A TASTY derby will be offering up a festive feast just after Christmas.

In-form Vale of Clwyd rivals Ruthin Town and Denbigh Town will clash at Memorial Park Fields on Boxing Day in the Huws Gray Alliance.

This is one of the most eagerly anticipated derby encounters for many years.

Both teams are in good form and they should have reason to be confident about the outcome, with Denbigh winning 5-3 at Rhyl in their last match, while Ruthin beat Welsh Premier League hosts Prestatyn Town 3-0 in the Welsh Cup in their last game.

After a tricky start to the season, a brilliant recovery means that Denbigh now lie second in the league, with manager Eddie Maurice-Jones having assembled an excellent team.

The Denbigh side includes local striker, Josh Davies from Llandyrnog, ex-Bala player Warren Duckett and former Rhyl midfielder Kristian Pierce.

Meanwhile, Ruthin are through to the last-16 of the Welsh Cup and they will face Llandudno in a televised fourth round tie next month.

Looking ahead to the Boxing Day clash, Ruthin boss Chris Williams said: “This is a very young team and if they stick together there’s no saying what they can achieve in the next couple of years.

"Denbigh are going to be another big test for us, as they are doing really well, and we’ll have to be at our best to get anything from the game.”

These matches are close affairs with Ruthin winning the corresponding fixture at Denbigh 2-1 at the beginning of the season.

Since the turn of the century there have been 12 Huws Gray Alliance league fixtures between the two clubs and it’s level pegging at the moment with each club winning four matches, while there have been four draws.

Ruthin chairman Paddy Carney said: “We are hoping for a big crowd and a game that will be a credit for both clubs.

"These are always great affairs and with both teams in confident mood it should be a cracking match.

"We might have won the game at Denbigh, but they are a different proposition now - Denbigh look a really strong outfit.”

Kick-off will be at 2pm

With car parking spaces limited, the club has asked all those who are travelling by car to use the public car park on Parc Road, leading to the club just after the Texaco garage.