The 5th Annual Charity Football Match between Uptown and Downtown Denbigh took place at Central Park, Denbigh, on Sunday 2nd May. This was a fantastic fun event, showing off a lot of Denbigh football talent with great support from the people of Denbigh who were there not just to enjoy the game of the year, but to raise funds for charity.
All proceeds from this years charity football match will be donated in memory of Michelle Jones from Denbigh who sadly passed away in August last year from cancer. The four beneficiaries of fundraising will be the District Nurses, the Macmillan Nurses, the National Association of Colitis & Crohns and the Willow Foundation.
The game itself was a fine spectacle, with Downtown overturning last years drubbing with a well deserved 3-1 win, proving that the lads from the bottom of town own the up town mob at the beautiful game.
First effort of note came from Uptown, with Mark Webo Webster powering a header inches wide from a fine Mark Robbo cross.
But at the other end superb play from James Jukebox Drury gave the Downtowners a twentieth minute lead. James Koval pressure released Drury who chip cum cross could only be parried into the net by Uptown stopper Dean Conway-Williams.
Jon Longman Slater almost got a leveller moments later but Downtown were in the ascendency, and grabbed a well worked second. Koval again was in the thick of it , and after a semi clearance from Craig Bestie Morris , which had him threatening to hang up his boots for good and all , Kevin Jones stroked the ball home from 30 yards to give his side some breathing space. Tom Wilcox was withdrawn, stating he was "mullah-ed by Webby" and Vernon put career and summer ahead of further action on the field, limping to an early bath just before the half time whistle.
Second stanza action was fast and furious. Uptown were creating the better of the chances and grabbed a deserved goal on the hour through a powering header from Jamie Clayton. But five minutes later the contest was finished, a Kevin Jones rasper - his second goal of the game - giving Deano no chance. Deserved win from the underdogs.
On behalf of the family of Michelle, Gareth Jones said
“We were really proud and touched that the game was played in memory of Michelle and that the proceeds would be donated to four very worthwhile causes that provided Michelle with care and support when she needed it."
Thank you to Shon Powell, the committee of Denbigh Town FC and everyone who came out to support the event and of course the players and Russ Pierce, match day referee.