Welsh Cup: Flint Town United celebrate deserved victory at Central Park

JD WELSH CUP SECOND ROUND – OCTOBER 14, 2023

Denbigh Town 0
Flint Town United 3 (J Jones 8 & 12, Hughes 41)

Report: Ollie Williams

An all-Cymru North Welsh Cup tie at Central Park saw Flint deservedly claim their place in the last 32.

Denbigh manager Dewi Llion was boosted by the return of goalkeeper Aaron Jones before kick-off but had a number of other players unavailable, allowing Billy Holmes and Olly Hansen to come into the side.

The bench was largely made up of reserve team players with James Thomas and Owen Herbert earning a place as well as second-string captain Josh Griffiths, who was called up for the first time.

The game began with the hosts in good spirits. After just five minutes, Tom Weir did well on the turn before driving forward and forcing a save from Rhys Williams before the corner was swept in by Nathan Brown and turned over from close range by Hansen.

Moments later Denbigh had another chance when Craig Rogers made his way down the left channel before hitting a low cross that eventually found Sion Jones on the edge of the box, but he couldn’t find the target.

Three early opportunities were wasted and by the eighth minute Denbigh were made to pay as Josh Jones made inroads down the right flank before drilling the ball into the bottom left corner of Aaron Jones’ goal.

Four minutes later the lead was doubled, Jones capitalising on a mix-up at the back to notch his brace.

Suddenly Denbigh’s strong start came to a crashing halt and they were now clinging on to avoid what could have been a first-half drubbing.

Goalkeeper Jones made a sensational save to deny Anthony Stephens who hit one on the swivel when the ball came in from a corner.

The Silkmen thought they had a third when Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro found the net, but was adjudged to have hand-balled before the finish.

Further mistakes at the back led to Flint’s third on 40 minutes when Ben Hughes beat Aaron Jones to the ball to nod home.

Jones prevented a fourth goal with another brilliant stop from Harley Brindley-Peagram’s effort.

Half-Time: Denbigh Town 0-3 Flint Town United

Denbigh came out for the second half with a bit more control but were unable to trouble the scoreboard.

With 18 left to play Flint were down to 10 men when Louis Lacey’s late challenge saw him receive a second yellow card.

The draw for Round 3 of the JD Welsh Cup will be streamed on RedWall+ at 8 pm on Wednesday, 18 October.