Denbigh Town exited the JD Welsh Cup at the Second Round stage after a convincing loss at home to Flint.

Josh Jones’ brace complemented by Ben Hughes’ goal in the opening half sealed Town’s fate in the competition for another year.

Dewi Llion was boosted by the return of goalkeeper Aaron Jones before kick-off but had a number of other players unavailable, allowing Billy Holmes and Olly Hansen to come into the side.

The bench was largely made up of reserve team players with James Thomas and Owen Herbert earning a place as well as second-string captain Josh Griffiths who was called up for the first time.

The game began with Town in good spirits, after just five minutes Tom Weir did well on the turn before driving forward and forcing a save from Rhys Williams before the corner was swept in by Nathan Brown and turned over from close range by Hansen.

Moments later Denbigh had another chance when Craig Rogers made his way down the left channel before hitting a low cross that eventually found Sion Jones on the edge of the box, but he couldn’t find the target.

Town’s three early opportunities were wasted and by the eighth minute were made to pay as Josh Jones made inroads down the right flank before drilling the ball into the bottom left corner of Aaron Jones’ goal.

Four minutes later the lead was doubled, Jones again capitalising on a mix-up at the back in which Town couldn’t clear their lines.

Suddenly Denbigh’s strong start came to a crashing halt and were now clinging on to avoid what could have been a first-half drubbing. Goalkeeper Jones was kept busy and made a sensational save to deny Anthony Stephens who hit one on the swivel when the ball came in from a corner.

The game began to settle but Flint continued their control, they thought they had a third when Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro found the net but was adjudged to have handballed it before the finish just after the half-hour mark.

Further mistakes at the back led to Flint’s third on 40 minutes when Hughes beat Aaron Jones to the ball to nod home and the tie looked out of reach before the break. Jones denied a fourth goal with another brilliant stop as Harley Brindley-Peagram’s effort was denied at the near post.

Half-Time: Denbigh Town 0-3 Flint Town United

Denbigh came out for the second half with a bit more control and seemed to have ironed out their sloppy errors, Chances were limited in comparison to the first half but with their cup journey circling the drain they had to make changes.

Dewi Llion made a double change just before the hour mark bringing on Harry Lockley and Danny Clarke replacing Hansen and Rogers.

With 18 left to play Flint were down to 10 men when Louis Lacey’s late challenge saw him receive a second yellow card, a needless challenge in the opposing half.

Whilst both sides got forward at times neither goalkeeper was really tested, that was until on 77 minutes Brown’s free-kick from distance bounced in front of Williams who had to act quickly to punch behind for a corner.

Town made further changes including handing a first-team debut to Griffiths who came on as a third of a trio of substitutions made on 79 minutes alongside Herbert and Thomas. The reserve trio impressed as they quickly involved themselves in the action.

In stoppage time Griffiths almost had a debut to remember when a cross from the right met his toe but the ball struck the upright before being cleared. Herbert almost had his first goal for the first-team when Thomas’ cross found him, but he volleyed right at the goalkeeper.

The final whistle blew shortly after and Flint progressed to the Third Round.

Denbigh are next in action next Friday away to Llandudno, the match taking place at Y Morfa, Conwy.

Denbigh Town: A.Jones, S.Jones, B.Lockley, Holmes, Rogers, Roberts, Lock, Fleming, Hansen, Brown, Weir

Subs: H.Lockley, Thomas, Griffiths, Herbert, Clarke

Attendance: 248

Referee: Karl Berry