HOLYHEAD Hotspur geared up for their Huws Gray Cup final against Porthmadog with a 2-1 reverse at Ruthin Town.

The Holy Islanders were left rueing a poor start which they could not recover from, continuing a run of dismal second tier form since the turn of the year.

Campbell Harrison’s side travel to Port in their quarter final clash on Wednesday night, before welcoming Caersws to the New Stadium on April 28.

A tense first period was turned on its head when the home side were awarded a penalty on 40 minutes, but Llyr Morris’ spot kick was saved superbly by Spurs’ stopper Paul Pritchard.

The Huws Gray Alliance top scorer made amends moments later when he opened the scoring with a neat finish on 42 minutes, and the prolific striker was on hand immediately following the restart to double their advantage and take his tally to 28 league goals for the season.

After the break saw the visitors gradually begin to impose themselves on proceedings and they found a route back into the contest on 71 minutes when John Littlemore finally found a way past Ryan Goldston to reduce the arrears.

Morris spurned two good opportunities to secure his hat-trick soon after, but Chris Williams’ side managed to see out the game in the face of some stern pressure to condemn the visitors to another defeat.

The result leaves Harrison’s side in 12th spot having played a number of games more than the sides below them.