Gresford Athletic are through to round two of the 2024/25 Welsh Blood Service League Cup after defeating Denbigh Town at home in round one on Saturday.

The game kicked off and straight away, Gresford Athletic showed their attacking intent, with Simon Smith getting in the box within two minutes and being pushed down, but referee Richard Wright waved away the claims.

Dave Forbes then found some space in the box and blasted a shot towards goal, but it was saved by Denbigh Town goalkeeper Joshua Wilmot in the 11th minute.

Then, Lewis Dutton played the ball far forward towards Dave Forbes, who flicked it on with his head to reach Charlie Mann, whose finish was well placed to put Gresford Athletic in front in the 17th minute.

It was two goals in three minutes for The Colliers, as Haci Ozlu picked up the ball on the edge of the box and bends it into the net with skill in the 20th minute to make it 2-0.

Lewis Dutton was then called upon in the 27th minute, making a great save to deny a Denbigh Town effort and keep the clean sheet intact.

Joe Ormrod did superbly well in the 44th minute to find Haci Ozlu, who cut inside and curled the ball towards the bottom corner of the goal, but it was a good save from Joshua Wilmot.

However, Gresford Athletic did find a third goal before half time, with Dave Forbes running through, taking it past Denbigh Town's Joshua Wilmot and slotting it home on his debut for the club in the second minute of added time.

The second half displayed a professional performance from Gresford Athletic, maintaining their 3-0 lead well and ensuring not to give away anything silly to the away side.

It was almost a goal for substitute Toby Gallagher-Keenan in the 68th minute, with him running down the right-hand side superbly, but his effort was met with a good save by Joshua Wilmot.

Joe Ormrod did well in the 73rd minute, looping the ball towards the top of the net, but it went just over the crossbar.

The final whistle sounded and Gresford Athletic were back to winning ways with a good performance in the 2024/25 Welsh Blood Service League Cup to reach the second round and get their season back moving in the right direction.

Gresford Athletic

Starting XI: Dutton (GK), A. Smith, J. Smith, Orton (Oliver - 69'), Nelson (Watkin - 59'), Griffiths (C) (Johnson - 77'), Ormrod, Ozlu, S. Smith (ap Gareth - 69'), Mann, Forbes (Gallagher-Keenan - 59')

Goalscorers: Mann, Ozlu, Forbes

Yellow cards: J. Smith, Johnson

Subs not used: Buley, Buxton

Denbigh Town

Starting XI: Wilmot (GK), Williams (Cooke - 77'), Holmes (H. Lockley - 66'), Parry-Jones, B. Lockley, K. Roberts (C), Hansen, I. Roberts (Butler - 66'), Davies, Bellis (Duffy - 52'), Vaughan (Fleming - 77')

Yellow cards: Holmes, Hansen, Davies

Subs not used: Salisbury

Match Officials

Referee: Richard Wright

Assistant Referees: Ryan Hughes, Luke Wynne