CONWY Borough were dealt a harsh lesson on their return to the Huws Gray Alliance, but one they can definitely learn from going forward.

The treble-winners had things all their own way in the third-tier last term, but this represents a significant step up and although they were beaten at their Y Morfa base, there was plenty to suggest that they are more than capable of making their presence felt during their upcoming challenges.

Gareth Thomas’ side were more than a match for a Guilsfield side throughout the contest before eventually falling to a 2-1 defeat, and although they had nothing to show for their efforts they can take plenty of positives from the performance as they look to re-establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the division.

Striker Corrig McGonigle is eager to prove himself within the second tier and got off to the best possible start with a goal, and his partnership with Dean Seager continues to show immense promise and will be a key component in any good that comes their way in the weeks and months ahead.

There is no need to panic, not by any stretch of the imagination, and this is a close-knit group who had to fight extremely hard to achieve what they did last season and they will need to show this again to make a real go of things in a league they finished runners-up in under Darren Moss a short time ago.

Plenty of new faces have arrived at Boro' during the summer and it takes some time to gel, but the likes of Lee Thomas, Anthony Marshall and Keighan Jones are all very good players who have undoubtedly improved the overall quality of the squad which can only be a good thing.

The HGA is an unforgiving place and you will get punished far more in this league that you would in the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance, and you need to make the most of the opportunities that come your way in order to succeed at this level, something that Boro found out to their detriment against the Guils.

Things do not get any easier for the Tangerines this Saturday when they make the trip to a fancied Airbus Broughton side, and their resolve will be significantly tested against a Wingmakers’ outfit who have invested heavily in the hopes of making a return to the top flight.

There are definitely promising things to build on, but it is essential they get some points on the board at the earliest opportunity to avoid looking over their shoulders further down the line, something that a squad with this much talent and strength-in-depth should not be doing.

It is early days and people tend to read too much into an opening day fixture, but although the defeat will sting Thomas and his squad in the short-term they were more very competitive against one of the hardest working teams in the entire league and can definitely build from this early setback.