Stunning defeat for Denbigh Town after 19 straight wins

ARDAL NORTH WEST REPORT – APRIL 26

Llay Welfare 4 (Collo 29, 46 & 81, Swords 64)

Denbigh Town 2 (Brown pen 34, B Lockley 84)

For the first time in 2023 Denbigh Town have lost a match – and it brings to an end a stunning run of 19 straight wins for the treble-chasers.

Town would have gone top of Ardal North West on goal difference if they had taken a point at The Ring, but the home side upset the odds with a well-deserved win.

Denbigh will need to pick themselves up quickly with the FAW Amateur Trophy final against Trethomas Bluebirds coming up on Saturday.

As for the Ardal North West title race, these are the standings after tonight’s result:

Bangor 1876: Played 24 Points 59 (GD + 45)

CPD Y Rhyl 1879: Played 26 Points 59 (GD + 31)

Denbigh Town: Played 23 Pojnts 58 (GD + 57)

Remaining League Games:

Bangor 1876: Apr 28 – Nantlle Vale (home); May 6 – Hawarden Rangers (home)

Rhyl 1879: Fixtures completed

Denbigh Town: May 3 – Llanrwst United (away); May 6 – Nantlle Vale (home); May 13 – Rhostyllen (away)

Tonight’s game at Llay was mainly all about one man – the home side’s hat-trick hero Jon Collo.

This talented front man has produced some fine performances this season in netting 13 goals, but this evening was his finest hour yet.

Nathan Brown rattled the crossbar for the visitors before a 29th minute free kick for the hosts saw Collo tap-in unmarked at the far post.

Town levelled before the break when Brown converted a penalty for his 26th goal of 2022-23.

Welfare regained the lead from the second half kick-off, a long ball over the Denbigh defence allowing Collo to pounce.

And Collo turned provider on 64 minutes, setting up Scott Swords to make it 3-1.

Collo rounded off a night to remember by volley home from the edge of the box for his treble.

Ben Lockley headed in Town’s second soon after but the visitors had left themselves too much to do and the final whistle blew on their first loss since a 3-1 defeat at Flint Mountain on December 30.

LLAY WELFARE

Michael Wright

Ryan Dacey

Jared Taylor (Euan Edwards 90+4)

Max Peate

Ryan Merrill

Matthew Thompson

Kian Turton

Tom Wells (Owen Roberts 86)

Scott Swords

Jon Collo

George Finlay

DENBIGH TOWN

Aaron Jones

Ben Lockley

Sion Jones (Jake Walker 65)

Dan Parry-Jones

Billy Holmes (Morgan Thomas-Sadler 66)

Sam Haddon (Craig Rogers 60)

Matthew Worrall

Jason Foulkes

Craig Pritchard

Paul Fleming

Nathan Brown