer Llyr Morris were in fine goalscoring form for Chris Williams’ side, netting 38 league goals between them.

The two league meetings between the sides produced a 4-4 draw at Ruthin, followed by a 5-0 home success for Holywell.

Wary of Town’s latent attacking threat, Haseldin expects his side’s defensive qualities to be tested.

“I’ve seen them a few times this season and there’s lots of quality there, they can hurt anyone” he added.

“They pride themselves on working hard for each other and operate well as a unit.

“It’s a 3G pitch, which we’ve done okay on this season - like when we played Druids at The Rock.

“But I think technically we are both very good teams, so in a cup final like this it’s anyone’s game.”

Ruthin boss Williams said: “We are really looking forward to the game. We know Holywell’s strengths going forward and we will need to be on our game.”

Dave Finney is Ruthin’s only absentee, while midfielder Danny Desormeaux should return for the Wellmen.