Gresford Athletic suffered their fifth league defeat of the season as they were well beaten by Ruthin Town on matchday seven of the 2024/25 JD Cymru North on Friday night.

The game got off to the worst possible start for Gresford Athletic, with Harry Martin putting Ruthin Town in the lead within just four minutes through a chip over Lewis Dutton.

Gresford Athletic did try to find the equaliser, though, with Charley Edge doing well on the left of the box in the 13th minute and forcing a save from Ruthin Town goalkeeper Dan Goldston.

Then, in the 16th minute, Charley Edge fired a free-kick towards goal from the edge of the area, but Ruthin Town's Dan Goldston made another save.

In the 25th minute, The Colliers forced a scramble in the box, with Elliott Orton and Dave Forbes both battling to find space for a chance, as the latter forces through a shot on goal, but it is blocked and cleared by the Ruthin Town defence.

Then, despite Gresford Athletic's efforts to find an equaliser, Ruthin Town were the ones to find the next goal, with Harry Martin smashing in his second of the game in the 39th minute.

The half time score was 2-0, with Gresford Athletic knowing that there was plenty of work to do in the second half.

The second 45 minutes began and Charlie Mann put a good cross into the box to find Dave Forbes, but the forward's header was unable to find the target in the 54th minute.

Harry Martin then managed to bag his hat-trick in the 59th minute, putting Ruthin Town three goals ahead and near enough killing the game with half an hour still on the clock.

Gresford Athletic continued to fight, though, and substitute Josh Watkin and Charlie Mann did well on the left-hand side in the 65th minute, getting the ball into Charley Edge, but the header is saved by Dan Goldston in the Ruthin Town net.

Haci Ozlu tried to find a way through, turning and firing the ball towards goal in the 69th minute, but it went wide.

The Colliers still tried to find any sort of goal and, in the 83rd minute, Dave Forbes tried to force the ball into the net, but the ball hit the post and went wide.

Then, one minute into added time at the end of the game, a mix-up between Lewis Dutton and Elliott Orton allowed Llyr Morris to drive through towards an open goal and tap it home to add a fourth.

Frustration for Gresford Athletic, as the final whistle blew, with the 4-0 scoreline feeling like it could be avoided and still searching for some more points on the board after three consecutive losses in the league.

Ruthin Town

Starting XI: Goldston (GK), Nash, R. Williams, Davies, M. Williams, Davies (C), Evans (Molmans - 80'), Martin, Morris (Hughes-Owen - 90+3'), Owen, Ellis (Rowlands - 61')

Goalscorers: Martin (x3), Morris

Yellow cards: Martin

Subs not used: Edmunds (GK), Kell, Jones

Gresford Athletic

Starting XI: Dutton (GK), A. Smith (Nelson - 58'), J. Smith (Oliver - 58'), Orton, Nelson, Griffiths (C) (ap Gareth - 67'), Ormrod (Johnson - 76'), Ozlu (Buxton - 76'), Edge, Mann, Forbes

Yellow cards: Nelson, Johnson

Subs not used: Gallagher-Keenan, Buley

Match Officials

Referee: Karl Berry

Assistant Referees: Simon McCormick, Craig Griffiths

Referee Observer: Brian Owen