PRESTATYN TOWN 0 RHYL 0
HONOURS ended even in a Boxing Day stalemate between two local rivals who clash again this Saturday in the second leg of a festive Welsh Premier double header at Belle Vue.
A draw was certainly a fair result at Bastion Road, although Prestatyn may be slightly disappointed they did not make the most of having a man advantage in the second half following the 43rd minute dismissal of Rhyl striker Lee Hunt for violent conduct.
Town had the better first half chances, Lilywhites keeper Paul Pritchard twice doing well to keep out Steve Rogers efforts.
At the other end, Rhyl thought they had won a penalty when Phil Doran went down in the area from a Russ Jones challenge, but referee Mark Petch in fact booked the Lilies wide man for diving.
Despite being a man short for the second period it was Rhyl who looked the more dangerous although they again were indebted to a back-pedalling Pritchard for tipping away an Andy Moran strike which ballooned up off Lilywhites skipper George Horan.
The visitors went closest to winning it on 75 minutes when substitute Matthew Williams' deflected shot came back off the post.
Rhyl player-manager Greg Strong also went near with a back-post header before Horan's low drive was well saved by Prestatyn keeper Jon Dunt in the 82nd minute.