RUTHIN Town boss Steve Crompton is under no illusion of the challenge facing his new-look team on Saturday.
The Memorial Park Fields side travel up the A525 to Rhyl to take on one of the favourites to gain promotion from this season’s Cymru Alliance.
“We are going to Rhyl this week and we could come back with another thumping there!” admitted the Ruthin boss.
“It’s a big test, but I’m treating it as the next stage of the development.
“I’m looking for a performance.”
That development showed signs of growth with Ruthin’s 2-2 draw at home to high-flying Buckley Town last weekend and it could so easily have been a victory.
Mike Burke popped up with a vital equaliser deep inside injury time for the visitors.
Crompton added: “The key on Saturday was work rate.
“It’s work in progress. There’s a lot of good young players and we have got to tap into them.
“We work from the front right through.
“(Defender) Huw Price is very experienced and he marshalled the defence well.
“At this stage of his career I’m looking for him to organise.
“The two young strikers up front were excellent.”
Clawddnewydd’s Jordan MacCarter, who has moved to Ruthin from Corwen, grabbed one of the goals in the draw against Buckley, while teenage frontman Josh Davies, who has moved from Llandyrnog United, demonstrated tremendous work rate.
New left back Adam Williams has also made his mark, while around half-a-dozen players have remained at Ruthin from the time previous boss Adie Jones was in charge at the club.
“I have noticed we have done well and when we are doing well, everybody’s confident,” added Crompton.
“What we had to do at the weekend, we had to get a second half performance.”