GRESFORD ATHLETIC may have drawn first blood ahead of tonight’s tasty derby clash with Llay Welfare.

Matty Worrall starred in Llay’s stunning 3-1 Welsh League Cup win over Denbigh Town a week ago but the two-goal striker is on loan from Gresford and part of that deal means he can’t play in tonight’s game at The Rock.

“Matt’s out as part of the deal we have with Gresford,” said Llay’s new manager Phil Hudson.

“He had a good game last week. He’s a good forward and someone who knows where the net is.

“He’s had his head turned a few times because everyone is out to get someone who knows how to score and he’s had many spells at Llay. He’s back at his home home club and he knows how ambitious we are at the club.”

Llay’s rise to tier two football kicks off against Gresford, who were just as impressive in the cup a week ago, winning 3-0 at Flint Mountain, who pipped Welfare to the Ardal North West League title last May.

“After going toe-to-toe with Denbigh, there’s no two bigger games than our next two,” added Hudson, who hopes to have Dean Bryan, Cam Dutton and new signings Ellis Hickey, Bisensio Kamilo and Adetunji Ogundeji in the squad.

“Gresford is a massive local derby and one of the first games you look out for when the fixtures are released.

“Then we’ve got the current Cymru North champions a week later and only because of a ground glitch, Holywell Town are not a Cymru Premier League side. But we’ll be up for both games; they’re games we’re looking forward to.”

Gresford boss Eddie Maurice-Jones also can’t wait for tonight.

“Llay are the newbies and we’re not going to forget how good they are,” said Maurice-Jones. “I know a few of the lads. We will know exactly what they’re going to be good at.

“I think one thing we need to do is take the emotion aside and play the game.

“It’s a local derby and a lot of added pressure that we will put on ourselves.

“Hopefully it’s just another game and, hopefully, we can turn it on and perform.”

Maurice-Jones won’t be taking newly-promoted Llay lightly, especially considering their cup win against Denbigh Town.

“Llay have come on leaps and bounds and they’ve come up a level,” he added. “I think Llay will do that to a few teams this season.

“They’re playing with freedom and there’s no pressure on them.”

Nick Balmer will come in for unavailable goalkeeper Lewis Dutton.

Gresford may have scored their goal of the season... in the first match of 2024-25 campaign.

In the 3-0 Welsh League Cup win over Flint Mountain, Dominic Deacon finished off a great team move by sliding the ball into the net from Charlie Mann’s fine assist.

“It was 19 passes!” said Maurice-Jones ahead of tonight’s derby date at The Rock.

“We were all thinking it was a good passage of play. They were down to 10 men for a period of time and we had the comfort of a 2-0 lead and it was a case of move the ball around and dislodge their defensive set-up.”

There’s plenty of ex-player links between the two neighbours.

Llay midfielder Matt Thompson captains Gresford in the North Wales Cricket League’s top flight.

And Friday night football means he can play both games this weekend.

“The fixtures have fallen well with a lot of Friday night games in the first weeks of the season,” said Thompson.

Tonight, Michael Wilde’s Colwyn Bay host Bangor 1876, while Guilsfield welcome Mid Wales rivals Caersws tomorrow.