There was no dream ending to John Haseldin's Holywell Town tenure as his side were beaten 2-1 by Ruthin Town in the NEWFA Challenge Cup final at The Airfield.

The departing Wellmen boss saw his side toppled by their Cymru Alliance rivals in a game beset by questionable refereeing decisions.

Holywell had taken a 14th minute lead when Mark Winslade netted, but the Denbighshire side hit back with a penalty two minutes later and netted their second on the cusp of half-time.

Despite their sustained pressure, Holywell were unable to conjure an equaliser in a second half that saw forward Shaun Tuck sent off in bizarre circumstances late on.

Haseldin admitted his side were second best on the night, but was scathing in his assessment of referee Dan Fogerty.

He said:"First of all, credit to Chris Williams and his Ruthin lads, who collectively were sharper than us on the night and were deserved winners.

"We didn't do enough ourselves to win the game. We struggled to get to grips with them at times and fell a bit flat.

"But if that was the best match referee that North Wales could provide for a cup final then I'm glad to be getting out of the game at the right time.

"The penalty awarded to them was a ridiculous decision. Shaun Pearson has got a really strong glove to the ball and pushed it away in a one on one and the referee's seen the player fall, given the penalty and booked him.

"There's been some poor offside decisions go against us and the he sending off at the end was just farcical. There was a bit of a flare-up in the middle of the pitch and the referee has sent off Shaun Tuck who was stood well away from where it was happening."

Ruthin had the better of the opening exchanges, with Jordan Maccarter going close.

Winslade then saw his fierce drive from a tight angle rebound off the post before it was scrambled clear.

But the Wellmen forward was soon on the scoresheet when Matty Harvey headed back across goal from a corner for Winslade to bundle the ball home.

Ruthin were level just a minute later when a quick break down the left saw Llyr Morris run on into the penalty area and fall under the challenge of the oncoming Pearson.

After protestations from the Wellmen bench, Ilan Hughes stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick.

Brady McGilloway led Holywell's pursuit of an equaliser with some surging runs down the right wing and Matty Harvey was unlucky to see his header from a corner cleared off the line.

But Ruthin took the lead on 40 minutes when Morris broke clear and slotted the ball past Pearson.

After a positive start to the second half, the Wellmen looked to have levelled when Graeme Williams latched onto an aerial ball and fired home, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Tuck was then put through on goal but was denied by a timely Ruthin challenge, while Steve Lewis had a goal disallowed by another offside call.

With time running out Lewis then connected with McGilloway's cross but put his header went inches wide.

In the dying minutes, Holywell's frustrations were compounded when Tuck received his marching orders.