HOLYHEAD Hotspur returned to Huws Gray Alliance action with a 1-0 defeat at Gresford Athletic.

The Holy Islanders were highly critical of the refereeing performance during their ninth defeat in 20 second tier outings, and Campbell Harrison’s men will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome Penrhyncoch to The New Stadium on Saturday (2.30pm).

The away side almost went ahead early on when Mike Kelly’s effort was blocked by home custodian Mike Platt, but the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty soon after which was despatched by Mike Latham with ten gone.

Paul Pritchard had to be at his best to deny Athletic a second when he denied Ben Burrows, while at the other end Kenleigh Owen spurned a good chance when he fired an effort over.

An end-to-end first period brought with it a host of other chances, with Dewi Thomas and Jake Eyre forcing Platt and Pritchard into action once again.

Confusion descended on 57 minutes when Garmey was substituted for precautionary measures after receiving a yellow card, only for the referee to show the midfielder a red card after the player had left the field of play.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, the away side continued to press for a leveller, with Jamie McDaid, Tomos Clarke and Owen all coming within inches of an equaliser.

Harrison’s side had strong claims for a penalty of their own waved off on 80 minutes after Dewi Thomas was felled in the box, and they were left open due to committing men forward late on which allowed Jack Chaloner to rattle the cross bar with a fierce drive.

Spurs’ misery was compounded in stoppage time when Clarke was sent off after receiving two bookings in quick succession to cap off a miserable day at the office, and the result leaves them sitting in tenth spot.