Second-half goals from Dean Singleton and Ryan Lockett earned Daisy Hill a 2-0 win against Ruthin Town in a pre-season friendly at the Plumb Factory Stadium on Saturday.

It was an impressive performance from a Daisy side who controlled the game for long spells, and although they had to wait until the 67th minute to open the scoring, they were good value for a deserved win against opponents who play in Cymru North, the second tier of Welsh football.

Daisy coach Jack Iley praised the team’s performance after the game.

“It was a tough test for us, in that Ruthin turned up with us not knowing much about them,” said Iley.

“But it was an improved performance from the last game, and that’s what we are looking to do, just improve game on game.

“I think in the defensive two thirds we were very solid, and we’ve looked very good defensively in the three games we’ve played, no matter who has been playing. We’ve had maybe six different partnerships in defence, and that is not easy to do and look as solid as we have been.

“But in the attacking areas there’s a little bit more to work on. We maybe lacked the fluidity to create many clear-cut chances, and that is something we are going to work during the rest of the pre-season games.

“But in the end, it’s a 2-0 win, and it was a commanding performance right across the pitch from everyone, including all the subs who came on.

“We’ve kept a clean sheet and it’s given us something to take forward into the next game.

“Lads are putting their claims in for shirts now, and this felt like a really good solid step towards getting ready for the start of the league season.”

It was a performance that saw Daisy on the front foot right from the start, with Jamie Ramwell setting the tone in the second minute when he intercepted a pass out from the keeper and fired in a cross that was deflected for a corner.

Jake O’Brien then came close with a free kick that curled just wide of the far post, and although Ruthin’s Ryan Davies hit the side netting with a shot on 17 minutes, the rest of the half saw much of the game played in the visitors’ half.

As the game approached the half hour mark, Daisy’s Mussa Benaly glanced a header just wide from a Ramwell cross, before Luke Roscoe fired wide from 20 yards and Charlie Roberts had a shot deflected for a corner in the closing minutes of the first half.

At half time Daisy brought on four substitutes, and then introduced another two on the hour, but it didn’t disrupt the flow of the game as they continued to dominate play, and two of the subs combined to finally break the deadlock on 67 minutes.

Henry Chalkley floated a left-wing corner kick deep into the box, and Dean Singleton rose above the Ruthin defence to power a downward header into the bottom corner of the net from ten yards.

As the game moved into the final minutes, Daisy continued to apply pressure and after a cracking shot from Kyle Whittaker was tipped over by the keeper, they doubled their advantage with a second goal a minute from time.

A move down the right led to the ball being driven low into the box, and Ryan Lockett reacted quickly to get in front of the covering defender and tuck the ball home from six yards, to round off a good afternoon for his side.

Daisy host Atherton Collieries in their next outing tomorrow night (7.45pm) and Iley added: “We will try another couple of different formations, although Atherton Colls are a different team to have as opponents, compared to the teams we have played in the previous games.

“We know a bit more about Colls with them being local, but there’s things we can do to counter them, but also things we will keep in from Saturday’s game (against Ruthin Town) that worked well.

“We believe in ourselves, and it will be a good test to see if what has worked well in previous games will work against a team like Colls from a higher division.

“We have had a really strong start to the pre-season, we’ve played three out of the seven games we have lined up, and I think we are probably in a stronger position that we thought we would be at this stage.

“That’s good for us, it gives us headaches in terms of squads and starting elevens but that is a good headache to have, and can only put us in a strong position going to the remainder of the pre-season and the start of the season.”