GUILSFIELD manager Nathan Leonard has defended the Clos Mytton playing surface after it was described as a “farmers field” by Airbus UK Broughton manager Andy Thomas.

The league leaders were held to a third successive draw at Guilsfield on Saturday with Thomas citing the poor state of the pitch.

However Leonard hit back, saying: “It was disappointing to read comments from a club I respect. The pitch was bobbly but there were no tractor marks as claimed and we have certainly played on worse this season.

“Our groundstaff do a fantastic job in their own time and perhaps Airbus have forgotten not every club has the pleasure of a 3G pitch which looks after itself.”

Leonard added: “I think the pitch was a leveller but perhaps they need to look at themselves before blaming the pitch.

“They have some great players so I was surprised how route one they went.”

Guilsfield travel to Holyhead Hotspur on Saturday with a full squad making the trip to the far flung corners of Anglesey.

“You never ever get an easy game at Holyhead and they are fighting for every point this season,” said Leonard.

“If we work as hard as the second-half against Airbus our quality will cause them lots of problems but we have to be up for a battle first.”

Llanrhaeadr travel to Gresford Athletic with confidence soaring after two successive wins eased their basement concerns.

“It was another brilliant performance against Penrhyncoch.” said manager Marc Griffiths. “We were slow out of the blocks and fully deserved to be a goal down at half-time but the desire and belief we displayed in the second-half was very pleasing.

“These lads have never stopped working hard for each other and the things that hadn’t been dropping for us in previous weeks seem to have fallen in our favour the last two weeks.”

Griffiths insisted his side were not free of the spectre of relegation yet and targeted three points at Clappers Lane.

“We lost heavily to Gresford earlier in the season and we are keen to put it right,”said Griffiths. “It’s a small tight pitch and I’m hoping it will suit the way we like to play.

“I feel we need three more points this week and we will dare to dream of survival.”

Meanwhile Penrhyncoch host Prestatyn Town with manager Gari Lewis accepting his side were now favourites for the drop.

Despite a crippling injury crisis the Roosters manager insisted he would fight on.

“Prestatyn will be extremely difficult and all we can do is find our best team and give it our best. We will keep fighting.”

Goalkeeper Lee Jenkins is joined by Luke Sherbon, Nashawn Blake and Carl Lamb in missing out through injury with Jonny Evans suspended.