Holywell Town 2-1 Denbigh Town

Holywell Town 2-1 Denbigh Town

The big local derby got the go ahead after two pitch inspections and both teams locked horns for the first time for a couple of years after promotion from the Welsh Alliance League.

The game started slowly with both teams trying to get used to the wet and heavy surface and the first real chance of the match fell on 12 minutes to Steve Lewis, who’s shot was saved by Elliott Power after a great run by Brady McGilloway who was making his first start for the Wellmen. A few minutes later Tony Roebuck had a shot blocked by Denbigh’s Mike Sharples.

McGilloway then made a great run and skipped a couple of challenges before shooting wide of Power’s post before the Wellmen took the lead. Steve Lewis, the goalscorer for the Wellmen. Lewis then very nearly made it 2 just after the half hour mark as he was put through and his chip over the advancing Power fell a couple of inches over the bar. A couple of chances fell to both sides over the remainder of the half but no further goals were scored.

The sides came back onto the pitch after their half time break, and the Wellmen’s lead didn’t last long as the visitors equalised on 50 minutes through Mark Roberts, after his shot was deflected past Mike Platt at the near post. The game then got a bit scrappy with both teams looking for the next goal as more than likely it would be the winning goal, and on the slippery surface, a few rash challenges occurred which saw the referee having to reach for his yellow cards.

As the game was entering the final 20 minutes, the Wellmen took a deserved lead. Steve Lewis won the ball midway inside the Denbigh Town half and laid the ball off to Brady McGilloway, who skipped a couple of challenges before sliding the ball through to Steve Thomas on the right who cut inside the box, past a defender before unleashing a shot past Elliott Power which gave him no chance. It was a great goal and build up play and the home fans were happy to be back in the lead.

McGilloway, who was having a great match, then went on a run on goal, and as he cut through, his shot was well saved by Power which prevented him getting a deserved goal. Denbigh had a couple of chances to equalise in the final 10 minutes as a good ball over the Wellmen defence saw the ball land for Mike Cronshaw but his shot went inches wide of Mike Platt’s post, and a few minutes later, Carl Lamb had a low shot which Mike Platt got down well to save.

The final few minutes saw Town happy to keep possession and hold out for the win and as the referee blew for full time, The Wellmen can be proud of their performance on the heavy surface and worth winners of the points.