DENBIGH TOWN 2
RUTHIN TOWN 2
AFTER taking a two-goal lead, Denbigh Town were pegged back and had to settle for a share of the points from their Vale of Clwyd derby against Ruthin Town, reports Peter Glynn at Central Park.
The home side grabbed the lead on 30 minutes through Liam Jones and doubled their advantage early in the second stanza with a Tom Sharples tap-in, but from the restart Tryfan Prosser pulled a goal back.
On 80 minutes Mike Garrod squared the scores to earn Ruthin a deserved point.
The game burst into life on the quarter-hour mark when excellent Denbigh play from Paul Edwards released Ian Evans, whose first-time fizzer was pushed behind by Ruthin glovesman Simon Williams.
From the corner Tom Sharples headed over.
The hosts began to dominate, putting together some of the best passages of play for a number of games.
Liam Jones and Darren Cassidy were impressive, the latter firing over the bar after his speed took him past the last man.
But at the other end Ruthin almost grabbed a lead on 29 minutes when Lennox Beddows slammed an effort a yard wide.
Moments later the Denbigh mob were ahead.
Liam Jones picked up the ball on the edge of the box and his dipping effort gave Williams no chance.
Ian Evans had a shout for a penalty when played through by Craig Wilkinson and Wilkinson should have registered a minute later but found the side netting after Edwards set him up.
At the other end Ruthin almost grabbed parity when Lennox Beddows glanced a header from a free kick inches past a post.
Then the impressive Williams saved brilliantly from Liam Jones and next Paul Edwards got in on the act and toe-poked an effort that was scrambled away.
The game was becoming a good spectacle, with both sides playing some decent football - and on 49 minutes after a period of pressure from the Blues, Denbigh broke free to grab some breathing space.
Fine play from Liam Jones released Wilkinson in the box. Williams got a fingertip to the small man’s sublime lob but watched in agony as Tom Sharples reacted quickest to bundle the ball over the line to double Denbigh’s lead.
Whilst the home brigade were celebrating, Ruthin crucially struck back.
Tryfan Prosser got on the end of a great ball into the box and his header was firm and true.
It was now game on and Ruthin were back in it and looking dangerous, with efforts from Beddows and Mike Robinson testing big Azz Hughes in the Denbigh nets.
Cassidy had a shout for a penalty on 55 minutes but it was now Ruthin in the ascendancy and they almost grabbed an equaliser on 75 minutes, with Hughes again to the rescue and the follow-up attempt being ruled out for a push.
It was only a matter of time before the visitors converted - chances were being created willy nilly - and on 80 minutes Mike Garrod fired home after Denbigh’s defence made a porridge of a clearance.
Stuart Vernon’s run almost regained Denbigh the lead on 85 minutes, his dribble and rising shot just clearing the bar.
Next Azz Hughes had to dive full length to palm behind a Beddows curler as Ruthin sought the win.
And on 89 minutes Garrod thought he’d won the game, but his first time shot struck the foot of the right post.
Fair result.