Denbigh Town ended a 27-year curse on Friday night as Dewi Llion’s side ran out 3-2 winners against Caersws at Maes Tegid.

Goals from Nathan Brown, Dan Flanders and Matthew Worrall at Town’s temporary home ended a near three decade wait for an opening day win at home in the second tier.

Dewi Llion made three changes to the side that won 3-1 at Flint Mountain in the Nathaniel MG Cup a week previous, with Brown, Flanders and Tom Weir coming into the XI.

It took three minutes for the first chance of note as Caersws broke free following a misstep from Keelan Williams which allowed Sam Phillips through on goal, but a recovering run saw the forward hit wide.

Denbigh’s first opportunity came six minutes later when Brown worked a ball to Weir on the right who chopped inside before his low effort was dealt with comfortably. Bobby Beaumont was next to come close when once again a neat passage of play found the Town defender on the right of the box but his volley couldn’t be kept down.

The closest either side came in the opening stages was on 21 minutes when the visitors cleared their lines only as far as Danny Clarke who struck from the edge of the box, and Max Williams pushed it wide. Williams was called upon again on 28 minutes when Worrall smashed a half volley at goal from the right and a stiff arm pushed it behind.

Finally Town’s persistence paid off, a well worked phase saw Weir feed Brown with an excellent pass down the middle and the latter scooped it over Williams for our first of the season.

Half Time: Denbigh Town 1-0 Caersws

In the second half it was the visitors who started the brightest and within eight minutes restored parity. Rhys Hesden picked the ball up 35-yards out before making tracks towards goal and striking down the middle, and Elijah Beattie will soon want to forget the next few seconds as the ball slimed its way under his body to make it 1-1.

Town responded well though and four minutes later Brown’s effort from distance was parried away before Worrall’s follow up was denied by Williams at close range. From the resulting corner Brown swung the ball in and Flanders attacked with menace, thumping the ball home with his head to grab his first for the club and retake the lead.

However, Flanders’ evening ended prematurely just two minutes later when a collision led to the defender having to come off following a blow to the head, and was replaced by Max Cooke.

Caersws pressed for a second leveller but struggled to find the target when able to breach Town’s backline, and with 12 minutes to go the win looked assured when substitute Owen Payne linked up with former Llay team mate Worrall who spun his defender and slammed the ball home inside the box.

However, in football there’s no assurance. And within two minutes, the lead was reduced when Craig Harris came off the bench and struck just inside the box from a loose ball to make it a nervy finish.

In the closing moments however it was Denbigh who came closest, a Brown free-kick from 25-yards fizzed just wide before Sion Jones’ effort from range was just about dealt with by Williams.

Town hung on and recorded back-to-back wins in all competitions to begin the campaign and three points to start the season in the Cymru North.

Denbigh Town: Beattie, Williams, Beaumont, Lockley, Flanders, Roberts, Johnston, Brown, Clarke, Weir, Worrall

Subs: Cooke, Jones, Payne, J.Duffy, S.Duffy

POTM: Keiron Roberts - A classic measured performance and key in the middle of the park.

Referee: Andy Harms

Attendance: 93