Denbigh Town 1-1 Holywell Town

The Wellmen made the short journey to Central Park to take on 3rd place Denbigh Town. The game started with both teams having chances and trying to take control of the game. With just over 15 minues on the clock, Denbigh Town’s Sam Tate hit a great shot which clipped the stantion supporting the goalposts before Warren Duckett had a shot fly over Mike Platt’s crossbar.

A few minutes later, Town took the lead. A great ball over the top for Connor Littler saw him control and try to get past Duckett inside the area. The ball hit Duckett’s arm and the referee blew and pointed to the penalty spot, despite Duckett trying to prove his innocence. Paul Williams stepped up to take the spot kick and his low shot to the left of the goal beat Elliott Power in Denbigh’s goal to give the Wellmen the lead.

The Wellmen went looking for a second and a good run by Brady McGilloway found him beat 3 defenders but his shot was blocked by the Denbigh rearguard, Ross Ankers had a couple of Free Kicks in dangerous positions blocked and Phil Lloyd went close after a good run by Steve Thomas, but as the referee blew for half time, it was the Wellmen who had the advantage, leading by a goal to nil.

The second half saw Denbigh Town getting the most of the possession as they went in search of the equaliser, but Town’s defence sniffed out any danger and handled what Denbigh Town threw at them really well. On 55 minutes, The Wellmen had their first real chance of the half, another great run by Brady McGilloway saw him run into the box but his shot was blocked and the loose ball fell to Tony Roebuck, but his shot was also blocked by the Denbigh defence.

Steve Thomas then went on a run and his cross from close to the byline was cleared for a corner by Denbigh’s Liam Smith. Substitute Graeme Williams then had a good run at the Denbigh defence and as he skipped past a couple of defenders, he was caught in two minds to shoot or to place the ball into the corner and Mike Sharples was able to get across to clear the ball before Williams could shoot.
Denbigh Town piled on the pressure on the Wellmen and a Steve Thomas clearance was needed after a dangerous ball into the box by a Denbigh player, with Alan Bull waiting to pounce on the ball which would have resulted in a goal, then Bull again was in the thick of the action in the Holywell Town penalty area and a timely clearance by Dafydd Griffith prevented Bull getting in a shot on target. Bull was in the thick of the action as the home side looked to equalise, and his run saw Ross Ankers tackle the ball off him for a corner, and from the resulting corner, Mike Platt had to punch the ball clear to thwart out another Denbigh Town attack.

Connor Littler found himself with space on the edge of the box and his shot took a deflection which took the sting out of it and Power was able to gather the ball, and Tony Roebuck saw an effort go wide of the target. Disaster struck for the Wellmen on the stroke of full time as Denbigh Town equalised through Alan Bull. A shot by Denbigh’s attacker saw the ball take a defelction which Mike Platt did well to tip onto the cross bar, but the ball came out and fell to a Denbigh player who whipped it back into the penalty area and Bull was able to tap the ball home. It was hard luck on the Wellmen but we still looked for a last gasp winner, and a ball into the box saw Dafydd Griffith flick the ball on and the ball fell to Tony Roebuck who volleyed the ball goalwards but Power made a great one handed save to clear the ball out for a corner, and from the resulting corner, Town couldn’t get the final touch on the ball to force it home and Denbigh were able to clear the ball away from danger.

The referee blew for full time and the large number of Holywell Town supporters left Central Park disappointed with a point having conceded so late in the game, but Town can get back to winning ways on Tuesday as Queens Park come to Halkyn Road in the NEWFA Challenge Cup.