DENBIGH swept to a convincing derby win at Llandyrnog United in an entertaining encounter, writes Peter Glynn at Cae Nant.

Three-nil was a little tough on the home side who for periods put the visitors on the back foot.

But ultimately goals decide games and two Mark Orme headers followed by a Matt Gatfield direct free kick saw Town deservedly grab the three points.

The pitch was in excellent condition and despite blustery condition, both sides served up some excellent fare to warm spectators on a bitterly cold day.

The visitors began the quicker and it was on only three minutes that they stormed into a lead.

Superb linkage between Luke O'Mahoney and Matt Gatfield forced a corner, from which Orme rose unchallenged to plant home.

Back bounced Llandyrnog and a great ball into the feet of Mark Roberts saw the hitman turn his man before firing across the face of goal.

For Denbigh, the dogged Lucas Brookes almost got onto the end of a Kevin Evans ball, but at the other end Anthony Marshall and Neil Davies combined, the latter just running out of room with the visiting defence back pedalling.

Next, villager Danny Roberts skinned his man before sending in a great ball to the head of compadre Mark Roberts, but the effort flashed wide with Jamie Hulse in full flight.

United continued to press and Stuart Vernon forced another corner after some good work on the right, from which Anthony Marshall headed wide.

Town were creating problems on breakaways and on 24 minutes O'Mahoney struck a free kick that was deflected away, but back at the other end Danny Roberts was creating mayhem for United with his energy and delivery, but found John Roberts in good form to keep out the lurking Neil Davies who looked set to pounce.

Dyer's men now upped the ante, forcing a number of corners without really getting onto the end of them - a feature of their game being the quality of delivery into the danger area.

Then on the stroke of half time Town thought they had grabbed a vital second, direct from a free kick. After Ryan Harden had been crumpled under a challenge, Gatfield strode forward to unleash a curler that twanged the post.

John James' men started the second stanza in the ascendancy.

The old one-two with Neil Davies presented Danny Roberts with a sniff in front of goal and, spotting Hulse a little out of position, lobbed over a sweetie which only just cleared the bar.

United's Roger Beech had to be quick to deny Kenny Burgess a run on goal and at the other end Anthony Marshall spanked in a low effort that tested Hulse.

Unfortunately for the hosts, there wasn't enough of that and it came back to haunt them as Town grabbed that vital second on the hour.

Mark Orme was the first to react from a corner, heading past a stranded and bellowing Davies as his defenders stood off.

As time ticked away, Dyer's men began to press the Cae Nant mob back and a free kick on the edge of the box on 89 minutes saw Denbigh grab their killer third.

Gatfield had fancied his chances all afternoon and his rising shot bulged the top right hand corner for the goal of the game.

*Thanks to Mrs Beech for her hospitality.