Denbigh Town disappointed with Oval draw.

This was after an excellent team performance from Denbigh when they dominated the game for large spells with crisp passing and movement against the second placed team in the league.
In the early minutes Caernarfon started by looking to pressurise the Denbigh players on the ball, but the Denbigh players held firm. As the game wore on Denbigh settled and started playing with confidence by spreading the ball across the Oval using the full width of the pitch. Midfielders Keiran Gaul and Gareth Partridge worked hard throughout the game to combat the Caernarfon team and laid on some decisive passes for the Denbigh attack.

On 15 minutes Caernarfon’s defence was split as Craig Pritchard ran through from the half way line to latch onto a through ball and was in a one on one with Caernarfon’s goalie Ramsey only for his shot to be deflected off Ramsey for a corner.
With Denbigh on top a Jack Riley shot from just outside the penalty box caused Ramsey more concern as it just went over the crossbar. Minutes later an Aaron Hassall cross was headed on by Andrew Swarbrick to Pritchard again only this time his shot went just wide of the post. Caernarfon’s defence was up against it again as a foul on Hassall just outside the box gave Alan Bull a free kick which just shaved the Caernarfon crossbar.
Denbigh’s defensive centre backs Tony Davies and Ben Nash were keeping the Caernarfon attack at bay and limiting them to long range shots which were not troubling Jon Hill-Dunt in goal. That was until the 40th minute when after a Denbigh free kick outside the Caernarfon penalty box, the Cofis broke from defence rapidly and Jamie Roberts had a golden chance to take Caernarfon into the break 1-0 up only for Hiil-Dunt to make a tremendous point blank save from Roberts.
Minutes later Caernarfon’s Darren Thomas had a half chance only for his shot to go wide of the post and the teams went in at half time 0-0.

Early in the second half Andrew Swarbrick went inches wide for Denbigh and Gareth Partridge came close from a Hassall cross whereas at the other end Hill-Dunt pulled off another fine save to thwart the Cofis.
Both Denbigh’s full backs Jack Riley and Nathan Williams were attacking the wings and an excellent Williams cross was cut out by Caernarfon’s defence for a corner as the Town piled on the pressure.
On 60 minutes, the Denbigh bench made a double substitution with Jake Eyre and Billy Holmes replacing Andrew Swarbrick and Aaron Hassall as Denbigh looked to inject some fresh legs against the Caernarfon defence.
Ten minutes later it was a Billy Holmes run cutting in from the left wing and laying on a pass to Craig Prichard to slot past goalkeeper Ramsey and into the left corner of the goal to give Denbigh a deserved 1-0 lead.
Seven minutes later Tony Davies’ strong header from his own half led to Jake Eyre running through the Caernarfon defence and finishing well to give the Town a 2-0 lead.

The Cofis now needed to fight back and they did so 2 minutes later with a Jamie Breese shot from 20 yards beating Hiil-Dunt, but Denbigh were still in front 2-1.
Young left back Nathan Williams took a knock and was replaced by Andy Thomas as Denbigh looked to hold onto their narrow lead.
However on 84 minutes Caernarfon’s Danny Brookwell found himself in space some 25 yards from the Denbigh goal and fired in a shot that gave keeper Hiil –Dunt no chance and brought Caernarfon level.
The remainder of the game saw good chances at either end, and Caernarfon thought they had won the game in the 90th minute when Kev Lloyd had the ball in the back of the Denbigh net only for it to be judged offside – a borderline decision but relief all round for the travelling supporters.

A most pleasing Town performance showing so much hard work and endeavour and the result could so easily have been a Denbigh win. They team is becoming a strong, fit unit and credit must go to the management team who are gelling the players into a team that is working together and proving difficult to beat.

Teams
Caernarfon – Alex Ramsay, Clive Williams, Nathan Craig, Danny Sullivan, Gareth Edwards, Rob Jones, Jamie Roberts, Jay Gibbs, Jamie Breeze. Darren Thomas, Danny Brockwell. Subs Leigh Craven, Kevin Lloyd, Declan Williams, Aaron Griffiths, Aaron Davies – Thomas

Denbigh – Jon Hill-Dunt, Jack Riley, Nathan Williams, Ben Nash, Tony Davies, Keiran Gaul, Gareth Partridge, Craig Pritchard. Aaron Hassell, Alan Bull, Andrew Swarbrick. Subs, Jake Eyre, Billy Holmes, Andy Thomas

Referee – Mike Gray – Rhyl
Assistant – Martin Trigg – Dyserth
Assistant – Pete Kewley - Rhyl
Attendance – 275