DENBIGH TOWN DEVELOPMENT 4

NORTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION 5

WHAT a game to open the New Year at Denbigh.

Spectators at the Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One clash between Denbigh Town Development and unbeaten leaders NFA were certainly in for a treat.

NFA's 100 per cent winning record was under real threat when Denbigh went into a 4-1 lead, however the visitors showed just why they are favourites for the title as they stormed back to complete their ninth triumph of the season.

All but two of Denbigh's starting line-up was aged 17 or below, but there were no nerves on display as they took the game to their high-flying opponents.

In fact, Denbigh looked as if they were dominating possession during the opening minutes, but disaster struck when they failed to clear the ball properly from NFA's first real attack and when the ball was floated back into the area, Jordan Taylor was at the far post to head home.

Denbigh appeared unfazed and they continued to press.

When 17-year-old Joel Rowlands found space on nine minutes, he let fly from outside the box to draw his side level.

Denbigh took the lead on 21 minutes when Rowlands scored a similar goal to his first effort for his 15th of the campaign.

Sixteen-year-old Elliott Chapman was enjoying his first start of the season on the right hand side and after winning the ball five minutes before the interval, he cleverly lobbed the keeper from 30 yards to make it 3-1.

Another player who wanted to make an impact was 17-year-old Morgan Rees, signed in midweek, and he was a thorn in the side of the defenders.

He got his reward on 63 minutes to unbelievably put Denbigh 4-1 up.

However, as has happened in previous games, the youngsters began to tire and get outmuscled.

Jordan Taylor struck twice more to complete his hat-trick, while further goals in the last 10 minutes from James Paggett and Nathan Jones sealed an amazing fightback.