Denbigh Town are through to the Third Round of the Nathaniel MG Cup following a first shoot-out win in 20 years.

Goals from Nathan Brown and Keelan Williams edged Denbigh in front twice, only for a stoppage time equaliser to send us to spot kicks.

After 28 penalties in total in one of the most dramatic shoot-outs you’ll see, it was eventually Denbigh who went through 10-11.

It sees Town into the Third Round stage for the first time since 2015 where Denbigh went all the way to the Final.

Dewi Llion made three changes to the XI that beat Caersws eight days previous as Max Cooke and Owen Payne came in whilst Cameron Darling made his debut in goal. On the bench Brad Barnes featured for the first time whilst Aidan Higgins was announced moments before the teams, having joined the club following his time with Swansea City, Higgins also featured on the bench.

On a hot day on the North Wales coast it took eight minutes for the first chance of note when a cross from the right was headed into the side netting by Dylan Proctor. Five minutes later Jack Parry almost put the hosts in front when a run from Ben Lawrence to the right of the box saw him square it oto the forward but drag his effort wide.

Denbigh’s first chance of note came on 18 minutes when Williams ran down the middle but was hacked down from behind by Rocco Hewitt, with the latter shown a yellow card. Brown from the resulting free kick struck it towards goal with ‘keeper Flynn Proctor spilling the ball before it deflected over the bar. Brown was involved again just after the half hour mark when Williams’ low cross found him to the left of the box but his half volley was harmless.

Half-Time: Rhyl 1879 0-0 Denbigh Town

It took nine minutes for the first opportunity of the second period as Morgan Murray found himself with space on the edge of the box, but could only fire wide of the mark.

Just after the hour mark Higgins made his debut and just a minute later the game sprang to life. Tom Weir fed the ball to Brown who at distance smashed the ball into the top left corner of the net for the lead.

Moments later Hewitt was involved when he was adjudged to have fouled Cooke, and shown a second yellow, reducing Rhyl to ten.

Despite having a man less Rhyl fought back and Murray stood over a free-kick on 71 minutes. He ran up and smashed the ball into the bottom right corner to level the score.

With three minutes to play the game was on a knife-edge, and Weir once again as provider played it to Williams who burst through and stabbed the ball into the bottom right corner.

Three minutes into injury time, though there was a chance for a final twist. A long ball into the box was headed on by Paul Fleming and finished by Leo Latter to send us to a shoot-out.

In the chaos of the penalties, both sides took a total of 14 each with Rhyl given the chance to win it on a number of occasions. However, in sudden death following Barnes’ conversion, Reece Fairhurst couldn’t follow up and Town head through to Round Three.

Denbigh Town: Darling, Williams, Lockley, Flanders, Payne, Cooke, Johnston, Brown, Clarke, Weir, Worrall

Subs: Beattie, Beaumont, Roberts, James, Higgins, Barnes, J.Duffy

Referee: Aled Williams

Attendance: 455

POTM: Max Cooke - An advanced role for the 19-year-old who performed well throughout.