Airbus Broughton FC are on the march and remain intent on challenging for three trophies.
They stand top of the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance, 13 points ahead of second-placed Porthmadog on level games, while they are still involved in the Welsh Senior Cup and the League Cup.
Airbus have the Alliance title and promotion top of their priority list, while they their Welsh Cup test is against Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints.
The Wingmakers have been drawn against Porthmadog in the League Cup.
Conwy Borough held Airbus to a 1-1 draw in the final round of matches in 2018. Connor Harwood was outstanding for Conwy, a real handful for Airbus defenders.
Former Airbus academy keeper Keighan Jones was the hero for Conwy Borough at The Morfa.
During a scrappy first half, Lewis Buckley headed wide from a free-kick and Joe Palmer narrowly missed the target with an 18-yarder before Jones made his first crucial save in a one-on-one with James Hooper.
Minutes later, it was the Tangerines who made the breakthrough when a poor clearance was returned into the box for Sean McCaffrey to find the back of the net.
Airbus found their passing rhythm after the break and were level on 52 minutes when Curtis Strong did well to beat two defenders down the left before sending a pinpoint cross for Buckley to head home from 12 yards.
Airbus FC: Roberts, McGilloway (McGilloway), Strong, Tomassen, Palmer, Platt, Edwards, Buckley, Hamilton (Chaplin), Clarke, Hooper (Taylor). Subs not used: Hall, Quirk.
Rhyl returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory against Ruthin Town to complete the double over their Denbighshire rivals.
The Lilywhites, seeking a quick response to the 3-0 Boxing Day defeat against Prestatyn in front of 800-plus spectators, took the lead when James Murphy scored after 12 minutes.
Post Match Reaction – We spoke to Eddie Maurice Jones after the 2-0 win against Ruthin for his views on the performance and the season to date for the Lilywhites https://t.co/9covmGEWh7 via @Audioboom
— CPD Y Rhyl 1879 official (@rhylfc) December 29, 2018
Murphy collected an Aaron Hassell pass just outside the penalty area, drove forward from the Rhyl right and fired a low shot past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Ryan Goldston.
That goal lifted Rhyl’s confidence, they began to control play and scored their second after a spell of pressure was rewarded with some quick thinking from Reece Fairhurst.
A Rhyl corner was half cleared and fell to Matthew Cook, who shot from 30 yards. Fairhurst was able to steer the ball with his head past Ryan Goldston just after the half hour.
That Boxing Day defeat against Prestatyn ended Rhyl’s nine-match winning run and Director of Football Eddie Maurice Jones said: “Our second half performance in that defeat lacked confidence, desire and fight. It was a bad performance all round.
“We started the game brightly, creating promising chances, but failed to capitalise on those strong spells. That became our downfall and the key moments of the games missed.
“Take nothing away from Prestatyn, who defended brilliantly all game and took their chances when they came.
“We can’t lose confidence in ourselves, nine games unbeaten before Boxing Day was brilliant and there is no reason why we can’t go on another run.
“It was important they we were back on point in defence against Ruthin and the back four produced a solid performance.
“We have to be pleased overall so far this season. The new group didn’t gel as quickly as we hoped and we have looked at many things for reasons.
“But to go nine games unbeaten was excellent and we are in the top five. We have come a long way.”
Rhyl (v Ruthin): Rory Crowther, Reece Fairhurst, Ben Nash, Cai Owen, Max Peate (Joe Culshaw 83), Aaron Hassall, Matthew Cook, Gareth Partridge (Liam Chambers 57), Joe Sullivan, Barry Torrence (Luke Wiltshire 75), James Murphy. Subs not used: Jonathan Hill-Dunt, Liam Smith.
MANAGER’S THOUGHTS: @haggiswxm wants @GresfordFC to kick on in 2019 after ending the year with today’s 5-1 win against @HolyheadHotspur at @ClapperslaneG in the Huws Gray Alliance.
With @WrexhamBrick, @SGEstatesUK and @ELMHair_Beauty pic.twitter.com/eMtMxYu0ZV
— Gresford Athletic FC (@GresfordFC) December 29, 2018
Gresford Athletic’s Jake Eyre scored four goals, including three penalties, as the Attics beat visitors Holyhead Hotspur 5-1. Tom Freeman scored the other Gresford goal with Mel McGuinness on target for Hotspur
Prestatyn Town and Porthmadog shared six goals. Sion Parry opened the scoring for Porth inside the first minute with Ben Maher equalising before half-time.
Matt Roberts put Porth ahead again after 64 minutes, but two goals in two minutes from a Maher penalty and Dave Hayes put Prestatyn ahead only for Sion Edwards to equalise with a cracking goal to give Porth a share of the spoils.
Mark Roberts gave Denbigh Town the lead four minutes into the second half after a goalless first half at Flint Town United only for Kyle Smyth to equalised for Flint in a game that saw Denbigh finish with ten men following the dismissal of Scott McHarrie.
TODAY’S GOALS: Here are the five @GresfordFC goals from today’s game against @HolyheadHotspur at @ClapperslaneG, including a screamer from @Tomfree17310577!
With @WrexhamBrick, @SGEstatesUK and @ELMHair_Beauty pic.twitter.com/8I6fbSdbyF
— Gresford Athletic FC (@GresfordFC) December 29, 2018
Bangor City and Guilsfield failed to find the net in the first half. Sam Lichfield opened the scoring for the Guils five minutes into the second half and a Steve Blenkinsop second clinched victory.
A Kyham Wytton penalty had Llanrhaeadr YM ahead at the break at home to Buckley Town and a second from Iwan Mathews after 72 minutes saw them gain another three points
More than 600 spectators watched Denbigh Town’s 3-0 home win against Ruthin Town. Llyr Morris had the chance to put the visitors ahead, but his penalty kick was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Craig Vernon.
Lewis Sirrel put Denbigh ahead seven minutes before half-time and Sirrel went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half. Vernon saved another penalty, this time taken by Ryan Jones
Holywell Town found themselves a goal behind after 19 minutes against visitors Flint Town United, who scored first through Damian Ketle.
Steve Lewis equalised for Holywell two minutes before the break and nine minutes into the second half Jon Jones scored the winner for Wellmen after a Matt Hughes head came back off the bar
A goal in each half from Mark Williams and Sameron Dool gave Bangor City the points at Porthmadog.
Cymru Alliance results
Saturday, December 29: Conwy Borough 1, Airbus Broughton 1; Flint Town United 1, Denbigh Town 1; Llanrhaeadr YM 2, Buckley 0; Prestatyn Town 3, Porthmadog 3; Rhyl 2, Ruthin Town 0; Gresford Athletic 5, Holyhead Hotspur 1; Bangor City 0, Guilsfield 2.
Boxing Day: Holywell Town 2, Flint Town United 1; Porthmadog 0, Bangor City 2; Rhyl 0, Prestatyn Town 3; Denbigh Town 3, Ruthin Town 0.
Cymru Alliance fixtures
January
Saturday 5
Gresford Athletic v Denbigh Town (2pm), Ruthin Town v Holywell Town (2pm), Airbus Broughton v Prestatyn Town (2.30pm), Buckley Town v Bangor City (2.30pm), Guilsfield v Conwy Borough (2.30pm), Holyhead Hotspur v Flint Town United (2.30pm), Porthmadog v Perhyncoch (2.30pm), Rhyl v Llanrhaeadr (2.30pm).
Friday 11: Bangor City v Denbigh Town (7.30pm), Prestatyn Town v Holywell Town (7.30pm), Penrhyncoch v Rhyl (8pm).
Saturday 12: Gresford Athletic v Guilsfield (2pm), Ruthin Town v Airbus Broughton (2pm), Conwy Borough v Buckley Town (2.30pm), Llanrhaeadr YM v Holyhead Hotspur (2.30pm), Porthmadog v Flint Town United (2.30pm).
HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE 2018-19
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Airbus Broughton | 17 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 10 | 34 | 46 | |
| 2 | Porthmadog | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 17 | 16 | 33 | |
| 3 | Bangor City | 16 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 42 | 18 | 24 | 31 | |
| 4 | Flint Town United | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 31 | 17 | 14 | 31 | |
| 5 | Rhyl | 17 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 34 | 25 | 9 | 31 | |
| 6 | Gresford Athletic | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 23 | |
| 7 | Ruthin Town | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 23 | 29 | -6 | 22 | |
| 8 | Guilsfield | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 23 | 32 | -9 | 22 | |
| 9 | Buckley Town | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 30 | 31 | -1 | 21 | |
| 10 | Llanrhaeadr YM | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 44 | -25 | 21 | |
| 11 | Denbigh Town | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 33 | -8 | 20 | |
| 12 | Prestatyn Town | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 28 | 30 | -2 | 18 | |
| 13 | Conwy Borough | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 24 | -2 | 18 | |
| 14 | Holywell Town | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 36 | -16 | 15 | |
| 15 | Penrhyncoch | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 14 | |
| 16 | Holyhead Hotspur | 16 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 36 | -22 | 7 |
Welsh Cup last 16 draw
Airbus Broughton FC have been handed a home tie against reigning Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints in the fourth round of the FAW Welsh Cup.
The last time the sides met in the competition was in the 2016 final when the Wingmakers were beaten 2-0 at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground.
The draw in full:
•Aberystwyth Town v Cardiff Met
•Airbus UK Broughton v The New Saints
•Bangor City v Caernarfon Town
•Barry Town United v Cefn Druids
•Cambrian & Clydach v Rhyl FC
•Carmarthen Town v Connah’s Quay Nomads
•Haverfordwest County v Flint Town United/Bala Town
•Llangefni Town v Llandudno
Ties to be played on January 25/26.
HUWS GRAY CUP 2018-19
First round: Rhyl 1, Denbigh Town 2; Bangor City 5, Gresford Athletic 3; Airbus Broughton 4, Holywell Town 0; Conwy Borough 4, Llanrhaeadr 0; Flint Town United 1, Holyhead Hotspur 2; Porthmadog 3, Buckey Town 0; Porthmadog 3, Buckey Town 0; Prestatyn Town 4, Penrhyncoch 0; Ruthin Town 3, Guilsfield 2.
Second round: Denbigh Town 0, Airbus Broughton FC 2; Holyhead Hotspur 3, Ruthin Town 2; Porthmadog 2, Conwy Borough 0; Prestatyn 2, Bangor City 4.
Semi-finals (ties to be played on Saturday, February 9, 2019): Holyhead Hotspur v Bangor City, Porthmadog v Airbus Broughton FC.