TWO DAYS TILL THE BIG SHOWDOWN

PRESTATYN TOWN v RHYL
WELSH CUP QUARTER-FINALS
SATURDAY 2pm
THERE are just two days to go before the battle of Denbighshire.
This Saturday brings a clash of the titans as Prestatyn Town entertain neighbours Rhyl in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup.
Although the Seasiders are yet to beat the Lilywhites in seven attempts since elevating to the Welsh Premier League, the gap between the clubs is closing all the time.
Last season, Prestatyn's first in the WPL, it was no contest with eventual champions Rhyl winning the derby league encounters 7-2 and 4-1.
This season, however, has brought a turnaround with Town strengthening by making a number of experienced signings and the Lilywhites losing 15 members of their title-winning squad.
As a result, the two WPL tussles between the coastal rivals have ended 0-0 and 1-1, although Rhyl did come out on top twice in the Loosemores League Cup group stage games, winning 2-1 at Belle Vue and 3-0 at Bastion Gardens.
But Prestatyn will see Saturday's Welsh Cup epic as not only a chance to make a massive statement in the battle for Denbighshire superiority, but also an opportunity to reach the semi-finals of Wales' most prestigious knockout competition for the first time in their history.
Rhyl, meanwhile, will view winning the Welsh Cup as a main route into the Europa League and the much-needed cash rewards that would bring.
Both teams are in great form. Rhyl have won six of their last seven matches, including a brilliant 5-2 demolition of Bala on Wednesday night, while Prestatyn are unbeaten in five games in which they have conceded just once.

PRESTATYN TOWN v RHYL - LAST EIGHT MEETINGS

2009/10

WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - Rhyl 1 (Leah) Prestatyn Town 1 (Hayes)
What a difference a year made for Prestatyn keeper Jon Hill-Dunt. Twelve months earlier he had been sent off at Belle Vue in a 7-2 thrashing, but it was a different story on January 2 as Hill-Dunt turned in an unbelieveable man of the match display to earn his side another point against the Lilywhites.
Dave Hayes stabbed the Seasiders in front from close range before the interval, but a fabulous John Leah volley in the second stanza ensured it ended all square.
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - Prestatyn Town 0 Rhyl 0
Prestatyn claimed their first Welsh Premier League point against Rhyl and it would have been all three but for the heroics of Lilywhites keeper Paul Pritchard.
The visitors hit the post late on with a deflected Matthew Williams shot, but an away win would have been an injustice. For the umpteenth time in his Belle Vue career, Rhyl striker Lee Hunt blotted his copybook by being red-carded.
LOOSEMORES LEAGUE CUP - Prestatyn Town 0 Rhyl 3 (Connolly, Hunt, C Williams)
A disappointingly one-sided affair saw Rhyl coast to victory on a rainy Tuesday night at Bastion Gardens.
It might have been different had Town been awarded a penalty for a blatant fourth minute push in the box by Phil Doran on Ian Griffiths, but after Mark Connolly's 11th minute thunderbolt broke the deadlock it was all Rhyl.
LOOSEMORES LEAGUE CUP - Rhyl 2 (Naylor, Connolly) Prestatyn Town 1 (Lewis)
Mark Connolly's 85th minute winner finally brought Rhyl just reward for relentless second half pressure, but Prestatyn gave the Lilywhites a really good battle at Belle Vue.
Jack Lewis' thunderbolt put the Seasiders ahead just after the half hour before Martyn Naylor levelled from a 25-yard free-kick six minutes later.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY - Rhyl 0 Prestatyn Town 0
It is unusual for two teams from the same league to face each other in a pre-season friendly, but this is what happened last July at Belle Vue.
The Lilywhites, who had just suffered a 12-0 aggregate tonking at the hands of Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade, fielded the majority of their title-winning side, while Prestatyn's line-up featured several new signings.
In what was a very even game, both sides had numerous chances, but not one was taken. A fair result.

2008/09

WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - Rhyl 7 (Reed 2, Owen 2, M Williams pen, Johnson, O'Neill) Prestatyn Town 2 (Griffiths, Harris)
Rhyl were always in command of this Christmas derby watched by an astonishing 2,126 at Belle Vue, but the final scoreline was much more emphatic due to the 24th minute sending off of Seasiders keeper Jon Hill-Dunt.
It was a controversial decision to dismiss the visiting custodian after he apparently clipped Lilies striker Carl Owen as he was veering away from goal, but Hill-Dunt was red-carded and Rhyl roared into a 5-0 lead by the break.
In the second half Prestatyn were much more competitive and at least had two good goals to show for their efforts.
WELSH PREMIER LEAGUE - Prestatyn Town 1 (Parker) Rhyl 4 (Owen, Strong, Sherbon, Reed)
It needed two late goals from Luke Sherbon and Jamie Reed to finally kill off Prestatyn's brave challenge at a sun-baked Bastion Gardens.
Gareth Owen broke the deadlock direct from a corner and Greg Strong made it 2-0 before Michael Parker pulled one back on the stroke of half time.


2006/07

NORTH WALES COAST FA CHALLENGE CUP - Prestatyn Town 2 (Hayes, Bowes) Rhyl 0
A famous win for the Seasiders at a fervent Bastion Gardens over a Rhyl side which was at full strength apart from missing striker Lee Hunt.
Prestatyn were in the Cymru Alliance at the time so this was a real giant-killing, but Dave Fuller's side fully deserved the win.
Young Ben Rowley was a hero in goal for Town, while the all-important goals came from Dave Hayes from close range in the first half and a cracking strike by Steve Bowes in the second.