With all due respect to Nantlle Vale this game was all about Denbigh Town and whether they could keep their quest for the league title alive. A win today and a draw next week at our final game would be enough.

The Reds kicked off with many of the home fans keeping an eye on the Cymru Football app to check on the Bangor v Hawarden game. Could second to bottom Hawarden pull off a surprise result and do us a favour ?

Denbigh looked comfortable enough at the start even though captain Paul Fleming was sitting this one out on the bench, recovering from a knock. Within ten minutes Denbigh had a number of corners as they were looking for that initial nerve-settling goal. However, it nearly all went wrong when a nice bit of play by Nantlle Vale saw one of their forwards free in the box with only Denbigh keeper Aaron Jones to beat from 15 yards. He shot low to Jones' left but a brilliant save kept the ball out of the net and the forward holding his head in his hands. [ see pic ] Great save but Vale should have scored.

On twenty minutes word went round that Hawarden were 1 - nil up! Could we win the league today? C'mon Denbigh !

Denbigh were dominating but needed that goal. Not long afterwards Matty Worrall was fed the ball as he prowled just inside his own half and as he bared down on goal he just could not get that shot off but a definite chance. Some neat play involving Nathan Brown and Craig Pritchard a little later saw Pritchy with the ball at his feet on the edge of the box with a shooting opportunity. His deflected shot found the top corner and Town were 1 - nil up with twenty three minutes on the clock.

Five minutes later Matty Worrall from almost the same position blasted the ball home with a fierce right foot drive. Denbigh 2 - 0 Nantlle Vale

Denbigh were playing some wonderful stuff now with a lot of possession and some neat moves emanating from the defenders Lockley, Morgan-Sadler, Parry-Jones and Holmes who continually moved the ball back and forth and side to side with their one touch football. Chances came Denbigh's way more than once and both Jake Walker and Sam Haddon will be disappointed that they did not put theirs away and seal the game but full credit to Vale keeper Owain Roberts who was pulling off some stunning saves.

As we prepared for half time we hear that Bangor had drawn level. If Denbigh win then Bangor had to win too or they would out of the running.

The visitors came out in the second half in a determined mood and were adamant that Denbigh were not going to have everything their own way. Some good strong tackling and attacking play meant that Denbigh needed another goal to be comfortable. That goal came from Nathan Brown who scored a wonder goal from a full 25 yards with a sweet right foot strike that beat the diving keeper. Sixty five minutes had gone and Denbigh were 3 - 0 up. A quick check of the App showed that the score at Bangor was 2 - 2 and we were still on track to top the table for the first time this season and be crowned champions.

A short time later battling Jake Walker was brought down on the left hand side near the bye line. Possibly a harsh decision but the referee saw fit to blow the whistle for a Denbigh foul. The resulting free kick was lofted into the penalty area to be met by Matty Worrall who headed it back in the same direction looping over the outstretched arm of the keeper before nestling in the visitors goal. 4 - nil and game definitely over.

Manager Dewi Llion then made a few changes as he wished to protect some of his players for that all important final game and to give our younger players time on the pitch. As we adjusted Vale pressed forward and managed to bag a consolation goal.

Final score Denbigh 4 - 1 Nantlle Vale

It was still 2 - 2 at Bangor but for some reason they were ten minutes behind our game. Many of the supporters and players stood around waiting to see if we were confirmed champions but a Bangor goal five minutes from time means we need at least a draw away at Rhostyllen next week to top the table.

An excellent game with some great football played today. There was a good crowd of nearly three hundred people at the ground and the club would like to say a big Thank You to all who have come down to Central Park this season in all weathers to watch the lads and let's hope we get that all important point next week in front of those who also travel all over North Wales to show your support.

See you next week at Rhostyllen.