HOLYHEAD Hotspur are still searching for their first Huws Gray Alliance point of the season after a 2-1 home loss to Gresford Athletic.

The Holy Islanders were left rueing a slow start which they could not recover from against an in-form outfit led by manager Steve Halliwell, and Darren Garmey’s men face another huge week of action as they look to get their campaign on track.

First up is a trip to treble-winning Conwy Borough on Wednesday, before they welcome Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochant to the New Stadium on Saturday (2.30pm).

Garmey, said: “I was pleased with his team’s effort but disappointed that as at Flint last Saturday the opposition were presented with two soft goals which eventually was the difference between the two teams.”

The visitors almost went ahead early on when a Jake Eyre effort was well saved by Carl Jones, but they did not have to wait much longer to open the scoring when Joe Davies headed home a Keiran Evans corner after five minutes.

Things went from bad to worse for Spurs soon after when the outstanding Eyre beat several defenders before unleashing an effort past Jones on 19 minutes.

Eyre spurned a pair of good chances to add to his tally throughout the remainder of the first period, with Jamie Roberts and Kenleigh Owen looking the most likely to level matters for the home side.

After the break saw Spurs forward John Littlemore head wide after good work from Jamie McDaid on 47 minutes, with Jordan MacCarter firing over at the other end on 56 minutes following another spell of pressure.

A nervy ending to proceedings was ensured when Tomos Clarke diverted a header into the net on 57 minutes, but they were unable to claim a share of the spoils and had Dean Garmey sent off for a robust challenge late on.