Richie Foulkes fired the matchwinner for Flint Town United in their Huw’s Gary Alliance clash with Conwy Borough.
Two of the league’s top goalscorers, Corrig McGonigle and Mark Cadwallader, faced each other, but the only goal of the game came from a penalty.
Flint won 1-0 after Andy Brown took possession 25 yards out and drove at the Conwy back-line, riding one challenge and forcing his way into the penalty area before being brought down.
Foulkes stepped up to convert the spot-kick and Flint kept a clean sheet for the second successive match to earn victory.
It was a match of few chances with both defences well organised and effective.
Flint’s back line, superbly marshalled by man of the match Jacques Welsh, had a calm, confidence air that that lifted belief they could hold on to that first half lead.
MOTM awarded to Jacques Welsh in Saturday’s victory away to @ConwyBoroughFC
A Solid defensive display from the young @TranmereRovers loanee
Well done @jacques_welsh ⚫️⚪️#TheSilkmen #TheYard pic.twitter.com/rRgchGY5aZ
— Flint Town United FC (@FlintTownFC) February 25, 2019
In midfield, Foulkes and Ged Kinsella kept trying to drive their side forward, and were ably supported by Kyle Smyth and Ryan Smith, who worked hard for the cause and covered a lot of ground.
It was always likely to be a tight encounter and in the end the team ethic and work-rate of Flint just about made the difference.
Second-placed Flint look to make it four successive wins when they host Bangor City at Cae-y-Castell on Saturday (2.30pm).
That will be the first meeting of the season between the two clubs after the match at Nantporth away game was postponed.
Since the turn of the year, the Citizens have lost several key players as financial problems have taken their toll.
Consequently, manager Gary Taylor-Fletcher has had to turn to some of the club’s younger players and promote them into the first team.
Conwy Borough: Ben Heald, Nathan Williams, Guto Hughes (Danny Hughes 85), Iolo Hughes (capt), Anthony Marshall, Adam Pritchard, Tommy Creamer, Gethin Maxwell, Lee Thomas, Corrig McGonigle, Bryan Roberts (Leigh Craven 70). Subs not used: Dean Seager, Anthony Sarnowski (gk)
Flint Town United: Aaron Jones, Tom Kemp, Jacquies Welsh, Ged Kinsella, Ieuan Hewitt, Dimitri Christou, Ryan Smith (Dylan Allshorn 71), Richie Foulkes (cape), Andy Brown (Joe Davies 82), Mark Cadwallader (Tyreek McCallum 90), Kyle Smyth. Subs not used: Aaron Jones, Jake Hampson.
Alliance leaders Airbus UK Broughton won 1-0 at Rhyl to stay seven points clear at the top.
Nathan Woolfe hit a post for Airbus and then sparked the winner just after the hour mark. His shot from the edge of the box took a huge deflection off a Rhyl defender and looped over wrong-footed goalkeeper Rory Crowther and into the net.
Rhyl struggled to create a clear opening, with the best chance falling to James Murphy who fired over the bar after a good delivery from Barry Torrence and Airbus closed out the remainder of the game.
Airbus assistant manager Andy Thomas hailed a ‘professional’ display, saying: “We deserved to win on the balance of play. Our defensive shape is the best in the league by far and if any team manages to break us down they will have had to work really hard to do it.
“It wasn’t spectacular from us at all, but we showed really good professionalism in managing the game once we got ahead and this is a step nearer the title for us.”
The last few minutes saw a Rhyl debut for 17-year-old Ben Lockley, who looked assured on the right during his short spell on the pitch.
https://twitter.com/PenrhynCochFC/status/1101076673498439680
Rhyl will be looking to celebrate St David’s Day as they go in search of a return to winning ways against Holywell Town at the Educate Group Stadium on Friday (kick-off 7.45pm).
The Lilywhites have failed to win in the last four games Director of Football Eddie Maurice Jones after after their 1-0 defeat at Airbus: “The players were left frustrated and annoyed they didn’t earn something from the game.
“There wasn’t a great deal between the two teams. Take nothing away from Airbus, who are a strong team and they ground out a result with a little luck.
“They have done extremely well to be in the position they are in this season.
“We must stay focused and determined to finish the season on a high and build some momentum up heading into the last run of fixtures.
“We expect a physical game against Holywell, a team who fight for every point available. It’s vital we start the game well with enthusiasm and belief in our ability.
“When we find our rhythm and play with confidence we look promising, but we all agree we need to see more of it and be more convincing in our game.”
A Julian Williams goal after 24 minutes gave Porthmadog a half-time advantage at Denbigh Town. He added a second two minutes into the second half with Iwan Lewis adding Porth’s third to complete a 3-0 victory.
Gresford Athletic came from behind to extend their impressive unbeaten run.
Visitors Llanrhaeadr YM took a 70th minute lead through Kytam Wytton goal, while Athletic equalised six minutes from time from a Tom Freeman free-kick.
Guilsfield powered to a 4-1 win against Holyhead Hotspur away.
Jack Richards gave Guilsfield the lead 10 minutes into the second half, while player of the month Mel McGuiness levelled for Hotspur after 63e minutes.
Jake Cook (2) and Steve Blenkinsop completed Guilsfield’s success.
Ruthin Town set off to a flying start against Bangor City away with a Llyr Morris first minute goal and the same player added a second 12 minutes later.
Ryan Jones made it 3-0 at half-time and Llan Hughes netted a penalty eight minutes into the second half to seal a 4-0 Ruthin win.
Buckley Town were 2-0 winners at Holyhead Town thanks to goals from Jake Roberts, in the first minute, and Shaun Tinsley with 63 minutes gone.
By the time Tinsley struck, Holyhead’s Steve Lewis had been dismissed on the hour.
Alliance results: Airbus Broughton 1, Rhyl 0; Conwy Borough 0, Flint Town United 1; Denbigh Town 0, Porthmadog 3; Holyhead Hotspur 1, Guilsfield 4; Penrhyncoch 0, Prestatyn Town 0; Gresford Athletic 1, LLanrhaeadr YM 1; Bangor Coty 0, Ruthin Town 4; Holywell Town 0, Buckley Town 2.
Alliance fixtures:
Friday: Rhyl v Holywell Town (7.30pm)
Saturday: Buckley Town v Holyhead Hotspur (2.30pm), Flint Town United v Bangor City (2.30pm), Guilsfield v Denbigh Town (2.30pm), Llanrhaeadr YM v Ruthin Town (2.30pm), Penrhyncoch v Airbus Broughton (2.30pm), Porthmadog v Conwy Borough (2.30pm).
HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE 2018/19
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Airbus Broughton | 23 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 50 | 15 | 35 | 55 | |
| 2 | Flint Town United | 23 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 45 | 23 | 22 | 48 | |
| 3 | Porthmadog | 24 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 49 | 27 | 22 | 45 | |
| 4 | Bangor City | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 55 | 25 | 30 | 43 | |
| 5 | Rhyl | 23 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 41 | |
| 6 | Gresford Athletic | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 36 | 33 | 3 | 34 | |
| 7 | Buckley Town | 23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 41 | 40 | 1 | 32 | |
| 8 | Ruthin Town | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 35 | 36 | -1 | 32 | |
| 9 | Prestatyn Town | 24 | 9 | 4 | 11 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 31 | |
| 10 | Guilsfield | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 34 | 39 | -5 | 31 | |
| 11 | Conwy Borough | 23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 32 | 31 | 1 | 28 | |
| 12 | Llanrhaeadr YM | 24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 26 | 57 | -31 | 28 | |
| 13 | Denbigh Town | 23 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 29 | 50 | -21 | 23 | |
| 14 | Penrhyncoch | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 22 | 32 | -10 | 19 | |
| 15 | Holywell Town | 22 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 26 | 46 | -20 | 19 | |
| 16 | Holyhead Hotspur | 23 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 19 | 55 | -36 | 10 |