DENBIGH TOWN 0
HOLYHEAD HOTSPUR 5
THE Welsh Trophy adventure is over for Denbigh Town.
Entertaining fellow Welsh Alliance Division One outfit Holyhead in the last-eight, John James’ gang were dumped out in comprehensive fashion by their clinical visitors.
Looking at the scoreline, this tie appears to have been a one-sided affair, but although Hotspurs did deserve their win, the main difference between the sides was elementary errors at the back and clinical finishing.
This was apparent in the first five minutes when a corner from the right was whipped in by Eilir Edwards and Duncan Midgley’s header was cleared off the line by a Holyhead defender.
The ball was crossed back into the dangerzone and this time Midgley volleyed wide.
Division One title favourites Holyhead were always dangerous and in two meetings between the sides earlier this season, the Anglesey side romped to 5-0 and 6-0 wins.
Mel McGuinness held the ball up well for the waiting midfielders to join attacks at pace, and Hotspurs threatened with Kenleigh Owen and Mike Kelly having good efforts.
At the other end, Eilir Edwards was a thorn to the Holyhead defence on the left, but his game was cut short by an ankle injury and he was replaced by speedy youngster Kristian Pierce.
Denbigh forced another corner and Mark Roberts’ deep delivery was headed over by Ian Griffiths from close range after Holyhead keeper Ben Heald missed the cross.
The opening goal arrived after 33 minutes and it was Holyhead who gained the initiative.
From a free kick, centre half Gareth Owen was able to slip between two defenders and knock the ball into the net.
Even worse was to follow for Town just before half-time when a hopeful crossfield ball was intercepted on halfway by Mike Kelly, who played a delightful ball into the path of McGuinness.
He made no mistake to give the visitors a comfortable half-time cushion.
Looking for a rapid riposte, Denbigh began the second half at pace, pushing Holyhead back and securing a few corners in the process.
However, the Hotspurs’ backline was in fine form, with Peris Jones and Gareth Owen strong at the heart of the defence.
Denbigh needed a goal to get back into the tie, but they were left with a mountain to climb nine minutes into the second half.
Dangerman McGuinness crossed to the back stick and Mike Edwards tucked away his side’s third of the afternoon.
The home side continued to attack in an attempt to get back into the game, but it was not to be their day.
Tom Sharples’ powerful strike stung Heald’s hands in the Holyhead goal and Mark Roberts fired wide after being played through.
There was plenty of pace when the Anglesey side counterattacked and they grabbed two goals in the closing three minutes to give the scoreline a lopsided look.
Mike Kelly caught the eye when he rifled a stunning shot into the top corner from 25 yards, while the final word went to sub Curt Williams, who tapped in a fifth goal.