Denbigh Town secured a well-earned victory to see out the summer on Tuesday night with a win over a TNS XI.

A brace from Nathan Brown along with strikes from Owen Davies, Iwan Roberts and Billy Holmes saw Town edge out an eight goal thriller.

Town were behind early before taking a 3-1 lead into the break, but surrendered the lead early in the second half before two goals in the final two minutes secured a win before the season starts on Friday.

Dewi Llion named a strong squad against a young TNS side, with the first team at Park Hall advancing in the UEFA Champions League on the same evening.

Denbigh began the game on top and within five minutes threatened the Saints net. Harry Lockley made progress down the left before feeding it to Davies, he in turn found Sion Jones who fired over from the edge of the box. With ten played Roberts played a magnificent ball to Davies who brought it down but just couldn’t angle the ball into the far corner.

Despite Town’s early pressure it was the hosts who took the lead when good work down the right saw the ball slammed into the bottom left of Aaron Jones’ net.

Harrison Bellis was lively throughout and had his first sight of goal with 16 minutes played as the forward ran through before being hacked down on the edge of the box. Brown stepped up stinging the palms of the keeper with his effort.

Bellis was again troubling the backline four minutes later when again he was brought down outside the area. Brown again stepped up and this time made no mistake, firing his free-kick into the back of the net.

Denbigh were now well on top, with Brown, Bellis and Davies all seeing shots fly just over or denied by the Saints custodian. Eight minutes before the break Denbigh finally took the lead, Brown again finishing off a smart move from Harry Lockley on the left as he span to smash the ball home from close range.

Mere moments later Town doubled the advantage, this time Roberts sailed through the TNS half before stabbing a ball into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.

Half-Time: TNS XI 1-3 Denbigh Town

Whilst Denbigh dominated the close of the first half, it was all TNS to begin the second. Aaron Jones was called upon within four minutes of the restart to make a superb save, but couldn’t do anything about the TNS onslaught. First, with 52 minutes on the clock the Saints ran through to pull a goal back before three minutes later it was all tied up at 3-3 when a cross from the left was met at the near post.

Chances flowed early but any further clear cut chances would come in the final 20 minutes. Midfielder Tom Salisbury clipped a superb ball over the top for for Bellis who was denied by the keeper. TNS replied with a point-blank effort that was thwarted brilliantly by Jones.

Heading into the final five minutes with the scores level either side could have won it. With 88 minutes on the clock the second half breakthrough was finally made when Davies was put through following tenacious work from Rhys Lloyd, with the former sliding the ball home to put Town ahead.

Seconds after the fourth Denbigh found their fifth, Sion Jones making an excellent run threaded the ball to Billy Holmes who with only the keeper to beat lashed it home.

Town now move on to their first competitive game of the season on Friday night with a trip to Llay Welfare in the Nathaniel MG Cup First Round.