JD Cymru North: Denbigh Town make it three wins on bounce, Holywell beat Mold, Ruthin hit basement

JD Cymru North reports and table – January 23/24

Denbigh Town 1 Newtown 0
Report: Ollie Beech

Denbigh Town proved again they are a team to watch in the second half of the season as they sent prestigious visitors Newtown home from Central Park pointless.
Dewi Llion’s side made it three wins on the spin for the first time this campaign as Dan Flanders’ header proved the difference.
In a game lacking in many real clear-cut chances, it was a set piece that settled matters just before the break, whilst Town stood firm to close the gap to the visitors in fourth to just three points.
The manager made one change to the side with Matthew Worrall dropping out and replaced by Dan Davies to make his full debut, whilst new boys Hari Roberts and Mike Pearson had a place on the bench.
Neither side had gone seriously close to a goal before Town did find the opener near the break.
A corner from Brown took a touch from Flanders and found its way into the back of the net via a deflection and the post.
Half-Time: Denbigh Town 1-0 Newtown
Town almost doubled the lead six minutes into the second half when a superb ball over the top by Gwion Dafydd found Owen Davies but one on one, keeper Dave Jones made a superb stop. Looking for that all-important second Denbigh continued to press, and on 67 minutes a corner came in that Owen Davies headed over the bar.
Denbigh made changes to see the game out as Hari Roberts made his debut with seven to play whilst Scott McHarrie was forced off in stoppage time and Pearson made his first appearance.
It was tough for both with Newtown desperately slinging the ball into the box, and they were inches away from taking a point when substitute Scott Moncreiff smashed the crossbar from the edge of the area on 94 minutes.
Eventually, after more than eight minutes of stoppage time the whistle went, and Denbigh had a huge win, a clean sheet and a real sense of good form going into the final ten or so matches of the season.
Attendance: 271

Holywell Town 2 Mold Alexandra 0

Goals from Joe Sullivan and Craig Lindfield sealed a Flintshire derby win for Holywell who moved to within a point of leaders Airbus.
While several of the Wellmen’s established players shone at the Bartons North Wales Stadium, debutant substitutes Alfie Edwards and Rhiley Griffiths also performed well.
After a scoreless first half, Town took the lead seven minutes into the second period when Sullivan found the target from a Jamie Breese assist.
Mold suffered a blow on 69 when midfielder Rhyss Nash, who recently returned to the club on loan from Colwyn Bay, received a second yellow card.
Holywell went two-up on 81 when Lindfield notched his 16th goal of the season, Ilan Ap Gareth the chance supplier.

Caersws 2 Holyhead Hotspur 2

Hotspur were agonisingly denied three points when Tommy Rowlands bagged an equaliser for Caersws four minutes into stoppage time.
Holyhead had taken a 2-1 lead in the 92nd minute through Connor Owen, but were unable to hold on for maximum reward.
It was Owen who struck first for the visitors on 38 minutes, Craig Whelan setting him up.
Caersws did not level until the 82nd minute through Dillon Browne, but when Owen notched his second and 12th of the campaign from a Nathan Williams assist, it looked like Darren Garmey’s men had done enough.
However, Rowlands benefited from a Lyndon Jones assist on 94 to grab a point.

Guilsfield 3 Ruthin Town 2

Ryan Knott (2) and Spencer Parrish delivered the goals that earned Guilsfield a close-fought success, Tomos Roberts and Joel Giblin responding for Ruthin.

Penrhyncoch 1 Brickfield Rangers 0

Ifan Burrell scored the only goal on 43 minutes, securing the victory that lifted Penrhyncoch off the bottom and sent Ruthin to the basement.

Friday, January 23

Airbus UK Broughton 2 Gresford Athletic 1

Airbus returned to the Cymru North summit – but had to fight back from a goal down to see off stubborn Gresford.
With previous leaders Llandudno’s game at Flint Mountain postponed at the 11th hour, the Wingmakers knew a win at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium would take them top.
But it proved hard going for the hosts, Gresford taking a 15th minute lead when Paul Johnson headed in a Haci Ozlu cross.
Only a fine Keighan Jones save following a corner prevented Athletic adding a second before Mark Allen’s home side began to create some chances.
Keeper Lewis Dutton held onto a Jordan Evans shot before denying Danny Warren with his feet at the near post.
Eight minutes into the second half, Airbus pulled level. George Peers managed to divert home his 21st goal of the season at the second attempt following good work from Kieran Evans.
Then on 63 minutes the Broughton outfit had the lead. Daniel Collins, a recent signing from Gresford, hurt his former club by finishing from a Blaine Hudson assist.
Jordan Evans delivered to the back post, Hudson nodded the ball down and Collins applied the finish.
Mason Blackwell-Jones and Kaiden Cooke went close to a third for the hosts before the end,

CPD Y Rhyl 1879 2 Buckley Town 1

Rhyl beat Buckley by a 2-1 scoreline for a second time this season.
Having triumphed at The Globe just before Christmas, Paul Moore’s side came from behind to repeat the dose over Asa Hamilton’s battlers.
Town started well and took a fifth-minute lead through loan signing Bradley Barnes, Max Moore with the assist.
Rhyl replied in the 26th minute when midfielder Ben Lightfoot’s eighth goal of the season made it one-apiece, Damase Kiwanda providing the set-up.
The game was sealed in the 57th minute when 19-year-old ace Jack Parry notched his 10th goal of the campaign for the Lilywhites.
An impressive performance from 1879 who in their last three home games have beaten Holywell Town, Llandudno and Buckley Town – great form.
Next up is a massive one for the Lilywhites – home to Cymru Premier side barry Town United in the JD Welsh Cup quarter-finals next Saturday.

Flint Mountain P Llandudno P

Match postponed late due to concern over the condition of the pitch at Prestatyn Town/