MATCH OF THE DAY: Cliff would have been so proud as Denbigh dismantle Lilywhites

ARDAL NORTH WEST – APRIL 15

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 0
Denbigh Town 4 (Foulkes 11, Pritchard 51, Fleming 69, Walker 90)

Report: Dave Jones/Iwan Jones

It was a performance that would have had the late, great Cliff Kearns waxing lyrical for at least a week.

There was much sadness in the Denbigh camp after the recent passing at the age of 90 of the hugely popular Mr Kearns, a long-standing supporter, former committee member and club ambassador, plus noted orator.

A minute’s silence was held before Tuesday night’s 2-1 victory over Hawarden Rangers, but today the Town served up the main course in honour of the great man as they hammered league leaders Rhyl on their own turf.

Here are the latest standings after this afternoon’s 4-0 victory for Denbigh at Belle Vue, a day which saw Bangor 1876 go top after a 2-0 success versus Llandudno Albion.

TOP THREE

Bangor 1876: Played 24 Points 59 (GD +45)
CPD Y Rhyl 1879: Played 25 Points 59 (+32)
Denbigh Town: Played 21 Points 55 (+57)

REMAINING GAMES

BANGOR 1876
April 28: Nantlle Vale (home)
May 6: Hawarden Rangers (home)

CPD Y RHYL 1879
April 22: Nantlle Vale (home)

DENBIGH TOWN
April 22: Llangefni Town (away)
April 26: Llay Welfare (away)
May 2: Llanrwst United (away)
May 6: Nantlle Vale (home)
May 13: Rhostyllen (away)
CUPS
Bow Street (Ardal Northern League Cup Final)
April 29: Trethomas Bluebirds (FAW Amateur Trophy Final)

Today saw Denbigh make it 13 straight league wins and 18 victories in the bounce in all competitions.

They have now beaten their two title rivals home and away this season, Bangor 1876 1-0 and 2-0, plus 1879 2-1 and 4-0.

CPD Y Rhyl have been league leaders for most of the season, but today they were no match for a composed Denbigh side that stuck to a rigid game plan that paid dividends with goals coming from Jason Foulkes, Craig Pritchard, Paul Fleming and substitute Jake Walker.

Town’s manager Dewi Llion Jones, fresh from winning the Lock Stock Ardal Manager of the Month for March, brought Fleming and Sion Jones back into the starting line-up after an unconvincing 2-1 win over Hawarden Rangers in the week.

Both teams started positively with Rhyl coming out of the blocks at a tremendous pace.

After overcoming the hosts’ early pressure, Denbigh took the lead after 10 minutes. Full back Ben Lockley took a quick throw in to Foulkes, who took one quality touch to control the ball on the edge of the penalty area before bending a superb strike into the top right hand corner.

The home side rallied, and Aaron Jones had to come quickly off his line and make a save to deny Macauley Taylor.

Rhyl continued to battle and had a good spell before half time when Denbigh’s defence remained a solid unit with the dependable Keiron Roberts making some great challenges along with Sion Jones and Ben Lockley.

Denbigh came out for the second half with a determined attitude and made it 2-0 on 51 minutes.

Pritchard won the ball cleanly in a solid tackle deep inside the Rhyl half, went forward and settled himself before sending a cross goal shot off the outside of his right foot low into the left hand corner of the net.

Denbigh’s midfield were starting to control the middle of the park. Matthew Worrall was on the end of a great ball from Foulkes with 68 minutes played. The striker toyed with his defender before playing a ball into the path of captain Fleming who broke between two defenders to calmly slot home for Denbigh’s third goal.

Aaron Jones made a great double save to keep his clean sheet intact as Rhyl looked unsuccessfully for ways to claw a goal back

On 88 minutes Denbigh put the game truly to bed when Walker picked the ball up just inside the penalty area to let fly an absolute rocket which flew past Wilmot.

TEAMS

CPD Y RHYL 1879
Luke Wilmot
Chris Bennett (Jack Higgins 66)
Casey Faulkner
James Jones
Reece Fairhurst (c)
Miles Todd (Sion Williams 89)
Tom Kemp
Alex Jones
Macauley Taylor
Kieran Ellis (Jonny Taylor 66)
James Stead (Aaron White 50)

DENBIGH TOWN
Aaron Jones
Ben Lockley
Sion Jones (Craig Rogers 70)
Dan Parry-Jones
Billy Holmes
Kieron Roberts
Paul Fleming (c)
Matty Worrall (Jake Walker 80)
Jason Foulkes
Craig Pritchard
Nathan Brown (Sam Haddon 73)