Denbigh Town Reserves were resoundingly beaten on Friday night as The New Saints hit nine at Central Park.

Owen Davies hit six whilst Gwion Dafydd (brace) and Paris Gray were also on the scoresheet as the Saints ran riot in Denbigh.

Town made a couple of changes from the side that beat Gresford Athletic a week previous as Matthew Blake returned from suspension whilst Alekdander Cyra also returned. Goalkeeper Jake Jones and defender Tom Matischok made their home debuts.

Denbigh soaked up pressure early against the young Saints side who attacked with purpose from the off. Dafydd took 16 minutes to open the scoring when from right of centre he curled a superb effort past the outstretched Jones to go ahead.

13 minutes later he had his second as Ryley Oakley fed Dafydd in the box to stab home from close range. Gray was in on the act himself on 32 minutes when he finished from close range following Jordan Marshall’s cross.

In reality, it was an uphill struggle for Town who rarely caught a breath, with Jones kept busy on his home bow making a tremendous stop to keep the score down at three.

Half-Time: Denbigh Town Reserves 0-3 TNS Reserves

Liam Nash made two changes at the break with Cyra and Andy Thomas making way for Geth Rogers and Owen Herbert. Town began the half brightly but rarely tested Reece Thompson in the TNS goal.

Six minutes into the half the floodgates well and truly opened, Owen Davies - who scored twice against Denbigh’s first-team in pre-season - scored the first of six before adding his second on the hour mark.

Jones in goal denied a sixth on 67 minutes when some brave goalkeeping saw him rush out to clear a superb ball through the middle, whilst he was responsible for several smart stops to thwart further punishment at times.

Despite this, TNS were rampant. Davies completed his hatrick on 68 minutes before a further three goals in the span of the next twelve minutes heaped misery on Town.

It ends 2023 for the Reserves who are yet to learn of their next batch of fixtures in the FAW Reserve League North, but one thing is for sure, they’ll not look forward to the return match at TNS any time soon.

Denbigh Town Reserves: Jake Jones, Cyra, Smith, Matischok, Devine, Griffiths, Blake, Rees-Williams, J.Thomas, A.Thomas, Lloyd

Subs: Roberts, Hughes, Rogers, Herbert, Lea

Referee: Craig Griffiths

Attendance: 143