NANTLLE VALE 2

DENBIGH TOWN 4

A FINAL fling is in the offing for delighted Denbigh Town.

A scintillating second half display at Nantlle Vale saw Denbigh coast into the final of the Lock Stock Cookson Challenge Cup.

Two goals each from Town’s Jake Walker and Jake Barratt were enough to see them through to face league leaders Holyhead Hotspur in the final after the hosts had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half.

Manager Dewi Llion Jones brought Chris Bennett and Will Ashley into the starting XI, with Jonathon Terry unavailable and Dan Clarke moving to the bench.

Both Ashley and Bennett played major parts in the win with them dictating the midfield for large parts of the game, ably assisted by the hard-working Paul Fleming.

It was the hosts who had the better of things in the early stages as Denbigh appeared somewhat edgy.

Will Ashley had to put in a crunching tackle on Rhys Williams to concede a corner from a fifth minute attack from Nantlle Vale.

From the resulting corner, Chris Parry headed just over the bar.

On 19 minutes, the hosts took the lead.

Chris Parry’s quick free kick set up Sion Williams to turn and place the ball past advancing Denbigh keeper Joe Griffith.

This spurred the hosts on and left back Cai Parry was able to send in three great crosses inside a 10-minute spell which had Denbigh’s defenders Moses Barnet and Billy Holmes thankful to clear to safety.

As the first half reached its latter stages, Denbigh started to take control and they had good spells of possession.

In a goal-mouth scramble, Jake Walker was unlucky to see his close range shot blocked and cleared for a corner.

After Chris Bennett and Paul Fleming went close, Denbigh’s pressure finally paid off a minute before the break.

Mark Roberts’ header was blocked and Jake Walker who was able to head the rebound in from six yards out.

Denbigh continued the second half where they had finished the opening period.

An early chance saw Chris Bennett’s low shot being fumbled by keeper Roberts and Mark Roberts' effort from the rebound hit the side netting.

The tie started to become feisty and Nantlle Vale’s Chris Parry and Mathew Davies received yellow cards.

Denbigh finally claimed the lead after 66 minutes.

Chris Bennett sent a low corner into the near post and Walker, with the deftest of flicks, steered the ball into the net from close range for a typical goal poacher's effort.

Town were now dominating the tie and Mark Roberts broke free down the right wing, only to see his shot being deflected for a corner.

After 73 minutes, Barratt was able to show his real talent when he superbly brought down a looping ball from Mark Roberts just on the edge of the penalty area with his back to goal.

A swift turn of foot saw him move into a goal facing position and he let fly a low curling shot to the left hand side of a despairing Roberts to give Denbigh the deserved comfort of a 3-1 lead.

Four minutes and Barratt had his second when another low ball into the six yard box from the right wing by Chris Bennett somehow broke free for Barratt to tap in and give Denbigh a three-goal cushion.

Dan Clarke came on for striker Jake Walker as Denbigh looked to play the game out, but Vale pulled a goal back on 81 minutes.

Rhys Williams' terrific free kick was hit with superb precision to give Griffith no chance.

Home spirits were up, but this did not last long as skipper Chris Parry received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Mark Roberts and they were down to 10 men.

Denbigh brought on promising 16-year-old Jack James for Jacob Barratt and later Owain Roberts came on for Mark Roberts as Denbigh looked to protect their two-goal lead.

As the hosts pressed Dan Clarke found space and broke into the Nantlle Vale half with only the keeper to beat.

As he made it into the penalty area his ankles were tapped and he fell, only for referee Moore to wave play on.

In the aftermath, Paul Fleming also fell in the box, but still no penalty was awarded.

A minute later and the tie was all over, with Denbigh through to the Cookson Cup final, a competition they have not won since 2011.