This was a game of two halves in every sense of the word with Denbigh grateful to come away with three points which puts them top of the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division One. Two early strikes from captain Mark Roberts saw Denbigh take a comfortable lead which should have been extended in a first half which they dominated. The second half was a different story as a rejuvenated Glan Conwy team pulled one back through Tom Rooney and then had chances to equalise in half with Denbigh’s keeper Antoni Sarnowski being called upon to make some tremendous saves.

Denbigh’s manager Dewi Llion chose an unchanged starting eleven after their 2-0 cup win a week earlier against Queens Park. New loan signing Jacob Barratt from Connahs Quay Nomads was on the bench.

Glan Conwy had a formidable record at Cae Fwt having lost only one game last season and one so far this season. The compact narrow pitch meant Denbigh had to adjust their tactics accordingly and the early stages of the game saw these changes paying off.

From the start Denbigh took the game to Glan Conwy with Mark Roberts going close after 3 minutes. The hosts responded after some sloppy Denbigh defending when Sarnowski was forced to palm the ball away for a corner. From the corner the ball cleared the goal mouth and Will Ashley was able to clear to Mark Roberts on the half way line.

Roberts turned his defender and headed for goal with strength and pace and on reaching inside the penalty area was able to slide the ball under the advancing Jarvis in the Glan Conwy to give Denbigh a 1-0 lead on 5 minutes.

Denbigh continued to pressurise the Glan Conwy goal and played some intricate football on the heavy pitch. On 17 minutes left back Dan Lloyd floated a ball from his half up to Roberts just inside the Glan Conwy half. Roberts headed the ball over his defender and sprinted goalward and was able to chip Jarvis from 20 yards to give Denbigh a two goal lead – two brilliant individual goals (see photo).

Minutes later it was Roberts again whose shot clattered the crossbar from 20 yards. Chris Bennett jumped on the rebound and fired home only to be flagged offside.

As the half progressed it was all Denbigh with their midfield commanding the game. Moses Barrett was unlucky to see his header go just wide from a Stu Vernon corner. Bennett played Jake Walker in on goal and his shot was deflected wide by keeper Jarvis’ fingertips. Vernon played a great ball in which Walker headed powerfully just wide of the goal.

Half time came with Denbigh well on top and looking forward to the second half. Glan Conwy had other ideas and made two substitutions which helped change the game in their favour.

From the start the Glan Conwy team dictated the play and Sarnowksi had to be on his toes to gather safely from a dangerous cross. Denbigh could not reach the standards they had set in the first half and before long they succumbed to the pressure.

After 67 minutes from a Glan Conwy free kick the ball was floated into Denbigh’s penalty box. Sarnowski was forced to punch the ball clear and Glan Conwy gained a corner from the resulting play. Jamie Jones floated the corner into the penalty box and Tom Rooney was able to head home from six yards.

Denbigh responded and a minute later Mark Roberts broke free to fire home what he thought was his hat-trick. As the Denbigh players celebrated with Roberts, referee Trigg awarded Glan Conwy a free kick for Roberts being offside. With Denbigh’s players now all out of position it was a desperate tackle from John Terry which thwarted Glan Conwy’s attack which could have led to a controversial goal.

Antoni Sarnowski then pulled off two brilliant saves. From another corner the ball fell to a Glan Conwy forward whose shot forced the keeper into diving to his right to palm the ball wide and stop what was a certain equaliser. From the corner a header from six yards was goal bound until Sarnowski palmed the ball onto his crossbar and away to safety. Denbigh were just hanging on to their lead thanks to their keeper.

Denbigh made a double substitution on 77 minutes as they looked to stem the Glan Conwy pressure and give Denbigh some fresh legs with Miles Todd and loan signing Jacob Barratt coming on for Stu Vernon and Sion Jones.

Still the hosts continued to threaten Denbigh’s goal as Denbigh dropped deeper and deeper into their own half. However, with Sarnowksi’s defenders putting up some stern defending they were able to hold out and claim the three points.

Manager Dewi Llion said after the game “The first half was great to watch with us dictating the game and getting the two early goals. We should have capitalised on our pressure. The second half was a different game and credit to Glan Conwy they put up a great fight. Even so we got the three points at a difficult place to visit”

Glan Conwy
Elliott James Jarvis, Liam Griffiths, David Sinkinson, Shaeen Daniel Ahmed, Ian Pattinson, Jordan Phillips, Tom Rooney, Conor Davies, Darren Landers, Jamie Richard Jones, Dean Wright, Jamie Richard Jones . Subs : Dean Wright, Aaron Boyle, Keating Hoe-Pike, Ben Jarvis, Francesco Gallina

Denbigh Town FC
Antoni Jan Sarnowski, Sion Jones, Dan Lloyd, John Terry, Moses Barrett, Chris Bennett, Stu Vernon, Will Ashley, Paul Fleming, Jake Walker, Mark Roberts. Subs : Miles Todd, Dan Clarke, Jacob Barratt, Billy Holmes

Referee – Martin Trigg

Attendance - 75