Welsh Cup: Denbigh Town reach quarter-finals for first time in their 144-year history

JD WELSH CUP ROUND OF 16

Denbigh Town 7 (N Brown 6, 38 & 85, O Davies 16, 23 & 65, I Roberts 83 pen)
CPD Llanuwchllyn 1 (J Evans 50)

Report: Ollie Beech

Town were in seven heaven after reaching the Welsh Cup quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s 144-year history.

While everyone in a red shirt was a hero, Nathan Brown took star billing for Dewi Llion’s men with a hat-trick and three assists.

Despite having lost their last three league games, Denbigh have shone in the national knockout, seeing off Llangefni Town and Llanrwst United before Llanuwchllyn became their third tier 3 victim of this season’s competition.

Ardal North East Llanuwchllyn had dumped out Cymru Premier side Newtown at a previous stage, but were no match for Cymru North hosts Denbigh.

In their first Welsh Cup last 16 appearance since 1972/73, Town were on the backfoot early on as Sion Tudor’s Llanuwchllyn started the stronger.

Will Owen’s effort struck the top of the crossbar after just two minutes and soon after Ilan Hughes stood over a free-kick 30-yards out which was clawed away by Aaron Jones.

However, despite the early pressure it was Denbigh who found the net first on six minutes. A short corner routine was eventually played to Brown, who curled the ball home from the right of the box to nudge Town in front.

After 16 minutes, Brown’s corner met the head of Owen Davies to make it two.

Town pressed for a third and had it with 23 minutes on the clock. Brown threaded an outstanding ball to Davies who beat the offside trap, rounded the keeper and found an empty net.

Ben Lockley clattered the upright before Iwan Roberts broke forward before squaring to Brown, who curled the ball into the top corner from 25-yards out to make it 4-0 at the break.

To their credit, the tier 3 visitors refused to let their heads drop and fought back in the early stages of the second half.

From an Ilan Hughes corner on 50 minutes, John Evans rose highest to thump home a superb header

Denbigh got back on top and after 65 minutes Davies had his deserved third. Brown’s initial effort was stopped but fell to Davies who turned the ball home from close range.

With 82 minutes gone Denbigh were awarded a penalty for a foul in the box and Brown, on a hat-trick, handed the ball to Iwan Roberts. The forward stepped up and just about snuck the ball home under the goalkeeper for six.

The scoring was rounded off by Brown who finally had his third via an assist from sub Tomos Salisbury.

Denbigh Town: Aaron Jones, Keelan Williams, Alfie Vaughan (Morgan Fricker 80), Max Cooke, Ben Lockley, Keiron Roberts (Mackenzie Stark 70), Nathan Brown, Sion Jones (Calum Butler 46), Owen Davies (Tomos Salisbury 70), Iwan Roberts (Sait Kanli 84), Samuel Duffy.

ATTENDANCE: 423

JD WELSH CUP LAST EIGHT

Airbus UK Broughton

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Denbigh Town

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The New Saints or Colwyn Bay