Gresford Athletic earn the Derby Day bragging rights as they beat Llay Miners Welfare away on matchday 23 of the 2024/25 JD Cymru North on Saturday.

The game began with Llay Miners Welfare trying to attack, but Elliott Orton's tackle in the third minute denied any early goal.

Then, in the sixth minute, Charlie Mann hit the target from a free-kick, but his effort was punched away by Llay Miners Welfare's Henry Green.

In the 17th minute, Toby Gallagher-Keenan did well to nick the ball away from Llay Miners Welfare goalkeeper Henry Green, but his shot towards the open net was blocked by a defender and hit the crossbar.

Paul Johnson then fired the ball towards goal from range in the 39th minute, rattling the crossbar.

In the 42nd minute, Gresford Athletic were awarded a penalty after Haci Ozlu was brought down in the box by Henry Green in the Llay Miners Welfare net, with The Colliers' number nine firing the penalty home.

HALF-TIME | Llay Miners Welfare 0-1 Gresford Athletic

The second half began with Charlie Mann firing the ball towards goal, trying his luck from range, but the ball went wide in the 48th minute.

Lewis Dutton pulled off a spectacular save in the 68th minute, getting down quickly to deny an almost certain goal from The Welfare.

Then, in the 70th minute, Haci Ozlu bagged his second goal of the game, collecting the ball and slotting it into the net to double the lead.

Paul Johnson added a third goal with a superb turn and finish in the 74th minute.

However, in the 78th minute, Llay Miners Welfare did pull one back through former Gresford Athletic player Jon Collo, heading it in out of Lewis Dutton's hands.

Haci Ozlu almost grabbed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute, firing towards goal, but his effort went just wide of the post.

Then, just before the end of the game, Haci Ozlu was again fouled in the box and earned a penalty for The Colliers, but this time, the forward was denied a third goal after Llay Miners Welfare's Harry Green saved his strike from the spot.

The full-time whistle blew shortly after and Gresford Athletic can be happy with a very much deserved Derby Day victory, moving six points clear of the relegation zone.

FULL-TIME | Llay Miners Welfare 1-3 Gresford Athletic

Llay Miners Welfare

Starting XI: Green (GK), Bryan, Payne (C. Simpson - 74'), Thomas-Sadler, Peate (C), Cartwright (Donkor - 85'), Griffin, Ellis, Collo, Swords, E. Simpson (D. Evans - 85')

Yellow cards: Peate, Swords, Simpson

Subs not used: Hughes (GK), Hibbert, C. Evans, Davies

Gresford Athletic

Starting XI: Dutton (GK), J. Smith (Bennett - 90+2'), Hesp, Orton, Nelson (Buxton - 85'), Griffiths (C), Johnson, T. Smith, Gallagher-Keenan (Bagnall - 69'), Mann (Bryan - 90+2'), Ozlu

Goalscorers: Ozlu (x2), Johnson

Yellow cards: Dutton, Johnson, Ozlu

Match Officials

Referee: Aled Williams

Assistant Referees: Steven Roberts, Simon McCormick