BOTH LLANDUDNO and Conwy United suffered defeats in their respective weekend Huws Gray Cup ties.
New boss Deiniol Graham took charge of Llandudno for the first time, and saw his side go ahead against reigning league champions GAP Connah’s Quay through a Lee Jones penalty on 40 minutes.
Ross Rule was through on goal when he was brought down by Mark McGregor, who was lucky to only receive a yellow card, giving Jones his chance from the spot.
His initial effort came back off the post, but the penalty was re-taken after keeper John Rushton came of his line, with the second chance squeezing in off the same post.
However, the game turned three minutes later when Llandudno conceded a mirror-image penalty, only to see Danny Hughes dismissed for his challenge in the box, despite looking to have claimed the ball.
Rob Jones fired in the resulting kick to level matters at the break, though ten man Town continued to challenge in the second half, with Lee Thomas firing into the side netting early on and Wyn Williams going close from a corner.
With just five minutes on the click, Quay netted what proved to be the winner, as Mike Robinson stabbed home a flick on from a long throw, though James McIntosh almost proved to be the cup hero with minutes left on the clock, only to see his effort come back off the post.
Conwy were also dumped out of the cup at the weekend in a 2-1 reverse to Cefn Druids.
Castlemen keeper Danny Stanton was at his best to twice deny Druids in the opening exchanges, as the Ancients piled on the early pressure.
Former Llandudno man Tony Cann finally broke the deadlock on the half hour mark, flicking a long header in, and Max Peate headed home a second six minutes later.
The visitors continued to press in the second half, though Joe Jennings came close with a deflected effort late in the half.
United’s breakaways finally paid dividends in the final minute, when a hand ball in the box gave Joe Williams a chance to send the Cefn keeper the wrong way from the spot.
Conwy return to action this Friday at home to Buckley Town.