Denbigh Town’s poor form continued this afternoon, as Guilsfield breezed past Town in a 4-1 drubbing at Latham Park.

It’s now three defeats on the bounce for the first time in five years as Dewi Llion’s side risk losing out on a top-five finish in the JD Cymru North.

Carved open twice in the first half Town allowed two further second-half goals before Dion Gibbins grabbed a late consolation to open his account for the club. The game was summed up for the visitors when Nathan Brown’s poor penalty was saved in stoppage time.

Denbigh made two changes to the side that lost to Gresford Athletic on Tuesday with Max Cooke making his full debut and Keiron Roberts returning to the side following suspension.

Denbigh despite the result started the game well controlling possession and looking sharp in the early goings, but despite this, the first chance fell to the home side. A blind pass from Roberts gifted the ball to Iwan Matthews who one on one couldn’t find the target. A let-off for Denbigh.

Two minutes later those in attendance braced themselves for referee Arthur Smallman to blow the whistle for a penalty as Owen Davies was scythed down in the box, but instead, the referee blew for simulation and booked the forward.

Town persevered and continued to put the pressure on, but looked vulnerable on the break and that was made evident on 16 minutes when Guilsfield took the lead. The hosts made inroads down the right before a low cross from Reece Warder found Matthews to tap home.

Denbigh’s solid performance continued though no real chances came of note until the 34th minute when Nathan Brown’s corner found the head of Gibbins, whose effort went over.

Guilsfield themselves were solid and arguably value for the lead, forward Matthews was causing problems and on 37 minutes before forcing Aaron Jones into a smart stop. They had to be on their toes though as Town went down the other end with a ball over the top for Davies, he crossed for Josh Lock who had his effort blocked.

Six minutes before the break Guilsfield doubled their advantage. Again a cross from the right channel, this time from Callum Bromley, found the head of top marksman Matthews.

Both sides ended the half with a chance each, first Sion Jones cut in from the left before lashing a shot wide, before Aaron Jones was tested once again from a volley sweetly hit by Warder.

Half-Time: Guilsfield 2-0 Denbigh Town

Needing a response to avoid yet another defeat, Town had to start the half strong and within the first ten minutes did carve out chances. Brown picked the ball up on the left before striking the ball against the crossbar. Minutes later Lock had an effort from the edge of the box fly wide.

Denbigh came close to getting back in it but with chances coming and going they suddenly found themselves down by three. As Town continued the pressure in Guilsfield’s final third a sudden break from the home side found Joe Haycock on the right who darted forward before blasting home.

As the minutes ticked by it became a question of just how many the home side might score. Bromley crossed dangerously with the ball bouncing across the face of goal before Matthews clipped the top of the crossbar with a shot from distance.

With 19 to play Guilsfield had the fourth they’d been searching for, Warder this time finishing after an initial stop from Jones.

On 81 minutes Denbigh got themselves on the scoresheet, as Gibbins finished in the box through a crowd of bodies after Brown’s cross. A consolation if ever there was one but Gibbins is off the mark for Town at least.

Both sides saw glimpses of goal in the dying embers, Jamie Hyne found the side netting with a shot from the right which looked destined to be heading in, whilst Town almost halved the deficit in stoppage time.

The referee this time pointed to the spot and Brown stepped up, but his tame effort was saved by Robbie Williams. The final action saw Davies try from a header that Williams claimed well.

Denbigh are next in action on Thursday night with the visit of Bangor 1876 to Central Park.

Denbigh Town: A.Jones, Cooke, Parry-Jones, Lockley, S.Jones, Gibbins, Roberts, Lock, Fleming, Brown, Davies

Subs: McHarrie, Holmes, Hansen, Worrall

Referee: Arthur Smallman

Attendance: 90