REPORT | Denbigh Town 4-1 Caersws

Denbigh Town’s tier two home return couldn’t have gone much better as they dismantled nine-man Caersws at Central Park.

Craig Pritchard marked his 50th Denbigh appearance with a goal whilst Nathan Brown struck a brace before Paul Fleming capped off a quartet of goals for Town.

Manager Dewi Llion named a couple of changes to his side with Billy Holmes out with a knock, and as such was replaced by Morgan Thomas-Sadler. Meanwhile Jake Walker came into the starting XI in place of Tom Weir and Sion Jones slotted in at left-back with Harry Lockley rested.

Meanwhile Jason Foulkes made his return taking place on the bench whilst Owen Herbert retained his position on stand-by after making his debut on Saturday.

In superb conditions for football the first chance came to Denbigh, when Sion Jones made tracks down the left finding himself in the box, before hitting an effort into the side netting.

After 13 minutes Caersws had their first chance of the game when a lofted ball over the top was met by forward Rhys Hesden who calmly slotted the ball past Aaron Jones to open the scoring.

However, this was the best it got for the mid-Wales visitors. After Fleming responded seconds after the goal by dragging an effort from distance, Town equalised in poetic fashion. Pritchard marked his half-century of Denbigh appearances by lashing the ball home following a cross from the right that was half cleared to the energetic attacker who levelled.

Two minutes later Denbigh had the lead. Again the Bluebirds couldn’t get the ball away and Denbigh’s onrushing attack eventually turned the ball to Brown who’s dynamite finish gave Town the lead.

Disaster struck the visitors after 28 minutes when Jake Walker was set through on goal, he rounded goalkeeper Jack Perry who brought down the forward, and the referee pointed to the spot. To the dismay of the visitors, referee Conor Charlton-Fleming sent off the custodian.

Defender Matt Mumford went between the sticks and couldn’t stop Brown’s spot kick to give Town a two-goal cushion.

Denbigh pressed for a fourth before the break but Pritchard had an effort spilled before Mumford collected and Ryan Kershaw volleyed over the bar.

Half-Time: Denbigh Town 3-1 Caersws

If the first-half was difficult for the visitors, the beginning of the second was a disaster. After breaking forward Caersws’ attackers were through on goal only for Keiron Roberts to make a sensational recovery and tackle.

On 51 minutes Denbigh had four as a well worked ball found Fleming who was able to slot the ball into the bottom left corner. Bluebirds defender Calum Bennett was spoken to by the referee who handed him two yellow cards within seconds to dismiss the perplexed visitors.

The game began to fizzle out as Dewi Llion made changes intruding Weir and Mason Blackwell-Jones as well as Olly Hansen, Craig Rogers and Danny Clarke later on.

Ben Lockley had a chance but his shot deflected towards the stand-in goalkeeper who gathered whilst substitute Blackwell-Jones rounded Mumford before his goal-bound shot was blocked on the line brilliantly by Ben Jones. Blackwell-Jones had another chance two minutes later when he cut inside from the right but couldn’t find the target.

It ended 4-1 for Denbigh’s first three points of the season in front of a healthy crowd of 310. We’re next in action on Saturday with a trip to Nantporth, as we face Bangor 1876.

Denbigh Town: A.Jones, B.Lockley, Thomas-Sadler, Parry-Jones, S.Jones, Roberts, Kershaw, Brown, Fleming, Pritchard, Walker

Subs: Rogers, Hansen, Blackwell-Jones, Clarke, Herbert, Weir

Attendance: 310

Referee: Conor Charlton-Fleming