Denbigh Town’s small winning run came to a screeching halt on Friday night in a Denbighshire Derby at Rhyl.

Morgan Murray and Dan Atkins netted twice in the first half before Murray sealed things in the second half, as Denbigh had no reply on a difficult night at Belle Vue.

Dewi Llion made an enforced change as Sion Jones came in for the suspended Owen Davies, who’d be shown two yellows a week before in the victory over Airbus.

After a positive start for Town in the opening ten minutes they were disappointed to find themselves behind on just 12 minutes. Murray chased the ball down on the right, before cutting in and smashing the ball home from distance.

Buoyed by the opener, ten minutes later Rhyl doubled the advantage. Atkins this time made inroads on the right flank, beating his man and finishing in the bottom corner.

Denbigh had to respond and did begin to flirt with the hosts goal, as Nathan Doforo on 26 minutes did well before scooping it over for Nathan Brown, but his cut back was intercepted and out for a corner. From the resulting set piece Dan Davies couldn’t keep his header down.

Just before the half hour mark it should have been three though, Atkins again through slice his effort wide of the mark in a huge opportunity to put the game to bed early on. Both sides had a glance minutes later when another Town corner was met by Dan Flanders, but his side footed effort flew over before Ben Lightfoot’s shot from the edge of the box was covered by Oli Farebrother.

Half-Time: Rhyl 1879 2-0 Denbigh Town

Town livened up a little in the second half but within two minutes were nearly buried before getting going. Akins again was through on goal but Farebrother did well to get down to his effort and push away.

Doforo was involved again on the left three minutes later when his cross was half cleared by Billy Holmes and Brown’s shot was denied by Alex Swindell, whilst his rebound sailed wide of the mark.

20 minutes into the second half the game was all but won. Murray grabbed his second and Rhyl’s third as he burst through just right of centre and slammed the ball into the bottom left corner.

There wasn’t much Denbigh could do who hadn’t truly tested the keeper, Ben Lockley’s cross from the right found Brown but he couldn’t steer a shot on target, whilst things almost got worse with 12 to play as Flanders and Max Cooke were mixed up at the back, allowing James Farr through only to blaze over with just the keeper to beat.

Neither side troubled each other from then on in with things wrapped up, and given another 90 minutes, it’s doubtful Town would have found a consolation. One positive taken from the night will be the return of Luke Johnston, who came on for the final five minutes, marking his first minutes since October due to injury.

Denbigh Town: Farebrother, Jones, Lockley, D.Davies, Flanders, Doforo, McHarrie, Humphreys, Brown, Vaughan, Dafydd

Subs: Wilmot, K.Roberts, Cooke, Johnston, Lloyd

Referee: Aled Williams

Attendance: 641

POTM: Scott McHarrie - A solid performance from McHarrie on a difficult night.