DENBIGH TOWN 2
CAERNARFON TOWN 1
TWO decades after stunning North Wales football, Denbigh Town were in winning form again versus Caernarfon.
Back in January 1992, Denbigh - then plying their trade in the Clwyd League - stunned HFS Loans League Caernarfon with an amazing 1-0 victory in the NWCFA Challenge Cup.
Twenty years on and Denbigh, after conceding an early goal, came back strongly to score two goals and win an enthralling Welsh Alliance Division One game of differing styles.
The Canaries opted to build slowly from the back and keeping the ball better, while Denbigh were far more direct and counter attacked at pace, stretching the visiting defence.
Caernarfon had much the better of the possession early doors, with Ywain Gwynedd and Alex Jones both prominent in midfield.
They did not allow the hosts to get out of their half and after Jamie Whitmore went close, it came as no surprise when they took the lead.
Some good work on the right gave Llion Jones the chance to overlap on the right and his near post cross was chested down and hit on the turn by Cai Jones to give Denbigh keeper Gareth Roberts no chance.
Caernarfon continued to have the better of things, but slowly John James’ home side began to get a foothold in the game with Tom Sharples creating problems with his late runs into the box.
Away number one Neil Perkins was forced into making two excellent saves from the tall midfielder.
Meanwhile, Duncan Midgley had a header palmed away by Perkins, who produced another good save from Tom Sharples as Denbigh continued to build up the pressure.
The home side had a decent penalty shout turned down when Perkins and Sharples clashed, but the James gang claimed their reward 10 minutes before the break when Midgley was fouled in the box and Ceri James made no mistake from the spot.
Caernarfon started the second half in sharp fashion and they pegged the home team back, with Jay Gibbs in the thick of the action, but it was Denbigh who struck next.
Owain Roberts was in superb form in defence and he played a long ball deep into the Caernarfon half to Midgley, who headed on for Ian Griffiths to race clear, round Perkins and slot the ball into the net.
After this, the match swung to and fro, with both teams having sights of goal.
Eilir Edwards cut inside from the left but his tame shot did not trouble Perkins, while at the other end a deep cross from Gwynedd to the far post was met by Whitmore, but Denbigh number one Roberts made a match-winning save with his foot at the expense of a corner. Jack Jones almost equalised when his curler from the edge of the box hit the post, while Tom Sharples hit a pile driver from the edge of the box straight at Perkins.
Caernarfon were further punished when Whitmore received a straight red for kicking out at an opponent as Denbigh took control in the last 10 minutes.