Denbigh Town avoided a big upset at Cerrig in the First Round of the JD Welsh Cup with a 4-2 victory.

Goals from Matthew Worrall, Olly Hansen and a Nathan Brown brace sealed the victory on a wet afternoon in Conwy.

Manager Dewi Llion made five changes to the starting XI with Billy Holmes, Craig Rogers, Jake Walker, Olly Hansen and Paul Fleming coming into the side whilst James Thomas was called onto the bench less than 24 hours after playing and scoring for the reserves.

The game began with Cerrig on top with a physical display that took the match right to Denbigh. Cerrig had a free-kick on seven minutes which was spilt by Aaron Jones before he made a superb save to deny a follow-up.

Denbigh’s first foray into the opposition half saw the first score on 14 minutes, when Hansen did well down the left before his cross met the head of Worrall, despite Cerrig claiming it had been cleared off the line the linesman flagged and the goal was awarded.

Not to be disheartened the hosts fought back and Tomos Jones almost levelled three minutes later with a shot from distance that struck the post with the keeper stranded.

On 34 minutes Cerrig had a shock leveller, as a cross came in from the right that was met by Tegid Williams who’s header looped into the far corner.

Just before half-time things boiled over for the first time and Town were down to ten, as Ryan Kershaw’s late challenge saw him dismissed before the break.

Half-Time: Cerrigydrudion 1-1 Denbigh Town

Stern words at the break appeared to work for Denbigh as within three minutes of the re-start they had the lead. Hansen latched on to a long ball from Walker and finished with aplomb to settle the early nerves.

The half was limited in terms of chances but certainly not bereft of competition in what was a classic spirited cup tie. Going into the final 15 minutes Ben Lockley headed over from a corner which appeared to light the fuse on a big finish.

Hansen picked the ball up on the right before being brought down in the box and winning a penalty. Substitute Brown stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to give Denbigh breathing room.

Brown almost had a second with five to go as he fizzed a shot across the face of goal but made no mistake a minute later as Worrall fed him from the right before drilling it home.

If at 4-1 you thought the tie was over you’d be mistaken, Cai Davies less than 60 seconds later nodded Cerrig back into it setting up a nervy finish that saw over ten minutes of stoppage time.

The game well and truly boiled over when a skirmish on the touchline led to bookings for both benches before another broke out seconds later that saw Williams sent off for Cerrig.

With an aerial bombardment from the home side Town survived and will go into the hat for the next round.

Denbigh Town: A Jones, S Jones, B Lockley, Holmes, Rogers, Kershaw, Fleming, Hansen, Weir, Walker, Worrall

Subs: H Lockley, Thomas, Lock, Brown, Pierce

Attendance: 200

Referee: Patrick Wilding