REPORT | Gresford Athletic Reserves 1-2 Denbigh Town Reserves

Denbigh Town Reserves are up to 4th in the FAW Reserve League North after battling it out for a win on the road at Gresford.

Goals from Harry Lea and Rhys Lloyd secured the points in difficult conditions at Clappers Lane.

Liam Nash handed two debuts for Town with Jacob Jones recently signing from Llandyrnog United and taking his place in goal, whilst veteran Tom Matischok returned to the club and went straight into the starting XI.

It was the perfect start for Denbigh who after three minutes went ahead. Lloyd took on his man and ran through before rounding the goalkeeper and squaring for Lea to poke home.

The lead was doubled just after the half-hour mark when following a scramble in midfield Josh Griffiths struck from distance. The goalkeeper fumbled and Lloyd - 24 hours before his 17th birthday - followed in to fire home.

Half-Time: Gresford Athletic Reserves 0-2 Denbigh Town Reserves

With horrendous conditions sweeping across Wales, the game was one of few that went ahead in North Wales but certainly didn’t remain unaffected, with Town playing against swirling winds as they sought to secure the game.

13 minutes into the second half Gresford halved the deficit via Callum Wakefield setting up a close encounter.

The home side almost grabbed a point late on when a goal-bound effort was superbly saved by debutant Jones. Town were able to grind out the win and secure three points ahead of their home return next week.

They take on The New Saints at Central Park in the last Reserves clash of the calendar year, as 2nd face 4th.

Denbigh Town Reserves: J.Jones, T.Hughes, Geth Rogers, Smith, Matischok, Griffiths, Lea, J.Thomas, A.Thomas, Lloyd, Rees-Williams

Subs: Roberts, D.Hughes, Devine, Herbert

Referee: Barry Wilding