Denbigh Town 1-3 Holywell Town

The Wellmen travelled to our near neghbours from Denbighshire, full of confidence after Friday nights win over Bangor, and we knew that three points were a must with Denbigh placed a couple of spaces above the Wellmen with 4 points sepeating both sides.
The game started lively with the Wellmen creating the better chances and having the better of the possession. The first chance of the evening fell to Damien Ketley, who burst through on goal but his shot went wide of Craig Vernon’s post. Town then won a free kick close to the corner flag, and Zebb Edwards low free kick into the box beat the defender but Vernon gathered with Mark Winslade bearing down on him. Denbigh’s first real chance on goal came with 15 minutes played, Scott McHarrie seeing his shot blocked on the line by Tony Roebuck, and the ball fell to Kristian Pierce, but his snap shot was also blocked on the line by Sam Jones and the Wellmen were able to clear the ball to safety. Matty Hughes then came to the Wellmen’s rescue, putting out a leg to block a fierce shot on goal.
The breakthrough finally came just after 20 minutes had been played, another free kick into the box by Edwards and the ball was headed in by Matty Hughes to give Town a deserved lead. Denbigh then came back looking to equalise, Mike Platt forced to punch the ball clear from a Denbigh attack, before a little bit of luck on the Wellmen’s behalf saw us remain in the lead. Denbigh pressed forward and a shot by Mark Roberts was blocked by Platt, then the ball fell to Kristian Pierce and his overhead kicked was flicked onto the bar by Edwards, and the ball rebounded back and hit Edwards again on the back of the head and ricochet back onto the cross bar before going out of play.
Town then went up the other end and Ketley was brought down by Miles Todd and the referee pointed to the spot. Ketley got up and dusted himself down and took the spot kick and drove it past Vernon to give the Wellmen a 2 goal lead. Town were playing really well at the moment, and were looking for the 3rd goal but good defending prevented us from adding to the scoreline. The hosts did creat chances of their own, and as the half was drawing to a close, Mike Platt pulled off a great save, saving McHarrie’s shot with his legs.
Town then got the ball into the net again, Ketley getting on the end of a Zebb Edwards cross but as he turned away to his teammates, the celebrtions were short lived as the linesman had his flag up and the score remained 2-0. Denbigh then played the ball up to the other end of the pitch, and won a penalty after a Denbigh player was adjudged to have been fouled in the box. Kristian Pierce stepped up and pulled a goal back for the home side, and a couple of minutes later, referee Nick Pratt blew for half time.
The goal was a sucker punch so close to the half time break, and Town had to build on that first half performance. Town again carried on and had the better of the opening exchanges. Winslade and Ketley running for everyball looking to get a shot in on goal, and 10 minutes into the half, Town got the 3rd goal they deserved, and what a goal it was. The ball fell to Zebb Edwards just inside the Holywell Town half, he hit it first time goalwards, and the ball was on target, flying towards goal with the keeper backtracking, and a last ditch lunge by Vernon was not enough and the ball flew into the back of the net. What a goal, and no doubt, will be spoken about for months to come and already, a major contender for goal of the season.
Denbigh Town were reduced to 10 men after Harley Steele was sent off for a challenge on Zebb Edwards, this a few minutes after coming on the pitch. Ketley nearly grabbed a 4th goal for the Wellmen, through on goal but from a tight angle, his shot flew over the bar, then Denbigh broke clear and Mark Roberts dragged his shot wide of Platt’s post. A couple of half chances followed for the Wellmen which failed to test the keeper, and any pressure the home side piled on the wellmen, the defence stood firm and cleared the danger.
The Referee blew for full time and the Wellmen came off the pitch to a massive round of applause by the loyal supporters who had made the journey to Denbigh, and left Central Park with another 3 points in our quest to fight off relegation.