Denbigh thrashed at Rhyl

Struggling Reds out classed in heavy defeat

An awful evening for Denbigh Town as the club now stare relegation full in the face.

Managers Matty and Dewi will have to lift the team somehow from this crushing defeat to get the much needed win on Tuesday evening against fellow struggling side Holywell Town. Things were only worsened when it came through that the Wellmen had beaten Bangor on the same night. Penrhyncoch, who can also overtake Denbigh and suck us into the bottom three, are playing today [ Saturday ].

This match against Rhyl started brightly enough for The Reds. Rhyl had swapped their team around a little and selected a number of young players allowing them time on the pitch which must have given the Denbigh lads some confidence. However, after a short time it was evident that there was a difference in class between the teams. The writing was on the wall when a cross from Rhyl's Joe Sullivan found youngster Luke Wiltshire who may have slightly miss hit before seeing the ball bounce off Denbigh's post. Rhyl attacked Denbigh time and time again before Lewis Sirrell, seeing Rhyl's keeper off his line, tried a long punt which, really, only lessened the pressure on Denbigh. Sirrell was reduced to trying this tactic two more times during the match as the struggle continued.

In actual fact Denbigh had a good spell after about twenty five minutes. Sam Downey and Scott McHarrie battled hard in midfield to try and contain Rhyl's Dave McIntyre who still has steel and class. The home spectators waved and screamed at the referee every time a Denbigh tackle went in and McHarrie harshly received his tenth booking of the season. Half chances came and went before Rhyl's right back, Cai Owen, scored a screamer from 25 yards which keeper Craig Vernon could only watch as the ball slammed low into the corner of the net. Heartbreaking for Denbigh. Any confidence left in the side began to ooze out of the players. When the impressive centre forward Sam Molyneux scored just before half time for Rhyl it was, effectively, game over.

Within minutes of the second half Molyneux had a clear chance which was blasted over the bar but he made no mistake shortly afterwards with his second effort as he met a ball being crossed low from the right and tucked it away. It was only six minutes into this second period and Denbigh were already three nil down. Heads dropped and damage limitation was the only option. Dan Lloyd came on for Bailey Jackson and Harley Steel replaced Jake Walker but try as they might they could change nothing for lack lustre Denbigh Town.

On fifty five minutes Molyneux got his hat trick. The ball was flicked behind Denbigh's defence and he ran behind before steering the ball past Vernon to make it four for the Lilywhites.

The Reds could not compete now although Pat Hinchcliffe kept trying on the right hand side. The passing football was not evident but his runs at the Rhyl's defence did cause one or two problems for them. He had a strong shot on goal forcing Crowther to beat the ball down straight into the path of Mark Roberts arriving into the six yard box. However it was not Denbigh's day, clearly, and Roberts missed a sitter.

With just over quarter of an hour to go Andy Thomas replaced Scott McHarrie but by this stage Rhyl were passing the ball around and not allowing Denbigh a touch.

Before full time Sirrell fouled a Rhyl player in the middle of the park but the referee, seeing an advantage for the whites, waved play on. For some inexplicable reason the players stopped, stood and simply watched 16 yr old substitute Callum Roberts run on to gather the ball. He ran on to meet the advancing Vernon and cool as you like hit the ball past him to score a dream goal for himself and heap further humiliation on the visitors.

Chairman Shon Powell was at the game and was asked for his thoughts and said " I am extremely disappointed with this evening's performance. Apart from a fifteen minute spell it was not only poor, it was awful. It looks like Tuesday's game against Holywell will be a clincher but even if we win we are not guaranteed safety. We have to do better in these last two fixtures and see what happens."

Can Denbigh stay up ? Denbigh people can surely help and we urge followers to be at Central Park for our all important game on Tuesday 9th April 7.45pm against Holywell to support the team and get us over the line.