Rhyl 2 Cwmbran Town 1

UNDER-STRENGTH Cwmbran's horrendous run of poor Welsh Premier form continued at Belle Vue where they faded badly after a bright start aided by Jody Jenkins' magnificent 32-minute strike.

The Crows have now picked up just ten points from the last 39 and while it will take a footballing miracle to qualify for Europe, even hopes of qualifying for next season's lucrative FAW Premier Cup via a top-eight spot are fast fading.

Cwmbran have previously finished in the position they currently hold, ninth, and if matters are not soon resolved, then this could prove to be the club's worst in the 11-year history of the league.

Yet Cwmbran did themselves proud before the interval when despite their hosts starting the better, it was temporary-manager Roger Gibbins' men who created the more eye-catching chances.

Academy teenager Lee O'Connor continued in an unfamiliar left wing back role while a couple of his youth team colleagues, midfielder Daniel Howe and defender Mark Morris, were on the bench.

However Morris was soon handed his league debut when right wing back Chris Watkins was forced off in the ninth minute with an ankle strain. He was later joined by Howe.

But it was Morris, with a speculative shot which nearly caught out home goalkeeper Steve Skupski, and striker Chris Summers, with an effort well saved by the Rhyl number one, who came closest to scoring before Jenkins fired in a 30-yard special.

With Cwmbran repeatedly giving away free kicks around the 18-yard area, it really was only a matter of time before Rhyl made one count. And when the Gwent outfit conceded another in a dangerous-looking position just three minutes into the second period, goalkeeper Marty Ellacott could only palm Stuart Graves' dead-ball shot into the path of home skipper Mark Powell.

Just 12 minutes later, a Powell header was helped past Ellacott by striker Andy Moran at a corner, and from that point Rhyl held the upper hand for most of the remainder of the match.

Cwmbran now face a difficult task to gain a positive result next Saturday when they travel to take on an improving Carmarthen Town.

Rhyl: S Skupski, M Powell (c), J Brewerton, R Baker, T Alexander, S Graves (G Powell, 79), L Atherton, G Wilson, A Moran (S Futcher, 88), C McGinn, S Walters (N Brookman, 86).

Cwmbran Town: M Ellacott, R Carter, L O'Connor (R David, 86), M Pattimore, G Warton, J Welsh, C Summers, A Moore, J Jenkins, A Wright (D Howe, 71), C Watkins (M Morris, 9). Booked: Jenkins (foul, 76).