HGA Focus: Can Ruthin Town avoid relegation?

In December 2016 Ruthin Town lay rooted to the bottom of the Huws Gray Alliance table.

With just two wins, two draws and eight losses since the start of the season, their time in the second tier was running out.

But in January, things changed at the humble Denbighshire outfit. They shocked Holyhead in a 2-1 win away from home and then put six goals past Caersws to dramatically revive their season and kick start a relegation dog fight.

Losses against league high-flyers Prestatyn and Gresford followed, but they again went against the odds to beat Flint Town United, Penrhyncoch and fellow relegation battlers Buckley Town and Mold Alex.

With four games left in this 2016/17 season, they have lost three and won six since January, placing them 12th in the table – and with a maximum of four teams to go down from the league subject to licensing this season, 12th place will see Ruthin to safety should they stay there.

It’s looking good for manager Chris Williams’ side at the moment, but a tricky end of season run in awaits…

Llanfair (H)
Conwy Borough (H)
Holywell Town (A)
Guilsfield (H)

Ruthin face a tough test in each of their remaining games, with their clash against current bottom club Conwy a game that could well secure Ruthin’s survival and condemn Conwy to relegation if the home side win.

Holywell Town and Guilsfield will be wanting to take all three points against Ruthin, but they have already proved they are capable of causing upsets this season.

If they do avoid relegation, their achievement will be made greater by the fact they are a side made up of local players from an area with a population of just 5,000. When Chris Williams’ joined Ruthin, he implemented a policy of local player recruitment, and come the end of April this move may well have paid dividends.

Ruthin’s work is far from done with the likes of Llanfair United and Mold Alex having games in hand over them, but if the togetherness and determination they have shown since the start of the year is still in supply, they have a great chance of avoiding the drop.