A ‘SUCKER PUNCH’ was John Haseldin’s verdict on Holywell Town’s agonising 2-1 home defeat to Porthmadog.

The Wellmen’s boss was left gutted after an injury-time winner from Port’s Sion Parry dealt another blow to his side’s survival chances this season.

An impressive first half performance from the hosts saw them take a deserved 30th minute lead when Mark Winslade dispossessed a Porthmadog defender on the edge of the box and burst forward before crossing for Damian Ketley, who fired the ball past Porth keeper Paul Pritchard.

The latter part of the half saw Porthmadog chase an equaliser, but Town dealt well with the pressure and home stopper Tyler French was not called upon to make a save.

But an improved second half showing from Craig Papirnyk’s visitors put Holywell under pressure, with Winslade forced into a heading a goalbound effort off the line soon after the restart.

Port’s efforts were rewarded on 65 minutes when substitute Sion Edwards’ shot came down off the crossbar and into the net.

Danny Dobbins then spurned a chance to restore Holywell’s lead when he failed to convert from Sam Jones’ cross into the box.

A crucial point for the Wellmen was snatched away at the death when the ball was crossed into the penalty area from the left and Parry’s touch steered it past French.

“It was a sucker-punch and really tough to take after a really good performance from us,” said Haseldin.

“We were so comfortable in the first half and looked like much the better side. There had been some harsh words before the game about how poorly we’d played at Airbus, and the lads delivered the response we wanted.

“We conceded more possession in the second half after they’ve made three substitutions that have swung the game for them. They penned us in a bit more and we’ve invited that pressure on ourselves.

“We’d have taken a point against a team going for second in the league and our efforts certainly deserved more. It was a kick in the teeth, but there are positives we have to take forward from that performance now.”

Airbus delivered on their promise of not letting-up in their league run-in as they ran out 4-0 winners at basement side Holyhead Hotspur.

The league champions reached the 70-point mark with an assured display, with Connah’ Quay Nomads loanee Nathan Wolfe firing them into a first-half lead.

Steve O’Shaugnessy’s side upped the tempo after the break, with quickfire strikes from Sam Hart, Ryan Edwards and Lewis Buckley putting the Flintshire club 4-0 up.

The result all but confirmed Hotspur’s relegation from the Alliance, with the Anglesey club set to finish bottom of the division.

Airmen assistant boss Andy Thomas said: “It was another really professional performance from our lads and it’s credit to them that they’re still playing at such a high level at this stage of the season.The fact we’re playing Holyhead in the League Cup final soon gave us an added incentive to lay down a bit of a marker.”

“It’s been a great season and we’re determined to finish with as many points on the board as possible.”

The end of the season can’t come soon enough for Gresford Athletic manager Steve Halliwell, who lamented his side’s lack of finishing power in the 3-1 defeat at relegation-threatened Penrhyncoch.

The home side led 1-0 at the interval courtesy of Jon Evans’ 17th minute penalty after Jack Jones had brought down Steff Davies.

Gresford spurned some decent scoring opportunities themselves in the contest and were punished for their wastefulness early in the second half as Penrhyncoch doubled their lead early in the second half through Tom Evans’ low left-footed strike, and the result was effectively confirmed on the hour mark when Josh Shaw’s crisp volley made it 3-0.

Jack Chaloner pulled a goal back on 68 minutes when he headed home Simon Smith’s cross, but there was to be no late fightback .

Halliwell said: “It was a better performance than the Porthmadog game, but that’s not saying much.

“It just seems like the players want the season to be over already and are just going through the motions at times.

“I’m sick of saying the same thing this season about not taking our chances. It’s not just the strikers - everyone has to take responsibility for how things have gone in the last few weeks.

“We’re too nice at times and are getting bullied by the physicality of teams like Penrhyncoch, who are scrapping for every point.

“It’s just as well we’re not fighting a relegation battle right now, because I wouldn’t back us to stay up if we were.”

Colwyn Bay will join the second tier of Welsh football next term after the Football Association of Wales accepted their application to switch from the English League.

Bay will play in the newly formed Tier Two League, which will comprise 17 clubs in the 2019-20 season.

The switch means that four teams could be relegated at the end of the next campaign.