Vale of Clwyd Boxing Day derby settled by skipper Fleming’s stoppage-time winner

JD CYMRU NORTH – DECEMBER 26, 2023

DENBIGH TOWN 2 (Brown 56, Fleming 90+2)

RUTHIN TOWN 1 (Morris 40)

Attendance: 1,145

Whether it is on the football pitch or on the cricket field, Paul Fleming has always had something special about him.

The ability to produce from nowhere a killer pass, a world-class goal or a catch the great Rahul Dravid would have been proud of.

So today the stage was set for Captain Fantastic to make his indelible mark on the first Vale of Clwyd derby in five years – and he certainly delivered.

Fleming headed the stoppage-time winner which earned Denbigh Town a 2-1 victory over long-time rivals Ruthin at Central Park.

A club record 1,145 were in attendance and they were treated to a Boxing Day cracker.

The first chance fell to Denbigh when a well-worked move found Nathan Brown, who hit a tame effort into the grateful arms of Dan Goldston.

Ruthin threatened after 13 minutes, when a corner was cleared as far as captain Osian Davies whose volley was well held by Aaron Jones.

Brown once again found himself with a sight of goal on 20 minutes, but his strike rattled the post.

It was the visitors who registered first, taking a 40th minute lead.

Llyr Morris was played through down the middle and dispatched the ball past Jones to open the scoring.

It was nearly two before the break when Josh Lock chad to clear off the line.

Half-Time: Denbigh Town 0-1 Ruthin Town

The start of the second half saw Ruthin nearly double their lead. A free-kick from Jake Hampson was destined for the top corner before Jones sensationally tipped the ball on to the crossbar.

It became 1-1 in the 56th minute. Brown was played through on goal by Lock and applied a superb finish for his 12th goal of the season.

Now Denbigh were on top. Craig Pritchard’s fierce shot was tipped over by Goldston before the same home player laid off to Fleming, who in turn fed Lock, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

Pritchard tested Goldston again before at the other end, Sam Jones had just the keeper to beat, but dragged wide.

Denbigh were looking the likelier to win it, substitute Danny Clarke steering into the side netting before Ben Lockley slid in to meet a free kick, but Goldston denied him.

As stoppage time began so the decider arrived when Brown’s cross found Fleming, whose leapt highest to slam the ball into the back of the net to spark ome incredible scenes of jubilation throughout Central Park.

The win keeps the bragging rights in Denbigh if not for at least another week, with the next game the reverse, away to Ruthin Town on New Year’s Day.

DENBIGH TOWN

Aaron Jones
Ben Lockley
Sion Jones
Daniel Parry-Jones
Keiron Roberts
Josh Lock
Ryan Kershaw
Craig Pritchard
Paul Fleming (c)
Tom Weir (Danny Clarke 72)
Nathan Brown

RUTHIN TOWN

Dan Goldston
Tom Dyer (Soulayman El Amri 24)
Tyrese Caines
Vita Mbolokele
Jason Clark (Harry Martin 70)
Osian Davies (c)
Jake Hughes-Hampson
Ethan Davies
Llyr Morris
Gwion Owen
Sam Jones (Keyni Mills 90)