FINE margins will settle Saturday's clash between Gresford Athletic and Flint Town United, say the respective bosses of both clubs.

With home advantage, Gresford are out to extend a 12-game unbeaten run while Flint will hope to re-ignite their fading title hopes with a victory.

The Colliers were beaten by Richie Foulkes’ injury-time winner at Cae-y-Castell earlier in the season, and lost on penalties to the same opposition in last season’s League Cup final.

Gresford boss Steve Halliwell said: “There’s been so little between us certainly in the last season.

“I think we’ve cancelled each other out in games we’ve played, which have usually been settled by the odd goal. "We’re on a good run right now, but we’re still not finding the net as much as we should be.

“Jake Eyre’s our top scorer with eight this season, and six of those have been penalties.

"Hopefully we’ll carry a bit more goal threat this weekend, but we’ll have to work hard for it because defensively Flint are pretty solid.”

Silkmen boss Niall McGuinness holds a mutual respect for tomorrow’s hosts and praised the quality in Halliwell’s side.

He said: “Looking at their first choice 11 you’d have to say it’s one of the strongest in the league.

“Steve’s done a good job there and you can see that in the league positions they’ve achieved in the last couple of seasons.

"Whenever we’ve played them it’s been a battle and you really couldn’t call how this weekend’s game will go.”

With Flint’s title prospects now looking increasingly remote, McGuinness accepts that his side will have to perform much better than in their goalless draw with Bangor City last weekend.

“We’re realistic about the position we’re in and we know that the title looks like it’s going to Airbus now,” he added.

“We’ll keep fighting to try to keep ourselves in contention, but we’ll need to show a lot more quality than we did against Bangor.

"We want the win and we’ll have to be at our very best to come away with the points this weekend.”

Midfielder Ged Kinsella is Flint’s only injury doubt, while Gresford could be without Joe Newton and Tom Freeman for the clash.

Friday night’s fixtures see Conwy Borough host Prestatyn Town, and Rhyl head to Holyhead Hotspur.

Penrhyncoch go to Bangor City on Saturday, while Denbigh host Llanrhaeadr and Porthmadog visit Ruthin Town.