RICHIE FOULKES insists that Flint Town United will be working as hard as ever to enjoy a strong end to the season.

The Silkmen saw their Welsh Cup hopes ended at the quarter-final stage by Prestatyn on Tuesday, while the Flintshire outfit’s title challenge is all-but over after slipping 16 points behind their rivals with games running out.

But with a North East Wales Challenge Cup semi-final with Gresford Athletic on the horizon and a second consecutive runners-up spot up for grabs, Foulkes and his team-mates are looking forward.

First-up for Flint is a home encounter with sixth placed Llanrhaeadr on Saturday, captain Foulkes saying:” It’s going to be a really tough game.

“They will know that we’re coming in after back-to-back defeats, but the lads will be determined to get back to winning ways and enjoying our football again.

“The lads are upbeat and we will look to put things right.

“We’ve got a big game and we need to put a run together to consolidate second place with a North East Wales Challenge Cup semi-final coming up in a few weeks, which is something we want to try and win.

“We will work as hard as we can and see where that takes us.”

Tuesday’s 1-0 Welsh Cup defeat to Prestatyn came 10 days after Flint were beaten by the same score at Bastion Gardens in a crucial league encounter.

Those defeats were a bitter pill to swallow for Flint, who have now lost all three matches against Neil Gibson’s Prestatyn this season by the odd-goal.

“We threw everything at it and again we feel like there isn’t much between the teams, and if anything, we feel like we slightly edged it,” said Foulkes, who went agonisingly close to opening the scoring in midweek with a fine curling effort on the turn tipped over by Prestatyn’s Jon Rushton.

“It’s just that little bit of luck wasn’t on our side - the first balls and second balls were not quite falling for us.

“We were pushing and we knew the first goal was going to be critical. They’ve got themselves in-front the last couple of games and we wanted to see how they performed if we got in-front early, but it wasn’t to be.

“They’ve beaten us three times now and there hasn’t been much between the teams, they’ve been good battles.

“It feels like the two games have been a real sucker-punch for us.”

Like his midfield general, Flint boss Niall McGuinness is looking to end the season strongly.

“The pressure’s off now, completely off, so hopefully we can go and play with a bit more freedom to express ourselves,” said McGuinness, who will have Alex Titchiner available after suspension with goalkeeper John Danby (back) doubtful.

“I think we’ve got a good group of players who can only get better and who we want to go and express themselves and go on to win the next nine matches.”

Prestatyn Town return to action this evening at struggling Llangefni Town knowing four wins from their seven remaining matches will be enough to secure the league title.