Hat-tricks for Stu Jones and Mark Roberts as Denbigh hit a magnificent seven at Central Park

Tier 3: Ardal North West League

Denbigh Town 7 (Tate 14, S Jones 33, 43 & 49; M Roberts 64, 65 & 87)
Blaenau Amateurs 0

Report: Gareth Jones

Hat-tricks from defender Stu Jones and prolific striker Mark Roberts ensured fifth-place Denbigh remain the only unbeaten side in Ardal North West.

The final winning margin could have been far more emphatic but for an outstanding performance from Blaenau keeper Cian Williams and at times, some woeful finishing from the Reds.

Both Kristian Pearce and Mike Sharples were missing due to injury, whilst Mark Roberts started on the bench having picked up a knock in the midweek win against Brickfield Rangers.

Sam Tate came into the attack, whilst Sion Jones replaced Matty Morris at right-back with Leigh Craven starting in the centre of midfield.

Town started on fire and it was a case of when – not if – they would score.

On 14 minutes Jacob Barratt found Jake Walker on the edge of the box with a turn and cross, and his header fell into the path of Tate, who pounced to prod the ball past the advancing Williams.

Williams was yet again called into action on 24 minutes to spare Blaenau, leaping to his right to thwart Tate’s volley.

Denbigh piled on the pressure with several clear cut chances spurned, before on 33 minutes, Stu Jones leapt above the Blaenau defence to power home a header from a Barratt corner.

Ten minutes later, Jones nodded in from another Barratt flag-kick, allowing Denbigh to go in at the break with a comfortable and well-deserved 3-0 lead.

The second half started in similar fashion, with Walker on 46 minutes forcing Williams into a fine save. Two minutes later, the dazzling feet of Barratt bamboozled and beat two defenders before unleashing a curling shot that saw Williams getting his fingertips to prevent yet another goal.

A minute later, the dynamic duo were at it again, this time Barratt with a free-kick finding Stu Jones to plant a header home for his hat-trick.

On 53 minutes, the manager took the opportunity to rest players, bringing Mark Roberts and the youngster James Thomas, on to make his first team debut, replacing Will Ashley and Paul Fleming, who had been a constant threat throughout.

And on 59 minutes he changed his pack yet again, putting on both Morris and the fit-again Keiron Roberts for Tate and Craven.

Roberts struck almost immediately on 64 minutes when he latched onto a perfect pass from Walker to turn the last defender before smashing an unstoppable shot past Williams.

A minute later, Roberts lashed an exquisite finish high into the roof of the net with the goalkeeper stranded.

On 76 minutes, manager Dewi Llion made his final substitution with player/assistant manager Owain Roberts rolling back the years coming on for Barratt.

In the 87th minute, Owain Roberts’ through ball split the Blaenau defence for Mark Roberts to latch onto and grab his hat-trick with a clever finish.

Big mention to the Blaenau travelling support who never stopped singing and encouraging their team from the off.

Denbigh Town
Stuart Griffiths, Sion Jones, Stuart Jones, Moses Barnett, Billy Holmes, Paul Fleming (c), Will Ashley, Leigh Craven, Sam Tate, Jake Walker, Jacob Barratt. Subs: James Thomas, Matty Morris, Keiron Roberts, Mark Roberts, Owain Roberts.

Blaenau Amateurs
Cian Williams, Iolo Thomas, Oliver Dukes-Morgan, Sion Hughes, Huw Parry, Cemlyn Owen, Morgan Slater, Iwan Jones (c), Gethin Roberts, Sion Roberts, Joseph Dukes-Morgan. Subs: David Jones.