Llandyrnog United v Denbigh Town : Match Report

Denbigh Derby Delight at Dyrny

 

Denbigh Town swept to a convincing derby win at Llandyrnog United in an entertaining encounter , writes Peter Glynn at Cae Nant.

3-0 was a little tough on the home side who for periods put the visitors on the back foot. But ultimately goals decide games and two Mark Orme headers followed by a Matt Gatfield direct free kick saw Town deservedly grab the three points.

The pitch was in excellent condition and despite blustery condition , both sides served up some excellent fare to warm spectators on a bitterly cold day. Local derbies can be spicy affairs and I am pleased to report that this game was played in the best corinthian spirit - hard but fair.

The visitors began the quicker and it was on only three minutes that they stormed into a lead. Superb linkage between Luke O'Mahoney and Matt Gatfield forced a corner , from which Orme rose unchallenged to plant home , giving Dyer's men the perfect start.

Back bounced Dyrny , and enterprising play from the restart almost forced an equaliser , when a great ball into the feet of Mark Roberts saw the hit man turn his man before firing across the face of goal.

It was end to end and on 8 minutes O'Mahoney drifted past Roger Beech , before squaring a ball for the advancing Jamie Hobson. The full backs dink ball into the box was met by the head of Ian Evans who could only guide it into glovesman Ian Davies' breadbox.

For Denbigh , the dogged Lucas Brookes almost got onto the end of a Kevin Evans ball , but at the other end Anthony Marshall and Neil Davies combined , the latter just running out of room with the visiting defence back pedalling.

Next , villager Danny Roberts skinned his man before sending in a great ball to the head of compadre Mark Roberts , but the effort flashed wide with Jamie Hulse in full flight.

Llan continued to press and Stuart Vernon forced another corner after some good work on the right , from which Anthony Marshall headed wide.

Town were creating problems on breakaways and on 24 minutes O'Mahoney struck a free kick that was deflected away , but back at the other end Danny Roberts was creating mayhem for United with his energy and delivery , but found John Roberts in good form to keep out the lurking Neil Davies who looked set to pounce.

On the half hour , Denbigh had a shout for hand ball when Gatfield put in a great ball into the box , and with Ian Evans screaming for a decision , United were happy just to hack the ball to safety.

Dyer's men now upped the ante , forcing a number of corners without really getting onto the end of them - a feature of their game being the quality of delivery into the danger area.

Then on the stroke of half time Town thought they had grabbed a vital second , direct from a free kick. After Ryan Harden had been crumpled under a challenge , Gatfield strode forward to unleash a curler that twanged the post , with Davies rooted.

John James' men started the second stanza in the ascendancy , with Danny Roberts again prominent on the left flank. The old one-two with Neil Davies presented Roberts with a sniff in front of goal and , spotting Hulse a little out of position , lobbed over a sweetie which only just cleared the bar.

United's Roger Beech had to be at his quickest to deny Kenny Burgess a run on goal , and at the other end Anthony Marshall spanked in a low effort that tested Hulse who did well to keep it out.

Unfortunately for Dyrny , there wasn't enough of that and it came back to haunt them as Town grabbed that vital second on the hour.

The Central Park brigade won a flag kick , which fell to Orme whose first time shot was blocked off for another corner. From this , the same man was again first to react , heading past a stranded and bellowing Davies as his defenders stood off.

Lucas Brookes saw yellow for nonsense reasons , and then Marshall again tested Hulse with a deflected effort as the home side desperately sought a way back into the game.

But Town were more than holding their own and Kenny Burgess , who ran his blood to water , got onto the end of a Mike Lundstram flick header , but saw his little lob just cleared the bar.

As time ticked away , Dyer's men began to press the Cae Nant mob back and a free kick on the edge of the box on 89 minutes saw Denbigh grab their killer third.

Gatfield had fancied his chances all afternoon , and his rising shot bulged the top right hand corner for the goal of the game ,  to settle any doubt as to the outcome of this absorbing encounter.

 

Thanks to Mrs. Beech for her hospitality.

 

Llandyrnog United : Ian Davies , Roger Beech, Chris Williams (Capt), Rhys Jones, Kevin Jones , Danny Roberts, Tom Evans, Anthony Marshall, Stuart Vernon, Neil Davies, Mark Roberts.

Subs: Craig Wilkinson - On For Tom Evans ,Rhys Llwyd - On for Neil Davies , Arwel Hughes, Tom Sharples, Adam Lloyd - On for Anthony Marshall , Lee Mason,

Denbigh Town : Jamie Hulse , Jamie Hobson , Matt Gatfield , Mark Orme (Capt) , John Roberts , Ryan Harden , Kenny Burgess , Kevin Evans , Lucas Brookes , Ian Evans , Luke O'Mahoney.

Subs : Darren Cassidy - On for Luke O'Mahoney, Mike Lundstram - On for Lucas Brookes , Tony Davies , Steve Jones.

Podcast Men of the Match:

Denbigh Town : Mark Orme.

Llandyrnog United : Danny Roberts