Football: Llandudno Junction FC unimpressive at Denbigh

Nov 25 2010

DENBIGH TOWN 4 LLANDUDNO JUNCTION 0

JUNCTION manager Jon Stazicker was less than impressed with his team’s Barritt Cup exit at Central Park on Saturday.

After the euphoria of the previous weekend’s win over Glan Conwy, the Railwaymen went distinctly off the rails at the hands of a lively Denbigh side.

"To put things into perspective, Denbigh were by far the better team, though our team performance was by far our worst this season," said Stazicker.

Junction had an early chance when Jack Higgins received the ball 10 yards out but fired straight at keeper Ashley Crosthwaite.

Town’s first goal came on 25 minutes and was a result of an excellent piece of play from Craig Wilkinson whose skill took him to the edge of the box.

His effort rebounded to Jon Slater and after a ricochet or two the ball landed at the feet of Ian Evans who converted at the far post, but Junction were guilty of poor defending.

On 35 minutes Town doubled their advantage. Dafydd Jones won a tackle in midfield and galloped past two Junction defenders.

His superb cross from the byline was headed to the edge of the box by Tom Roberts only as far as Paul Edwards who hit the sweetest volley into the bottom corner.

Junction rallied and it took good stops from Crosthwaite to thwart Shaun Williams and Higgins, while Darrel Jones fired just off target.

Second half action continued in the same vein, with Denbigh happy to hold their opponents off and counter-attack.

Junction should have reduced the arrears from a Joel Hewitt cross but Higgins put a free header wide.

Denbigh’s Evans grabbed his second on the hour, when a poor call from keeper Kev Colville enabled the striker to make it 3-0 with a header.

The lively Evans next got chopped in the box by Colville, but Huw Price saw his spot-kick well saved as the keeper atoned for his original error.

But a fourth was coming and, after Junction were reduced to 10 when Roberts was dismissed for a second yellow card, a free kick from the right was bulleted home from the head of Slater.

Junction were not even allowed a consolation, Nathan Watson and Jordan Naylor both denied by the feet of Crosthwaite before the end.