Denbigh Town bagged their first points of 2025 as Alfie Vaughan struck a brace at both ends of the game to become Town’s late hero.

Vaughan thumped Denbigh ahead with just six gone before two goals in the the space of as many minutes saw Guilsfield take the lead. Ben Lockley managed to head Denbigh back level before Vaughan nodded one home himself with three minutes left to play.

It ends a run stretching back to October without a home league win, ends a three game winless run and bags the first points of 2025.

Town made an enforced change to the XI that faced Holywell last time out with Kyle Cooper coming into the side for the suspended Sion Jones. Meanwhile new signings Danny Clarke and Sean James had a place on the bench.

Denbigh began the game superbly and put pressure on the visitors early. On four minutes Owen Davies broke down the right before feeding the ball inside to Nathan Brown who was chopped down on the edge of the box. From the resulting free-kick Brown stepped up to fire the ball on to the crossbar before Vaughan followed in to grab his first goal for the club.

Looking for a second Town continued to put the back four under the cosh when Brown forced goalkeeper Luke Evans into a stop whilst Sam Duffy had his powerful effort blocked two minutes after Denbigh opened the scoring. On 12 minutes Calum Butler made a tremendous run from deep, before finding himself on the left side of the penalty area and firing a shot wide.

However, Town couldn’t find the second goal and Guilsfield grew into the game. On 22 minutes a seemingly harmless ball into the box was missed by the backline and top scorer Jamie Hyne was able to finish from close range. Less than two minutes later the game was flipped on it’s head when more slack defending saw the ball fall to Iwan Matthews who fired past Aaron Jones.

Now under pressure Denbigh needed to react and ten minutes later they found their way back via another set piece. Brown’s corner found Lockley who bulldozed his way through to hammer home an outstanding header to take it to 2-2.

Within a minute of the leveller, Guilsfield should have retaken the lead when a cross found Matthews whose cushioned volley from close range was lifted over the bar. Denbigh themselves had a sight of goal on 38 minutes when a nice spell eventually found Duffy hitting one from the edge of the box but Evans saved comfortably.

Half-Time: Denbigh Town 2-2 Guilsfield

After a frantic first half it was all to play for with both sides coming out in the second period with the belief that they can take maximum points in the contest. Eight minutes into the half Town almost took the lead via an unlikely source when a nice move led to Keiron Roberts’ effort being tipped onto the crossbar by the ‘keeper.

Five minutes later Denbigh won a free-kick from 30-yards out with Cooper and Brown stood over it. The latter struck it towards goal forcing a fantastic save to deny a third.

The half appeared to flatline a little with chances extremely limited despite Guilsfield edging possession in the final third. Town introduced Clarke, Tom Salisbury and Gabriel Hinchcliffe in the final 20 minutes who injected life into the side, with Salisbury doing well with five left to play by winning the ball in the Guilsfield half, darting forward and laying the ball across goal for Clarke who was just inches short from putting it in the net. In the aftermath, Iwan Roberts - another substitute - picked it up on the left, and made his way inside before having an effort blocked, despite appeals for a penalty for handball the referee was unmoved.

Not to worry, just a minute later Lockley found himself on the right where he crossed for Vaughan who at the back post headed the ball home for a massive goal and a possible huge result for Denbigh.

Suddenly after looking like the side more likely to take the lead, Guilsfield were suddenly forced to stay resolute as in the final minute of the 90 Salisbury again made his way into the box before forcing the keeper into a low stop.

With four minutes added the mid-Wales side couldn’t find the all-important goal in stoppage time just as they’d done at Clos Mytton back in November, and so Town took a valuable three points at Central Park.

Denbigh Town: A.Jones, Flanders, Lockley, Beaumont, Cooper, K.Roberts, Butler, Brown, Vaughan, Duffy, Davies

Subs: Beattie, Stark, Hinchcliffe, James, Salisbury, I.Roberts, Clarke

Referee: Aled Williams

Attendance: 165

POTM: Alfie Vaughan - His first and second goals for the club couldn’t have come at a better time.