DERBY DAY COUNTDOWN - 3 DAYS TO GO....

LAST MEETING
NORTH WALES COAST CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINALS - FEBRUARY 10, 2007
PRESTATYN TOWN 2 (Hayes 29, Bowes 58)
RHYL 0
RHYL and Prestatyn have met at first team level in a competitive game only once in recent memory.
That was in the North Wales Challenge Cup two years ago when the Cymru Alliance Seasiders sprang a sensation at Bastion Road.
While the visitors had top scorer Lee Hunt and key midfielder Mark Connolly missing through suspension, Prestatyn were also without ban-serving goalkeeper Jon Dunt and midfield general Dale Milne.
David versus Goliath cup ties like this often throw up unlikely heroes and Prestatyn's was undoubtedly young goalkeeper Ben Rowley.
The 18-year-old usually plays for the reserves, but Dunt's suspension meant he made the big step up to face one of Wales' top teams and he produced an heroic performance.
Rowley first showed his mettle in the 19th minute when he bravely clasped the ball at the feet of Lilywhites striker Alex Hay.
There was a handball claim on the goal-line against Town's Steve Hoult which was rejected but on 22 minutes Prestatyn created the clearest chance so far when Neil Gibson made a dynamic run before putting Jon Fisher-Cooke in on goal, but Paul Whitfield blocked magnificently.
Back came Rhyl, Chris Roberts lashing into the side netting before Dylan Owen was found in space but drove wide.
The visitors were unlucky on 25 minutes when Owen set up Dave Cameron whose eight-yard shot deflected off Rowley's thigh on to the bar and to safety.
Slightly against the run of play Prestatyn took the lead on 29 minutes. A Dave Hayes header was cleared off the line by Owen, but the ball was picked up on the right by Hoult.
A tantalising centre into the box by the ex-Crewe winger caught the Rhyl defence napping and Hayes pounced to stab in from close range.
Cameron went close to an equaliser before the break when he deflected a powerful Owen cross inches over.
The second half was mainly a procession of Rhyl attacks, but the Seasiders defended doggedly.
Ross Stephens laid the ball off to Owen who blasted just wide, then Owen tried to chip Rowley, but the diminutive keeper made a fine catch.
In the 57th minute Owen's cross from the right skidded off the turf, struck the post and the ball ended up in the grateful arms of Rowley.
Rhyl were on top, but on 58 minutes a potent counter by the Seasiders brought a stunning second goal.
Hoult brilliantly outfoxed Owen and James Brewerton on the left, crossed low into the box, Steve Bowes took a touch, leaving George Horan standing, and his trusty left foot secured his 39th goal of the campaign.
The Prestatyn supporters went wild and realising a big upset was on the cards, Rhyl piled forward.
Stuart Graves should have scored, but his lob over Rowley came back off the bar and from the rebound Hay gifted the ball to the keeper.
Rhyl manager John Hulse brought on strikers Andy Moran and Paul Roberts in a bid to turn the tables, but a fantastic rearguard action from the hosts kept them at bay.
Owen fired wide and Rowley scrambled away a Horan header, but the best chance of the latter stages fell to the Seasiders in the 86th minute.
Adie Hoyle and Bowes combined to put substitute Ian Griffiths clear, but he dragged wide with only Whitfield to beat.
Prestatyn's players rejoiced like never before at the final whistle and braveheart Rowley was chaired off the field.
TEAMS
■ PRESTATYN: Rowley, Hayes (Welburn 69), J Lewis, Fuller, Hoyle, Harris, Parker, Gibson, Fisher-Cooke (Griffiths 71), Hoult, Bowes.
■ RHYL: Whitfield, M Powell, Graves, Owen (Booth 78), Horan, Brewerton, Hay, Murtagh, Cameron (Moran 66), Stephens, C Roberts (P Roberts 66)
Attendance: 426.