Denbigh Town’s home league return ended in a narrow defeat at the hands of Bangor City 1876.

Despite Harry Martin’s debut goal from the bench Town couldn’t get themselves back into the equation following a second half double from Declan McManus and Connor Evans.

Manager Dewi Llion made two changes with Alfie Vaughan unavailable and Tom Kelly taking a knock a week ago, with the pair replaced by Harry Martin for his debut and Ffranc Vaughan-Evans.

Both sides opened things up in what was a cagey contest for the opening 20 minutes, with the first chance falling to Denbigh. Some excellent work between Nathan Brown and Elliott Orton led to the latter making his way into the box and forcing a stop from John Danby from an angle. Seconds later Bangor broke and Jack Smith with just the keeper to beat was denied by a superb stop from Oli Farebrother.

Just after the half hour mark Town had another chance when a spell of pressure led to Luke Johnston firing just wide from 25-yards out, and eight minutes before time a free-kick on the edge of the box was put into the side netting by Brown.

Neither side were happy to just see out the half, as Brown had another chance from a free-kick that glanced just wide of the post, before Evans was through and just had to hit the target, but dragged a shot wide.

Half-Time: Denbigh Town 0-0 Bangor City 1876

The visitors came out of the second half with far more intent and their pressure early on paid off well. James Barry’s cross was flicked on by Evans into the path of McManus, who poked home to give the visitors the lead.

Bangor almost made it two on the hour mark when Smith was through again only to be denied bt Farebrother as Town had to weather a storm in the opening 15 of the restart.

Finally the lead was doubled. McManus laid the ball to Evans on the edge of the box, who bent the ball into the bottom right corner and past the reach of the Town custodian.

Town needed to respond and within four minutes, halved the deficit. Brown’s free-kick from the left was met by the head of Martin, who guided it past the keeper for a debut goal.

Now the momentum was with Denbigh, with Toby Gallagher-Keenan fed Martin through but his effort from right of centre was held. Martin was involved again on 79 minutes when chasing a lost cause, he picked it up at the byline before finding Brown whose effort deflected over for a corner.

Denbigh continued to apply pressure but couldn’t find their all-important second, as they now look to move on to next Friday away at Ruthin in the Vale of Clwyd Derby.

Denbigh Town: Farebrother, Lockley, Flanders, D.Davies, Orton, O.Davies, Johnston, Brown, Gallagher-Keenan, Martin, Vaughan-Evans

Subs: Wilmot, Smith, Kelly, Starkey-Jones, Holland, Duffy, Lloyd

Referee: Thomas Owen

Attendance: 490

POTM: Harry Martin - A really strong debut with relentless energy and a goal to get off the mark.