Denbigh first game of the season was not the start the new management team of Matty Jones & Dewi Llion were looking for as they went down to a new look Gresford team. Most disappointing was seeing the team reduced to nine men with two Denbigh players seeing red cards in the last fifteen minutes of the game.

Gresford won the toss and elected to play with the strong sun behind them which caused problem for Denbigh’s defenders. However it was Denbigh who had the best chance of the opening exchanges when Bailey Jackson’s cross was met by Jake Walker whose header was straight at Gresford’s keeper Ben Jones.

Gresford took the lead on 9 minutes when two ex Denbigh players linked well with Joe Newton feeding Jake Eyre who ran onto the touchline in the Denbigh penalty area. Eyre turned and fired a low ball back across the goal which hit the arm of Town defender Curtis Langton. Referee Gray pointed to the spot and Eyre stepped up to fire the penalty just past the outstretched Craig Vernon in the Denbigh goal.

Town responded well and Sam Tate played a great cross for Mark Roberts on the back post whose header hit a defender and bounced out for a corner. Tony Davies then saw a well struck volley go just over as Denbigh looked to get a goal back.

On 25 minutes Denbigh’s influential midfielder Ross Weaver had to leave the field with a leg injury and Tom Jones replaced him

Gresford were still making chances and ex Ruthin striker Jordan MacCarter was proving a handful and he was unlucky not to score on 30 minutes when his shot went across Vernon’s goal. Just before half time it was MacCarter again who took a free kick which Vernon saved well.

As the second half started Town looked to get back into the game. Their midfield of Sam Downey, Tom Jones and Lewis Sirrell had good spells but Gresford's defenders were handling the Town attackers well and limiting Denbigh’s chances.

On 58 minutes Miles Todd was judged to have fouled a Gresford attacker and this time MacCarter’s free kick beat Vernon in Denbigh’s goal to give the visitors a two goal advantage. Todd and Tony Davies both received yellow cards for disputing the decision and shortly after Mark Roberts also received a yellow card as Denbigh’s discipline started to flounder

Town brought on Sam Jones for Jake Walker and Jones was soon in the thick if the action winning a free kick. Bailey Jackson found Tom Jones in the area whose well struck shot was deflected by Gresford’s defender into the arms of Ben Jones. Tom Jones then linked well with his brother Sam Jones but the defenders cleared their lines.

From a Lewis Sirrell corner Curtis Langton rose to head goalwards to bring an outstanding save from Ben Jones. Denbigh’s set plays were looking like the way to get a goal back and it came on the 75th minute from a Tom Jones corner which was met by the towering Tony Davies whose header from 6 yards sailed past keeper Jones.

However as Town were celebrating Mark Roberts went to collect the ball from a Gresford defender to restart the game quickly but was too aggressive for referee Gray’s liking who yellow carded Roberts. This was Roberts’ second yellow and he had to leave the field.

It did’nt take long for Gresford to make the additional man have an advantage as on 82 minutes they broke and the ball fell to Aron Edwards whose well placed shot gave Vernon no chance from 18 yards.

Further woe was to come Denbigh’s way on 87 minutes when Bailey Jackson’s challenge on a Gresford player was deemed by referee Gray too dangerous and he received a straight red card and saw Denbigh down to nine men.

Joint Manager Matty Jones commented afterwards “After a good pre season this was a disappointing result especially ending the game with nine men. We did’nt really get going in the first half and fair play to Gresford they were very lively in that half. When we got back to 2-1 it gave us a chance but then losing a man made it harder for ourselves and our discipline was’nt good. It was’nt a good start, so we’ll look to regroup this week and plan forward for the Flint game “.

Denbigh’s next game is home at Central Park on Saturday 17th August when they face Flint Town Utd. Kick off is at 2.30pm

Denbigh Town
Craig Vernon, Sam Tate, Bailey Jackson, Tony Davies (Capt), Miles Todd, Curtis Langton, Sam Downey, Ross Weaver, Mark Roberts, Jake Walker, Lewis Sirrell . Subs – Sam Jones, Tom Jones Sion Jones, Pete Lloyd

Gresford
Ben Jones, Ross Ankers, Kieran Evans, Josh Griffiths, Jack Jones, Joe Davies, Joe Newton, Aron Edwards, Jordan MacCarter, Jake Eyre, Sam Molyneux, Subs- Nathan Williams, Cavan Daley, Owen Roberts

Referee – Michael Gray

Assistant Referees – Tony Hepton & James Salisbury

Attendance - 175