Denbigh Town earned an away win against Rhyl and moved joint top of the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance.
They won 5-3 to join leaders Caernarfon Town on 30 points, although the leaders have a far superior goal difference and a game in hand.
Denbigh won their local derby at Rhyl’s Corbett Sports Stadium on a day when much of North Wales was covered in snow. The pitch was declared playable after a pitch inspection at 10am and ground staff deserve credit for ensuring the match went ahead.
Manager Eddie Maurice-Jones was absent his role because his partner, Jade, had given birth to a daughter late on Friday evening. Dewi Llion and Dan Reece took over charge of the Denbigh team.
Liam Smith came into the side for the suspended Dan Sullivan.
The game had extra significance for Denbigh’s Josh Davies, Kristian Pierce and Rakim Newton, who all played for Rhyl last season.
Josh Davies headed Denbigh’s first goal when he scored from eight yards from Craig Pritchard’s cross.
Soon after Warren Duckett found space on the left wing in Rhyl’s half and cut in before unleashing a tremendous strike into the net.
Rhyl player-manager Mark Connelly pulled a goal back just before half-time, avoiding three tackles on a tricky run into the penalty area before scoring.
Two minutes later Connelly scored again to equalise and make it 2-2 at the break before Phil Marsh fired the home team ahead 3-2, blasting home from 10 yards during a goalmouth scramble.
Andrew Swarbrick replaced Warren Duckett for Denbigh on the hour and soon after Matty Cook almost equalised, but his shot following a Kristian Pierce set-up hit the bat.
Denbigh were not to be denied and scored three goals inside the last quarter of an hour to win the game.
Pierce celebrated with a somersault after volleying home from 20 yards to make it 3-3 after 75 minutes, while Joe Culshaw fired Denbigh’s fourth goal from a free-kick with two minutes left.
It was Davies who added their fifth goal to clinch victory for the visitors.
The game was an excellent advert for Huws Gray Cymru Alliance League football. The quality of play and entertainment in difficult conditions was of the highest order.
Rhyl: Antoni Sarnowski, Tom Hartley, Tony Davies, James Brewerton (cvapt), Alex Jones, Sam Downey, Jordan Barrow, Danny Holland, Phil Marsh, Mark Connelly, Tom Walsh. Subs: Alex Titchiner, Tom Rowlands, Diego Alvarado, Aaron Dotse Pomieye, Tyler Joyce.
Denbigh Town: Jon Hill-Dunt, Rakim Newton, Joe Culshaw, Liam Smith, Ben Nash, Matt Cook, Kristian Pierce, Gareth Partridge, Warren Duckett, Josh Davies, Craig Pritchard. Subs: Nathan Williams, Andrew Swarbrick, Corey Smart
Referee: Aaron Jones (Deganwy)
In the only other Alliance match to survive the bad weather, Airbus Broughton won 4-3 against Holyhead Hotspur thanks to goals from Luke Busumara (2) and Ryan Edwards (2).
Hotspur led twice at 2-1 and 3-2, but Edwards scored twice in the last 26 minutes to earn Airbus victory.
Ryan Taylor (2) and John Littlemore were the Holyhead goalscorers.
Results: Rhyl 3, Denbigh Town 5; Airbus Broughton 4, Holyhead Hotspur 3.
Matches postponed: Caersws v Caernarfon Town, FC Queens Park v Llandudno Junction, Gresford Athletic v Guilsfield, Porthmadog v Flint Town United.
Fixtures, Saturday, December 16: FC Queens Park v Caersws (2pm), Gresford Athletic v Porthmadog (2pm), Llandudno Junction v Airbus Broughton (2pm), Caernarfon Town v Penrhuncoch (2.30pm), Guilsfield v Rhyl (2.30pm), Holywell Town v Denbigh Town (2.30pm), Ruthin Town v Holyhead Hotspur (2.30pm).
Huws Gray Cymru Alliance
top six
Pl GD Pts
1 Caernarfon Town 13 33 30
2 Denbigh Town 14 8 30
3 Airbus Broughton UK 15 9 28
4 Holywell Town 14 14 26
5 Guilsfield 13 6 25
6 Rhyl 14 9 23
