Match of the Day 1: Penrhyncoch 1 Denbigh Town 1 (JD Cymru North)

Alfie Vaughan (yellow) scores for Denbigh. Picture: LISI JONES – many thanks

JD CYMRU NORTH – AUGUST 25

Penrhyncoch 1 (Pridmore 90+6)
Denbigh Town 1 (Vaughan 20)

Twenty-nine years ago Denbigh Town played their first-ever game as a Tier 2 side at Penrhyncoch and were beaten 4-1 in what was then known as the Cymru Alliance League..

Town’s latest visit to Cae Baker on Bank Holiday Monday so nearly brought a reverse result but the Roosters bagged a 96th minute equaliser to deny Dewi Llion’s side three points.

Despite Alfie Vaughan opening the scoring from close range on 20 minutes, the visitors just couldn’t hold on as the home side found a last-gasp leveller to halt Denbigh’s winning run.

In a tense opening neither side really troubled the opposition net until Vaughan stroked home.

Ben Lockley launched a ball forward for Sam Duffy to lift over the goalkeeper and Vaughan rushed in to push it over the line.

Half-time: Penrhyncoch 0 Denbigh Town 1

Denbigh were forced into a change at the break when Brad Barnes replaced Vaughan. Town registered the first chance of the half just four minutes in when Nathan Brown volleyed over the bar from distance.

Brown had another sight of goal two minutes later, but keeper Steffan Jones was more than a match for his shot.

Monday’s game was highly competitive. Picture: LISI JONES

The Ceredigion hosts’ first real chance came just after the hour when a ball into the box was headed on and Elijah Beattie had to be alert to push the effort wide.

Another ball launched into the box saw Ifan Burrell at the back post somehow head over when the forward really should have found the back of the net, but momentum had certainly shifted as the Roosters sought an equaliser.

Despite the chance, Denbigh did have a couple of opportunities but to no avail.

A bizarre moment followed when Town’s Sion Jones brought down Burrell with the referee awarding a free kick. Jones was forced off through injury, but beforehand was given a yellow card and then a red.

However, it was quickly pointed out it was Bobby Beaumont who the referee had booked 12 minutes earlier, and the second card was rapidly revoked.

With four left to play Town almost sealed an impressive victory when Brown squared the ball to Aidan Higgins only for the keeper to rush out and block.

With six minutes added Penrhyncoch applied the pressure and it finally told with time almost up. A corner came in and substitute Isaac Pridmore headed home the equaliser at the death.

WIMPOLE’S FASCINATING FACTS

This was the fifth league draw between Penrhyncoch and Denbigh since 1996 – all of them having ended 1-1.
The teams have now met 19 times in league combat and boast seven wins apiece.
Penrhyncoch won the first four clashes emphatically between 1996-98, but Denbigh have evened up the stats since then.