DENBIGH TOWN 5
BARMOUTH & DYFFRYN UTD 1
A LOFTY Welsh Alliance League Division One finish is still in Denbigh Town’s sights after they kicked off 2012 in convincing fashion at home to Barmouth.
Early goals in both halves put the home team in control and had they taken a majority of their chances, they could easily have doubled their score.
The Central Park men took the lead inside the opening five minutes with some neat play in midfield, which released Kristian Pierce on the right.
His deep cross was clinically put away by Duncan Midgley.
Wide men Eilir Edwards and Kristian Pierce were a constant source of headaches for the United defence as they hit the by-line regularly, supplying a range of crosses for strikers Ian Griffiths and Duncan Midgley.
After Town forced a number of corners, skipper Russ Jones scored with an exquisite chip in a crowded penalty area.
Further chances came-and-went as far as Griffiths and Midgley were concerned, while a Tom Sharples special was well saved by Barmouth keeper Darren Andrews.
The home side continued to pile on the pressure and they did not have to wait long for their third goal.
More good work by Pierce and Midgley set up Ian Griffiths to fire in a powerful shot, that proved to be too good for number one Andrews at his near post.
During the closing period of the first half, Barmouth began to get their passing game together with Iwan Lewis and Dean Irvine prominent and after good pressure they finally tested Denbigh keeper Gareth Roberts a few times.
In fact United were unlucky not to get a penalty after a rash challenge from Miles Todd, but they went in at the interval without finding the back of the net.
Any Barmouth hopes of forging a route back into the game were dashed just four minutes into the second half.
Denbigh came out of the blocks quickly and they struck twice in quick succession to wrap the game up.
Griffiths made it 4-0 when he finished with a snap shot across keeper Andrews and then James set up Pierce, whose low driven ball into the danger zone was turned into his own net by Gwynne under pressure from Midgley.
At this point, Denbigh were rampant and they piled on the pressure.
Midgley put over the bar at the far post, while Sharples’ dipping volley rattled against the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Griffiths broke clear but his tame shot was saved and a few minutes later, the same player succeeded in taking the ball around Andrews, but he then lost his footing and shot wide of an empty net.
Denbigh could not keep up the tempo as the half progressed and United began to gain more possession, pushing men forward in the process and creating chances.
Iwan Lewis hit the post with a powerful drive, while former Bala Town player Craig Papirnyk put some good balls into the box, which keeper Gareth Roberts did well to hold on to under pressure.
Roberts was helpless when Ieuan Brooks found space in the box, though and the Barmouth man scored with an accurate cross-shot. Denbigh weathered this storm and came back strongly in the last few minutes.
Ian Griffiths had a good shout of a penalty turned down and 16-year-old debutant Osian Davies’ diving header ended up just narrowly wide of the post.
All-in-all, this was an terrific display from Denbigh, who now look forward to a tough Welsh Trophy tie at holders and Division One leaders Holywell Town this Saturday.