Superb Walker hat-trick seals Denbigh win

Llanrwst Utd 1 -3 Denbigh Town

A hat-trick from Denbigh striker Jake Walker saw Denbigh claim all three points in a game that could have gone either way as both teams played a match of great entertainment in some difficult wet conditions. The win extends Denbigh’s excellent start to the season to four wins out of four games.

Town manager Dewi Llion brought in Stuart Vernon, Will Ashley and Connor Jones to the starting line up as he looked to give all his squad game time in what has been a busy start to the season. Playing in a new blue away kit for the first time were keen to keep up the progress they had made in their first three fixtures

With Llanrwst having three ex Denbigh players in their team with keeper Gwydion Owen and brothers Sam and Tom Jones in their starting line up, and ex Denbigh coach Pete Lloyd as the host’s assistant manager, the game had plenty of local interest

In a game with plenty of goal mouth incidents after only 5 minutes Billy Holmes had a looping shot from the left just clip the top of the Llanrwst bar. The hosts responded when the impressive Callum Parry broke through and fired a shot across Antoni Jan Sarnowski’s goal which went just outside the far post. Town’s Sam Tate was then involved in two encounters when he firstly played in a corner which the hosts cleared only for Mark Roberts to pounce on the rebound and send a shot just over the bar. Tate tried his own luck on goal with a powerful low drive from 20 yards that Owen gathered safely.

Llanrwst were having the better spell as the half progressed and the Jones brothers were becoming more and more influential as the game went on with Tom laying a ball on for Sam whose shot sailed over the bar. Callum Parry saw another shot of his go just wide of Sarnowski’s goal.

It was Denbigh who got the first goal after 26 minutes when right back Stuart Vernon played a tidy ball to Mark Roberts just outside Llanrwst’s penalty box. Roberts danced his way into the box and laid a ball though for Jake Walker to hit first time from eight yards giving keeper Owen no chance (see photo above).

Llanrwst responded and Antoni Jan Sarnowski was forced to make the first of a number of vital saves he made during the evening. Tom Jones sent a vicious free kick into the box and the keeper did well to punch away under pressure. Shortly after Sarnowski dived well at the feet of Callum Parry to thwart the attacker’s threat on goal.

Young Connor Jones was proving a force in midfield for Denbigh as Stuart Vernon and Sam Tate linked well, with Tate playing a ball on for Jones to shoot which flew just overt the bar from 20 yards.

As half time approached Callum Parry made his way into Denbigh’s penalty area only to bundled over by Miles Todd and referee Martin Trigg pointed to the penalty spot. Sam Jones stepped up to take it and his low shot was saved by Sarnowski but Jones was able to tap in the rebound and get Llanrwst their equaliser.

A minute later Denbigh had the lead again when Sam Tate laid a ball on for Billy Holmes to run onto at pace and he passed to Jake Walker in the box again who fired in for his second and give Denbigh a 2-1 lead at half time.

The second half started in the midst of a heavy downpour and this also saw a number of strong challenges made by both teams. Billy Holmes was cut down in full flow by Cynan Edwards on the half way line. Centre back Jonathan Terry took the free kick which went into the danger zone and Will Ashley was desperately unlucky to see his header just miss the target.

From a Llanrwst corner Jonathan Terry cleared his lines and received a boot to the face for his troubles. Referee Trigg waved play on as Mark Roberts took possession on the half way line and was making ground goalwards. His cross to the hard working Dan Lloyd was just too long for Lloyd to reach and the attack came to nothing.

The game was now end to end as both teams looked for the all important next goal.Tackles were coming in thick and fast and Mr Trigg brandished the yellow card on six occasions during the game– three to each side.

Llanrwst were putting pressure on Sarnowski’s goal and from a high kick into the box he punched clear only for sub Gwyn Jones to volley the ball goalwards from 25 yards and force Sarnowski to finger tip the ball over the bar.

Stuart Vernon then had the audacity to try to score from the half way line when he spotted keeper Owen off his line and so sent a high looping shot which Owen was thankful to be able to run back and just catch under his own crossbar.

As the game went into injury time and Denbigh were looking to play the game out, they broke from their own half with Billy Holmes laying a ball down the left wing to Jake Walker. Walker decided to cut inside his defender, then outside the defender and then inside again before unleashing a curling shot from 15 yards which gave keeper Owen no chance as it hit the net with force to give Walker his hat-trick and Denbigh the three points.

Manager Dewi Llion said afterwards “This was another tough game and once again we showed the character and determination to come through and get the three points. Credit to Jake for a well earned hat-trick and also the rest of the lads who put in a great shift - a real team effort”

Next up Denbigh is a top of the table clash away at Holyhead Hotspur on Saturday 24th August.

Llanrwst Utd
Gwydion Owen, Sam Thomas, Matt Mullender, Chris Nicholson,Hedd Williams , Sam Roberts, Tom Jones, Cynan Edwards, Sam Jones, Leighton Griffiths. Subs :Jac Parry, Aron Hughes, Elliott Llewellyn, Gwyn Jones, Leon Doran

Denbigh Town FC
Antoni Jan Sarnowski, Stuart Vernon, Dan Lloyd, Jonathan Terry, Miles Todd, Will Ashley, Billy Holmes, Connor Jones, Sam Tate, Jake Walker, Mark Roberts. Subs : Owain Roberts, Dan Clarke, Les Brophy, Sion Jones

Referee – Martin Trigg
Assistant – Ryan Hughes
Assistant – Jack Dettlaff

Attendance - 70