Late goals seal unforgettable Cup night at Central Park
Denbigh Town produced a stirring turnaround to progress in the FAW Welsh Cup after scoring twice in the final 10 minutes to beat Trearddur Bay 2-1 at Central Park. The result was all the more remarkable because the hosts finished the tie with just nine men following two red cards.
The visitors took the lead in the first half when Liam Morris struck on 25 minutes, the shot taking a heavy deflection on its way past keeper Ollie Farebrother. Momentum appeared to be with Trearddur Bay and their underdog status in the Ardal North West division made the scoreline look a credible upset as the teams went in at the break.
"Nine-man Denbigh produced two late goals to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a Welsh Cup classic."
Denbigh’s afternoon took a further turn for the worse early in the second half when Sion Jones was sent off for a straight red card for deliberate handball, reducing the hosts to ten. The match looked to be tilting away from Town when, on 75 minutes, defender Max Cooke received a second red card and was dismissed for a late challenge in midfield. Whether that second dismissal warranted a straight red remains debatable, but it left Denbigh with an uphill task and little margin for error.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Denbigh mounted sustained pressure in the closing stages. The breakthrough came on 80 minutes when Harry Martin finished from close range after a move that began with Ben Lockley and was centred by Tom Kelly. With renewed belief and the crowd behind them, the hosts pushed for the winner and found it on 86 minutes through Tom Kelly, who finished a late attack to clinch the tie.
Key moments that decided the tie
- 25' — Trearddur Bay take the lead: Liam Morris with a deflected strike.
- Early second half — Sion Jones sent off for deliberate handball (straight red).
- 75' — Max Cooke dismissed, leaving Denbigh with nine men.
- 80' — Harry Martin equalises for Denbigh.
- 86' — Tom Kelly scores the late winner to complete the comeback.
The match was a test of character for Eddie Maurice‑Jones’ side, who showed resilience to keep pushing despite being down to nine. Goalkeeper Farebrother was busy at times, making important saves to keep Denbigh in contention, while Trearddur Bay defended doggedly for large spells after taking the lead.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Denbigh Town vs Trearddur Bay (FAW Welsh Cup, Round One) | Denbigh Town 2 – Trearddur Bay 1 |
| Scorers | Denbigh: Harry Martin (80), Tom Kelly (86) — Trearddur Bay: Liam Morris (25) |
| Red cards | Denbigh: Sion Jones (straight red), Max Cooke (second red) |
For Trearddur Bay, the afternoon offered encouragement — they led for nearly an hour and defended stoutly under pressure — but their hopes of causing a cup upset were undone by Denbigh’s late urgency. For Denbigh supporters at Central Park, it was a rollercoaster: despair when their side were reduced to nine, and ecstasy when two late finishes turned the tie on its head.
The victory keeps Denbigh’s Cup hopes alive and will be remembered locally for the character shown by the players and the atmosphere generated by those who turned out to watch the tie. The result also brings into sharp relief the fine margins in cup football — discipline and timing of decisions proved decisive, as did a refusal to give up when the odds were stacked against the home side.
As the club advances in the competition, attention will quickly turn to how they regroup after the suspensions that follow the dismissals and who they might face in the next round. For now, Central Park can savour a classic denouement that will be talked about in local cafés and on terraces across the Vale of Clwyd.
