NEIL GIBSON knows his side gave champions and local rivals Connah’s Quay Nomads a real run for their money - and he’ll be telling his players that as Flint Town continue their fight for survival at home to Caernarfon Town tomorrow.

Flint lost out 1-0 at home to Nomads on Tuesday night after Michael Wilde headed home the only goal of the game 10 minutes from time.

“We didn’t deserve to lose,” said Flint boss Gibson, whose side dropped back into the bottom two.

“We knew it was going to a challenge. We were facing the best team in the division, the Welsh champions, but we stood up against them and competed well.

“I spoke to Andy after the game and he knows that. He knew that we pushed them and that can only be a positive, knowing we came close to holding them.”

Flint have been dealt a tough hand in the fixture list on their return to action before the league splits next month.

Before the derby defeat to new leaders Nomads on Tuesday, they lost 1-0 at home to Penybont, who have moved up to fourth after another 1-0 win at Barry Town United.

Now they prepare for the visit of Huw Griffiths’ Caernarfon.

“It’s tough but we knew it was going to be tough,” added Gibson, whose side will face Penybont away, The New Saints and Bala Town before the April 2 Phase Two cut-off point.

“Caernarfon may have slipped down in midweek but they are a top six side and have been over the years.

“We’ve got to come up with a way of beating them and focus on the positives we’ve seen from the side in the last two games.”

It has been a learning process with Gibson handing debuts to six players in last week’s Penybont defeat. His side haven’t scored in 180 minutes but Gibson hopes that will fix itself soon.

“My teams normally score lots of goals so I think that will come,” added Gibson, who looks set to continue with two of his arrivals from Warrington Town upfront tomorrow, Jordan Buckley and Josh Amis.

“George Horan will have known he’s been in game against those two on Tuesday and it was encouraging for subs Conor Harwood and Tom Weir to come on and impress. I’d like to think those two are future players at Flint for many years to come.”

Another statistic that doesn’t bother Gibson is that his Flint side are the only team in the league not to draw a game this season, having lost 14 of their 18 games so far.

“It’s just one of those anomalies you sometimes get in a season,” added Gibson, who hopes former Flint defender Nathan Craig doesn’t come back to haunt the side he started the season with having re-signed for his hometown club earlier this year.

Key to Flint’s success will be the performances of goalkeeper Jon Rushton, who Nomads boss Andy Morrison singled out as the man of the match in Tuesday's Essity Stadium clash.

Aberystwyth Town, who leapfrogged Flint thanks to Lee Jenkins late winner in the 2-1 victory over Haverfordwest on Tuesday, visit Barry Town United while Newtown host Cardiff Met.