LLANRWST United bowed out of the FAW Trophy after a thrilling 5-4 home loss to Holyhead Hotspur.

The Rwsters’ pushed the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division One leaders all the way before eventually exiting the competition, ad the Holy Islanders’ got an early breakthrough when Dewi Thomas opened the scoring after good work from Asa Thomas.

This was met by a swift response from the hosts, who levelled matters on the quarter hour mark through Tom Jones, only for experienced forward Chris Jones to put Spurs’ back in front with 34 on the clock.

After the break saw United restore parity to the score-line once again when Leon Doran hit the target on 65 minutes, but their joy proved to be short-lived as a Jones thunderbolt found its way into the top corner on 68 to give the away side a slender lead for the third time.

Once again the home side fought their way back into the tie when Doran finished well on 75 minutes for his second of the afternoon to leave things all to play for heading into the closing stages.

Darren Garmey’s side seized the initiative for a fourth time on 80 minutes thanks to a rousing effort from Deian Parry, and Jones capped off a clinical individual display with his hat-trick to double their advantage with two remaining.

The hosts did find the net once more through Elliot Llewelyn in stoppage time, but they left themselves with little time to salvage anything from the game and condemn them to a knockout exit.

Leighton Griffiths’ men will hope for better fortune when they next take the field at home to struggling St Asaph City on Saturday.