GUILSFIELD 0

DENBIGH TOWN 1

HOW important will this result turn out to be in May?

After suffering three defeat on the bounce, Denbigh Town made a welcome return to winning ways courtesy of their 1-0 success at Guilsfield.

With six games left to play, Town now find themselves a healthy seven points clear of the bottom-three in the Huws Gray Alliance.

Kristian Pierce was welcomed back into the starting line-up after serving a one-match ban, while Tony Davies returned into the heart of the defence to captain the side.

However, Mark Roberts was missing from the match day squad as he served the first game of a four-match ban.

The match was almost called off as one official was stranded with a broken down vehicle on the way to the game, while the option of playing with a home team official was a non-starter for such a crucial game.

A reserve official was contacted and following a cross-country dash, the game eventually got under way at 3.20pm.

Guilsfield were quickly out of the traps and their first shot after three minutes narrowly missed the target.

This was the wake-up call Denbigh needed and on six minutes, Tony Davies sent a long curling free kick deep into the opposition box.

Jake Walker had two attempts that were blocked and the danger was cleared.

Denbigh continued to have plenty of possession and on 22 minutes, Lewis Sirrell pulled a shot across the box, with Kristian Pierce seeming to do the same with his effort catching the Guilsfield defence unawares.

The ball crossed Jake Walker’s path but he couldn’t quite get on the end of it and the keeper gathered.

Pierce was proving to be a handful for the Guilsfield defence to handle and on 28 minutes, he unleashed a shot that went just wide with the keeper stranded.

Turning to the second half and minutes after the restart, Denbigh were in front.

A long clearance up front seemed to catch the defence napping and Pierce raced clear on 47 minutes to beat the keeper to the bouncing ball and his header eventually cleared the line despite the valiant attempts of the Guilsfield rearguard.

Seven minutes later and Denbigh almost doubled their lead.

Miles Todd's pinpoint pass found Lewis Sirrell on the edge of the box with only one thing on his mind, and his curling effort went just over from 20 yards.

Denbigh were now in the ascendancy and they were taking full advantage of the swirling wind.

On 64 minutes, a rocket by Jake Walker from 25 yards out clipped the top of the crossbar.

Pierce had a chance to seal the deal late on when a great clearance up field from Craig Vernon found him free on the left, but he couldn’t quite keep his volley down and it sailed over the bar.

On 90 minutes, Stuart Vernon came on to provide some fresh legs and he replaced Pat Hinchcliffe, who ran his socks off on the right side of the Denbigh midfield.

There were jubilant scenes at the full time whistle with Denbigh deservedly taking all three points.