HUW GRIFFITHS believes the first phase of the season has been a “learning curve” for Cefn Druids.

The Ancients have found life tough in the top-flight after securing unlikely Europa League qualification in the summer courtesy of a fifth placed finish and play-off success last term.

Griffiths always felt that opponents would treat Druids with more respect this season, and so it has proved with the 10th placed outfit struggling for consistency.

“We are short of where we should be,” said Griffiths.

“We’d like to have been better off in terms of points, but teams have been setting up differently against us this season, as we expected they would do.

“It has been a learning curve for us and we’ve got to show that we have learnt from the first phase of the season during the remaining 10 games of the campaign.”

Despite failing to hit the highs of last season on a regular basis, Druids are six points clear of the relegation zone heading into the second phase of the season.

“We are not bottom of the table,” said an optimistic Griffiths. “We are third from bottom and the most important thing for us is trying to stay in the league.

“We have managed to bring a couple of players in this month and that will help add physicality and improve our threat going forward.”

Any concerns Druids have with the drop could be eased significantly when they return to action at home to Llanelli on Saturday, February 2.

Llanelli are the side directly below Druids, who could put nine points between themselves and Andy Hill’s men with all three points at The Rock.

Griffiths, who has seen his side lose twice to Llanelli this season, said: “We are looking forward to the second phase of the season.

“We’ve got Llanelli first up and we want to go and win it and put nine points between us.

“It should be an exciting campaign.”

Druids have been given the weekend off before they start planning for next Saturday’s Welsh Cup fourth round clash with Barry Town United at Jenner Park.

“We will be back in on Monday, where we will be working on something to counter the strengths of a very good Barry Town team,” added Griffiths, who has signed Niki-Lee Bulmer to compete with number one Mike Jones.

Arek Piskorski could return to action for Druids against Barry, while the fixture break allows Neil Ashton and Matty Owen time to recover from injuries picked up against Newtown last weekend.