CEFN DRUIDS 1
RUTHIN TOWN 1
NEVER-SAY-DIE Ruthin Town have demonstrated why you should play all the way through to the final whistle.
Trailing Cymru Alliance high-flyers Cefn Druids 1-0 with time running out, Steve Crompton’s side finally gained their reward with a dramatic 94th minute equaliser to stretch their unbeaten run in league and cup to six matches.
“It shouldn’t have gone to that,” admitted Crompton.
“I thought we had done alright - we were competing at all levels with them, skill-wise and physically, because they are quite a physical team.
“I thought the penalty was a bit dubious.”
With a quarter-of-an-hour left to play Jason Wood tackled Tony Cann in the area and the referee pointed to the spot.
“It was a tackle by Jason Wood and the ball went with the tackle,” added Crompton.
“I thought he had got the ball.”
Mark Harris stepped up to convert the penalty beyond home keeper Jamie Hulse and that appeared to be enough to hand Druids all three points.
However, Ruthin’s commitment and energy got them back into the game.
“The spirit in the club has picked up,” said Crompton.
“They’re never-say-die and we got the equaliser in the 94th minute.
“It’s more like a win than a draw when you score that late.”
From a Jamie Price corner, Ruthin managed to win the second ball and Jason Wood was on hand to tuck a dramatic leveller into the net.
Ruthin now look forward to a meeting with basement side Rhos Aelwyd this weekend, but after this, the rest of Town’s matches this season will come against side’s who are above them in the league.
Last week Crompton predicted: “We are going to do something against one of the big clubs.”
This week the Ruthin boss added: “If we want to survive, we are going to have to.
“It’s a massive game coming up this weekend and it’s a must win game.”
Elsewhere on Saturday, there were narrow losses for Ruthin Town sides.
In the Reserves’ Division of the Wrexham Area League, Ruthin Town Reserves were edged out 1-0 at home to Cefn Druids Reserves, with Aaron Blackwell grabbing the vital goal.
There was knockout disappointment for Ruthin Colts, who suffered a last-gasp Reserves / Colts Division Cup quarter-final loss to Mold Alex Reserves.
Tom Upton broke the deadlock for Mold, but John Charles managed to draw Ruthin level.
However, Mold reached the last-four courtesy of Andy Probert’s late, late strike.