JD Cymru North – wins for Denbigh, Caersws, Flint, Gresford, Mold and Prestatyn

REPORTS – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7

JD CYMRU NORTH

Denbigh Town 6 Llanidloes Town 2

Report: Ollie Williams

Fifth-place Denbigh topped the Cymru North weekend goals chart and are the league’s joint highest scorers after putting Llanidloes to the sword on Saturday.

The game began following a minute’s silence for Denbigh Town Ladies original Karen Coates, who tragically passed away last week, both sides remembering her and her contribution to the club.

It took just four minutes for Town to take the lead as Tom Weir threaded a wonderful pass for Paul Fleming to smash home from a tight angle.

After 21 minutes Nathan Brown curled a free kick to the right of the keeper to double the advantage.

Brown almost had his second on the half-hour when he pick-pocketed Jordan Ambris before being denied by keeper Luke Evans.

Just before the break Town had three when Weir’s moderately-struck shot was guided into the net by Brown, who is now on eight goals for the season – four sets of two’s.

Half-Time: Denbigh Town 3-0 Llanidloes Town

Seven minutes into the second period the visitors pulled one back as Adam Worton rose highest to nod home.

However, within the same minute, Weir made a run down the left and slammed the ball into the bottom corner – his fifth goal this term.

In the 61st minute it was 19-year-old TNS loanee Josh Lock’s turn to get in on the act.

Lock – who had his chances earlier in the afternoon – finally had his goal when bursting down the flank and squeezing the ball past Evans.

Jason Foulkes was one of five players introduced from the bench and he almost made an immediate impact when he rattled the post.

Connor Bird nodded home a second for the visitors following a great initial save from stand-in keeper Kristian Pierce, but Town replied immediately as Lock had his second and Denbigh’s sixth.

He waltzed past everyone after taking possession in the middle of the park and struck it home via the post just before stoppage time.

Caersws 3 Chirk AAA 2

Bottom side Chirk did not enjoy the best of luck as they went down 3-2 at Caersws in a battling performance.

Louie Middlehurst edged the Colliers ahead from a Max McLaughlin assist on eight minutes, but an Ashton Williams own goal levelled it after 12.

An old Welsh Premier combination then took centre stage as Craig Williams set up Neil Mitchell to put the Bluebirds 2-1 up on 20 minutes.

Midway through the second half, substitute Callum Graybrook added a third for the hosts, but Chirk never gave in, and after having Matty Williams dismissed for a second on 72, they responded through Jack Edwards after 88.

But the equaliser eluded them.

Flint Town United 1 Airbus UK 0

Report: Nigel Sheen

A first half strike by Joe Williams proved the difference between two well-matched sides in this Flintshire derby, as Flint leapfrogged visitors Airbus into second place.

With the wind at their backs, the Silkmen created the better chances in the opening half.

On five minutes, Rhys Kavanagh’s shot went just the wrong side of the post.

Just before the half hour, Luis Lacey made good inroads down the left before squaring the ball to Jake Phillips, whose 30 yard thunderbolt struck the upright before bouncing clear.

The decisive goal arrived on 39 minutes, following a throw in on the left.

As Ben Hughes tried to create some space for a shot he was the subject of a hefty challenge, and just as appeals were about to be made for a penalty, the ball ran into the path of Williams, who showed no hesitation in thumping it into the back of the net.

In added time at the end of the half, Keighan Jones somehow produced an acrobatic save to deny Elliott Reeves.

The second half was rather a different story, as Airbus upped their game and spent long periods camped in the Flint final third.

Jordan Evans sent in a shot that home keeper Rhys Williams was able to beat out at his near post.

Williams then produced a great reflex save from a Steve Tomassen header before diving full length to keep out a long range shot.

Harley Peagram and Josh Jones had been introduced from the bench for the Silkmen and their pace was effective on the break for Flint.

From one attack, Peagram crossed the ball to Jones and his goalbound effort struck the heel of the Airbus keeper as he spread himself, and spun over the top of the bar.

Shortly after, Jones showed some nice skill in the box before forcing his namesake into another good save.

James Davies had been sent on for the visitors, and he went close on a couple of occasions, one of his efforts striking the inside of the post.

With that let-off, Flint breathed a collective sigh of relief and held on for the points.

Gresford Athletic 3 Llandudno 1

Seven wins in a row in all competitions for Gresford, who fought back from a goal down against Llandudno to collect three points which moved them up to sixth.

Adam Hesp, Simon Smith and Dominic Deacon all had early efforts for the Colliers before against the run of play, Llandudno’s Danny Holland, a former Gresford player, slotted into the bottom corner to give the visitors a 15th minute lead.

Athletic were level in the 22nd minute. Haci Ozlu managed to grab the equaliser after Nathan Williams put in a good cross.

Mike Jones in the home goal produced a fine save before in the 41st minute, Llandudno went down to 10 men after a second yellow card was shown to Stephen Brown for a bad tackle on Joshua Griffiths.

Capitalising on the extra man, Gresford snatched the lead right before half time, Toby Gallagher-Keenan finding Charley Edge, who applied the finish.

Just before the hour, Ozlu pocketed his second goal of the game, getting on the end of Paul Johnson’s pass following Smith’s free-kick hitting the crossbar.

Ozlu almost made it a hat-trick, but his attempt was tipped into the path of Harvey Ellis, whose follow-up shot was somehow blocked on the line by Rowan Davies.

Mold Alexandra 5 Porthmadog 1

Just like fellow Cymru North side Gresford, Mold also made it seven straight wins at the weekend.

In a game of two halves, Alex were fortunate to be 2-1 up at the break, but went on to dominate the second period.

Port made a fine start at Alyn Park, but on 10 minutes it was Mold who took the lead, a long throw into the box not dealt with by the visitors and Danny Warren pouncing to score.

The travellers went desperately close to an equaliser when Alex Swindell in the Mold goal saved with his trailing leg after being sent the wrong way by Telor Williams.

Port were then awarded a penalty when the excellent Danny Brookwell was clearly bundled over in the box. Up stepped Morgan Jones, but his kick was saved by Swindell.

On 41 minutes, Port finally got their deserved leveller. Brookwell picked the ball up on the right wing and weaved his way into the box before unleashing his shot which appeared to go in via a ricochet.

Mold regained the lead in extremely controversial circumstances before the interval.

A shot from distance was going well wide but was diverted into the goal by the outstretched foot of Jake Roberts. There were howls of protests from the Port team, claiming Roberts was well offside, but the goal was given.

Port began the second half badly. Warren was able to volley home unchallenged and it was 3-1 to the hosts.

Shortly after the hour mark, a towering header by Steve Watkins from a corner went in via the underside of the crossbar.

Eric Durnell added another for the hosts before the end.

Prestatyn Town 4 Buckley Town 2

Following their heroic midweek cup victory over Cymru Premier side Colwyn Bay, Prestatyn initially looked to be producing an After the Lord Mayor’s Show performance against Buckley in the league last Saturday.

Trailing 1-0 at half time to a 34th minute goal from visiting captain Dan Burgess, the Seasiders needed to up their game considerably to turn the tables.

It did not take Karl Clair’s men too long to level the contest after the restart, Tyler Magee scoring in the 53rd minute.

Still the path was far from smooth for the hosts as Liam Driscoll put Bucks back in front on 59 minutes.

However, Prestatyn had star man Dan Atkins to call on and he made it two-apiece in the 63rd minute from a Macauley Clifton assist.

All to play for now and in the 73rd minute the visitors were in bother when Kieran Cartwright was shown a straight red.

Scott McHarrie was also dismissed for the Flintshire outfit on 82 for a second yellow. Surely now Prestatyn could finish the job against nine men?

In the 88th minute, joy for the hosts as Clifton made it 3-2, player-boss Clair playing his part in the goal.

Into added time and the Seasiders were reduced to 10 when Joseph White received a second caution.

No panic, Prestatyn sealed the win when Atkins struck again in the 96th minute, Clair once more the provider.

A thrilling, incident-packed afternoon at Bastion Gardens!

Friday, October 6 results

Bangor 1876 1 Holywell Town 4
Ruthin Town 1 Guilsfield 2
Both these matches were covered on Friday night by Grassroots North Wales.