RHYL manager John Hulse is setting his sights on a double over Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Starting with today’s derby at the Deeside Stadium, Hulse wants to kick-start a sustained climb up the ladder and a fifth consecutive place in Europe.

The manager was bitterly disappointed to have come away from Llanelli empty-handed after dominating the game in a 2-1 defeat.

“I just felt they didn’t look like scoring and Lee Kendall hadn’t a save to make,” he said.

“Even their manager Peter Nicholas said they were lucky to come away with three points.

“Most cruel of all was a blatant hand-ball late in the game after Dave Cameron had headed against the bar.”

Missing five senior players with protracted injuries for such a long period has been a critical factor in Rhyl finding themselves trailing leaders The New Saints by 12 points and Llanelli by 10 at the turn of the year.

Nomads boss Jim Hackett faces a big selection headache after having key man Alan Glover sent off in Saturday’s 4-0 bodyblow at Neath.

Hackett said: “It appears there was an incident off the ball involving the Neath centre forward but no-one in the ground apart from the referee saw it and now we are stuck with being without Alan for three matches.”

Meanwhile, Waynne Phillips hopes his Newi Cefn Druids side can keep up the good work at Airbus UK Broughton on the back of 1-0 win at Welshpool.

“It was a very pleasing performance, but we need to take that forward and try to do better in the second half of the season than the first,” he said.

Geraint Lewis is a doubt due to work commitments and Mike Heverin is still out with a neck injury while Airbus player-boss Gareth Owen may feature if he can shake off a knee injury.