JASON Foulkes' late strike settled an unbelievable Ardal North West League derby between Denbigh Town and St Asaph City.
On a wild and wintry evening at Central Park, it was the Saints who came out 5-4 in a thrilling derby clash.
Third placed Denbigh were odds-on favourites to take the three points.
Both teams and spectators impeccably observed a minute’s silence before the start of the game on memory of Denbigh’s reserve team goalkeeper Igor Jonczyk, who had sadly passed away last Friday.
The game also marked the FAW’s Fair Play initiative with both teams nominating the match to raise awareness of the FAW’s Fair Play Award.
With it being a local derby, understandably there were some feisty challenges, but the game was played in an excellent spirit thus recognising the aims of the project.
With regular keeper Aaron Jones unavailable and his deputy Stuart Griffiths away, Denbigh manager Dewi Llion Jones called 17-year-old Ben Billington into the starting line-up.
Craig Rogers returned to the back four with Sean James moving to midfield as Sam Tate was feeling the effects of a knock from the previous Llay game.
Playing into a strong gale force wind in the first half, Denbigh got off to a great start after just two minutes with Sean James quick to react after Sam Jones’ shot was blocked and the midfielder slid in to beat Luke Jones in the City goal.
Two minutes later and Jake Walker thought he had got Denbigh’s second after James found him in the penalty area and the striker fired home, but he was adjudged to have been offside.
St Asaph responded well and they levelled in the eighth minute via Lee Jones.
With rain lashing down in strong winds, Denbigh regained the lead with a Mike Sharples header from Jacob Barratt’s corner after half-an-hour.
Once again, the Saints reacted and within five minutes they were level again.
Jack Davies' free kick was whipped in at pace and over the retreating Denbigh defence to find Dan Williams and he fired in a great volley at the back post.
St Asaph could easily have gone into the break with the lead but for the heroics of Billington with a great save to thwart them on 44 minutes.
Now with the wind behind them, Denbigh took the lead for the third time after 51 minutes.
Billy Holmes sent a low clinical drive past keeper Jones from 20 yards to make it 3-2.
Billington then produced an amazing save when he was unsighted to make a reactionary block from Jason Foulkes’ shot and the ball was scrambled to safety.
READ: Walker fires in four as Denbigh ease to home triumph
Denbigh’s woodwork was rattled when Jordan Owen’s piledriver from 15 yards hit the underside of the bar.
With a quarter-of-an-hour left, Denbigh still had control of the game.
But two goals in a three-minute spell, both from Ellis Blench, gave the Saints a 4-3 advantage.
Jake Walker immediately brought the teams level with a header on 80 minutes and so at 4-4 with 10 minutes to play, the game was up for grabs.
A minute later and St Asaph took the initiative.
It was Jason Foulkes who was able to slot home the winner from close range after some good work from Jordan Owen.
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