HUW GRIFFITHS’S week has not got any better after Cefn Druids were dealt a blow on the eve of tonight’s home clash with Bala Town.

With Druids in the news after their game at Cardiff Met was postponed due to a kit clash, boss Griffiths has lost the services of Joash Nembhard.

The versatile youngster was set to stay with Druids until the end of the year on-loan from The New Saints, but Nembhard has been recalled early by his parent club.

Druids had planned for the visit of sixth placed Bala with Nembhard training on Monday and Wednesday at The Rock.

A disappointed Griffiths said: “It’s thrown a spanner in the works. We’d trained twice this week with Joash key to the shape and way we were going to play.

“TNS need to look after themselves and they’ve got a few injuries, so that makes sense on their part, but it’s very, very frustrating for us.

“We thanks Joash for everything he’s done for us.”

Phil Mooney will also miss the clash with Bala, who Griffiths knows the ability in Colin Caton’s visiting squad.

“Bala have added pace and youth to their side over the summer and they look a very good team who score goals aplenty.

“They’ve got one or two players with a real touch of class and we know it will be tough.

“We are not going into the game on a good run, but these are the types of game you want to play in the Cymru Premier.”

Attackers Dean Rittenberg and Cody Ruberto could be recalled to the Druids squad for tonight’s home game.

Gavin Chesterfield has dismissed the notion that leaders Barry Town United are title challengers.

Barry moved four points clear at the top of the table courtesy of a 1-0 win at reigning champions The New Saints.

But when asked whether that now makes Barry serious title challengers, boss Chesterfield, who takes his side to Newtown tomorrow, replied: “After eight games, definitely not.

“It’s a great start to the season, yes, but we’ve got to keep going now because this league is relentless. We go away to Newtown now, which is another tough game, but it’s a challenge that we look forward to.”

Scott Ruscoe insists that “there is no panic” as TNS play catch up.

Ahead of tonight’s trip to Caernarfon, Saints boss Ruscoe, who has seen his side lose two of their eight games, said: “We know we’ve got to be better, we know we’ve got to dominate games and test goalkeepers more.

“It’s not like we are playing badly, we aren’t in possession of the ball, we aren’t creating chances and other teams are dominating us.”