Jake Walker makes stunning return as Denbigh hit Llanrwst for six in Welsh Cup

WELSH CUP FIRST ROUND

Denbigh Town 6 (Walker 42, 70, 90+1 pen; Lockley 45; Brown 58 & 63)
Llanrwst United 1 (S Jones 75)

Report: Iwan Jones

Jake Walker’s hat-trick was the highlight of an emphatic Welsh Cup win which earned Denbigh a massive second round tie at home to Cymru Premier giants Connah’s Quay Nomads on the weekend of October 7-8.

Revenge was sweet for Denbigh on Friday night as Llanrwst had emerged 2-0 winners when the teams played in the first Ardal North West match of the season at Central Park on August 5.

And it was at that game that Walker injured himself in the warm up. With Walker now back to full fitness it was fitting for him to get his treble after a difficult time for the striker having been laid up for so long.

Both sides had efforts in the opening half-hour which produced no goals, but Nathan Brown was extremely unlucky not to open the scoring for Town after 34 minutes when his 20 yard shot rattled the junction of crossbar and post.

At the other end, from a Llanrwst corner the ball fell to the feet of Leighton Griffiths, who shot from 10 yards over the bar to the relief of Denbigh’s supporters.

As half time approached, Denbigh got the breakthrough. Young Sam Haddon had been showing plenty of trickery and after some tremendous work he sent a low cross into the six-yard box for poacher Walker to head home his first of the night.

A minute later it was 2-0 when Brown’s venomous free kick could only be palmed by Ryan Williams into the path of the incoming Ben Lockley and the right back was able to slot home from close range.

Half-time: Denbigh 2-0 Llanrwst

The second half saw Denbigh capitalise on their lead.

On 58 minutes Walker turned provider as he sent over a cross for Brown to have the easiest of tap-ins from close range to make it 3-0 .

With 62 minutes played Denbigh concocted their best goal of the evening with the passage of play involving six players, starting from Aaron Jones in goal, who fed Ben Lockley.

He combined with Dan Parry Jones and Haddon and they found Sion Jones, who sent a ball across the goal for Brown to have another simple finish.

Walker claimed his second goal on 68 minutes from close range.

The tie won, a number of changes meant Denbigh stepped off the pedal a little and allowed Llanrwst to get one back when ex-Town striker Sam Jones took advantage of a great ball into his path and found the net.

In the last minute, Denbigh had one last attack with Lockley making headway into the Llanrwst penalty box only to be brought down and a spot-kick was awarded.

Walker stepped up to blast the kick into the top of the goal, putting the icing on the cake with his third of the match.