PENRHYNDEUDRAETH 1

DENBIGH TOWN 2

GOALS from Jake Walker and Dan Clarke booked Denbigh Town's spot in the next round of the Cookson Cup.

It was a welcome return to winning ways for Town at Penrhyndeudraeth after two defeats on the bounce.

Manager Dewi Llion had made two new signings in the week, with Paul Fleming moving from St Asaph and Chris Bennett joining from Prestatyn.

Both of these players made their debuts on a damp afternoon at Penrhyndeudraeth.

The two teams had met a few weeks previously in the league when Denbigh came out 2-0 winners and Town got off to a great start in the cup clash.

Dan Clarke broke down the right wing in the first minute and sent a low cross into the box, which was met by Jake Walker.

His shot was saved by keeper Watson, but the ball fell back for Walker to tap it into the net from six yards.

The early drama continued when Penrhyndeudraeth soon levelled things up.

A free kick was lofted into Town’s penalty area and when the Denbigh defence failed to clear the, the ball fell for Liam Watson to fire low into the back of the net.

After this frantic start, the tie settled down with both sides combating a midfield duel.

Denbigh had a good spell and Chris Bennett's cross was just a shade too high for the stretching Jake Walker.

At the other end Town keeper Antoni Sarnowski pulled off a simply brilliant finger-tip save from his own defender John Terry, whose attempted headed clearance went towards goal.

Chances came thick and fast as the tie progressed, with Billy Holmes unlucky to see his well-struck shot go just the wrong side of Watson’s post.

Penrhyndeudraeth had an opportunity when Smith shot just over from 12 yards with only Sarnowski to beat.

Two Denbigh penalty appeals were waved away by referee Richard Burge, but the visitors did manage to regain the lead eight minutes shy of the interval.

Dan Clarke's superb free kick from 20 yards flew over the wall and left keeper Watson clutching at air as the ball flew into the back of the net.

With Denbigh looking to extend their lead, Billy Holmes' shot was stopped by the legs of Watson.

The second half started with both teams having great chances.

Dan Clarke had a low shot well saved for Denbigh and a minute later, Liam Watson headed just wide from close range for Penrhyndeudraeth. Billy Holmes thought he had scored for Town as we dribbled into the penalty area and shot across goal.

It beat Watson, but home captain Iwan Lane cleared the effort off the line.

At the other end, Stephen Hughes had a golden chance to equalise, but his header went just wide of Denbigh’s goal.

Jake Walker and substitute Stuart Vernon went close to stretching the Denbigh lead, while Town number one Sarnowski was called upon to make another great save from Huw Quaeck.

Further positive Denbigh news arrived with a quarter-of-an-hour left as Mark Roberts came on for Chris Bennett.

This was Roberts’ return from an injury that had kept him out since the end of August.

He had the ball in the back of the net within two minutes of coming on, but Roberts was adjudged offside and the goal was disallowed.

At the other end, the pressure mounted on Sarnowski’s goal.

The keeper made another superb save from Smith when he tipped his shot away for a corner on 81 minutes.

Four minutes later and Thomas' whose shot beat the keeper, only for Conor Jones to get a leg to deflect the ball away for a corner.