BUCKLEY TOWN and Gresford Athletic gave their battle for survival a huge boost with crucial away victories.

Steve Halliwell’s Gresford secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season by following up a 1-0 success over Ruthin with a convincing 3-0 victory at Llanfair United.

That lifted Gresford into 12th spot and above Llangefni, who drew 1-1 with fellow strugglers Porthmadog the previous evening, while Buckley are now just two points adrift of safety after winning 1-0 at Llandudno.

Josh Jones scored the decisive goal of the game just before half-time as Buckley picked up a precious three points on the road.

Buckley boss Dan Moore said: “It was a game of two halves thanks to the wind. First-half was played in their half, second-half was played in ours.

“We got our noses in front just before half-time and then defended extremely well second-half.

“From one to 14, the players but their bodies on the line for the club and we managed to restrict Llandudno to long range shots, which Joe Makaruk dealt with really well when he needed to.

Moore, who has completed the signings of Jordan Taylor from Rhydymwyn and Sam Wainwright from New Brighton Villa, added: “We were really pleased with the attitude and desire shown by the players, which has never been in question from my perspective, but it was good to see it come to the fore nonetheless.”

Gresford remain three points clear of fourth from bottom Buckley after second-half goals from Jake Eyre and Jordan MacCarter, either side of a strike by debutant Danny Holland, secured a key win at basement outfit Llanfair.

“It wasn’t the best of games given the weather, but it was a professional performance,” said director of football Halliwell, who threw Joe Chaplin straight into the starting XI after signing the striker on-loan from Colwyn Bay on Friday.

“I was about to put Jordan on and go with four in attack, but we scored and then ended up with getting another two quickly as their heads seemed to drop.

“It was a case of ‘job done’ and we could have scored five or six if we’d been a bit more clinical in-front of goal.

“But back-to-back wins for the first time this season, back-to-back clean sheets and four goals is good start to the year.”

Holland and Chaplin impressed Halliwell on debut, while the back five of goalkeeper Jon Hill-Dunt and defenders Nathan Williams, Jack Jones, Adam Hesp and Ashton Williams, emerged with credit.

“Danny is lively, scored a great goal and was a threat, and Joe led the line well, showing good quality after we rushed to get him signed in time,” added Halliwell, who confirmed that his month’s transfer business could be complete.

Josh Davies’s first-half penalty looked like it could hand Porthmadog victory at Llangefni, but the home side levelled late on through Jordan Murphy.