JD Cymru North: Reports – Guilsfield v Gresford and Caersws v Denbigh Town

JD CYMRU NORTH REPORTS – APRIL 1

Guilsfield 0
Gresford Athletic 1 (Chaplin 23)

A tremendous Easter Monday victory for Gresford at one of the hardest grounds in the league to pick up points.

Hero of the hour was Athletic striker Joe Chaplin, so often the man to score the vital goal – and he did so again.

An early blow for the visitors saw Haci Ozlu forced off the pitch with an injury just 12 minutes into the game, with Charlie Mann entering the action to replace him.

Mann made an immediate impact, whipping a good free-kick into the box, but no-one was there to get on the end of it.

Sub Mann almost found the opener in the 22nd minute, firing at goal from the edge of the box, but Guils goalkeeper Robbie Williams saved.

Then, in the 23rd minute, Mann fed a fantastic ball into the box and Chaplin headed home.

Alex Buxton looked to extend Gresford’s advantage in the 37th minute, but his powerful strike was well saved by Williams.

Guilsfield came out strongly for the second half in a bid to equalise, but the Colliers defended solidly.

The Powys outfit turned the screw more in the final quarter, with Athletic keeper Lewis Dutton called upon in the 74th minute to make a good save.

In the 82nd minute, Nathan Williams sent over a decent cross for substitute Callum Mannion, who headed wide.

After a flurry of Guilsfield chances, all of which Gresford threw their bodies on the line to defend, the full time whistle blew and the visitors could feel proud of a great, hard-working performance to earn three points and a clean sheet.

Mann was named Man of the Match, putting in a tremendous display and providing the assist for the winning goal.

Caersws 1 (Williams 11)
Denbigh Town 1 (Davies 85)

Report: Ollie Beech

Owen Davies’ late equaliser ensured Denbigh brought an end to a three-match losing run at Latham Park on Easter Monday.

Following a pitch inspection at Caersws’ Recreation Ground in the morning, the game was left in doubt as the surface was deemed unplayable. However, both sides agreed quickly to move the match to Newtown to avoid further fixture congestion.

In the 11th minute, the Bluebirds launched a superb break. Craig Harris sprinted through before laying the ball across to Craig Williams, who tapped into an empty net.

Despite being second-best throughout the first period, Denbigh did have chances. Dion Gibbins let fly from range before the ball deflected to Nathan Brown, who in turn fired just over on 20 minutes.

Davies was brought down in the box, but referee Patrick Wilding gave nothing.

In stoppage time the Bluebirds were head in hands at not doubling their advantage as a quick counter saw the ball fall kindly to Callum Graybrook, who volleyed over the bar with the goal gaping.

Half-Time: Caersws 1-0 Denbigh Town

Town were a different team after the break and started as they meant to go on by bombarding the opposition box.

Caersws were still dangerous and Aaron Jones had to be on hand to deny Neil Mitchell. The resulting corner saw a smart routine that led to Jones making a brilliant stop.

Brown was next to see an effort thwarted when he made inroads from the right channel into the centre just outside the box, hit a powerful effort that looked destined to find the top right corner but Steffan Jones made an outstanding save.

Whilst Denbigh swarmed forward, the hosts were still a threat, Jones making another great save to foil Sam Phillips before a long range effort clipped the Denbigh bar.

With five minutes left to play Denbigh won a corner. Brown swung it in before skipper Paul Fleming nodded it back and Davies showed just how much he wanted it by beating everyone in the air to net from six yards out.

Not in any mood to just accept a late point, Dewi Llion’s side went for it.

Gibbins’ 25-yarder in stoppage time deflected and almost deceived the goalkeeper, but he just about stopped it for a corner. The resulting set piece was swung in and Davies couldn’t squeeze his header home at the back post.