PRESTATYN TOWN 2

DENBIGH TOWN 1

LAST gasp heartbreak ensured it was a losing Friday night in the Huws Gray Alliance for Denbigh Town.

Six days earlier, Denbigh had finished with 10 men in their single goal loss at Llanrhaeadr.

It was a similar situation for the side at Prestatyn, with Denbigh suffering a red card and then falling to a last minute goal by Dave Hayes.

Denbigh went in at half-time 1-0 down and things got worse midway through the second half when they were reduced to 10 men.

Kristian Pierce was the player sent off after he received a second yellow card.

However, the visitors knuckled down and their considerable efforts were rewarded by an 84th minute equaliser courtesy of Patrick Hinchcliffe’s free kick.

It proved to be Prestatyn's night, though, and Hayes' injury time header means that Denbigh remain in the bottom four of the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance with eight games remaining.

Joint managers Dewi Llion and Matty Jones brought Dan Lloyd and Miles Todd into the Denbigh defence, with Bailey Jackson and Stuart Vernon starting on the bench.

Denbigh started brightly on a warm February evening, with Lewis Sirrell and Pat Hinchcliffe both having early shots on goal, which were comfortably saved by Ryan Roberts.

Prestatyn responded and they had two early corners, which Denbigh’s defence cleared.

When Denbigh won a free kick on the halfway line, captain Tony Davies launched a strong kick that caught the wind and Roberts was happy to tip the ball over for a corner.

Davies was then on the end of a great Lewis Sirrell cross, but his header went just over the crossbar.

Soon after, Sirrell was played in by Mark Roberts, but his shot was safely gathered.

Prestatyn were having plenty of possession and they took the lead after 26 minutes.

Denbigh number one Craig Vernon pulled off a great stop from Ian Griffiths, but the ball fell to Jack Higgins, who slotted home the opener from 10 yards.

Denbigh responded with Tony Davies pass down the right finding Kristian Piece, who sent a low cross across the box, but Mark Roberts was just unable to get on the end of it and the ball was cleared for a corner.

Pierce then picked up his first yellow card on 38 minutes for a late challenge.

The half finished with a Denbigh chance for Mark Roberts, but the keeper covered the danger.

The second half started with Denbigh having a strong penalty claim turned down.

The visitors felt that Mark Roberts was fouled in the box, but the referee waved play on.

Then, on 52 minutes, Kristian Pierce and Aaron White challenged each other in the air.

The referee adjudged Pierce’s challenge to be violent and although the Denbigh player had a head injury, he received a second yellow card and had to leave the field.

With the extra man, Prestatyn put more pressure on the Denbigh goal.

However, the visitors stood firm and each player put in a tremendous amount of endeavour.

The four-man defence remained strong and well organised, keeping the Prestatyn attempts on goal to a minimum.

Jake Walker was introduced off the bench and he had made an immediate impact when his half-volley from 20 yards was met be a fingertip save from Ryan Roberts.

With six minutes left, Walker tried his luck from distance again and this was blocked by a Prestatyn hand.

Patrick Hinchcliffe's ensuing free kick was a cracker and he got it past the wall for a deserved equaliser.

Now, it was time for Prestatyn to turn up the heat and they forced a corner in the 91st minute.

The wind caught the inswinging set piece and the ball fell into the path of Dave Hayes, who headed in a dramatic winner from close range.