After such a long wait to get the action back underway, some teams have truly hit the ground running in these early weeks of the 2021-22 North Wales football season.
Grassroots North Wales turns the spotlight on five teams who have established long unbeaten runs since the start of July – meet The Trailblazers. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Surely in their history Bodedern have never started a season as successfully as the current one.
Ten games in all competitions, 10 wins. Goals scored 53, conceded just 5.
It is a phenomenal start for the tier 4 North Wales Coast West League Premier Division side from Anglesey.
Of course, having two top-class strikers like Marc Evans and Asa Thomas helps – 30 goals between them already (15 apiece).
But there is more to the side than the dynamic duo. Young talents like Casey Gregg and Sam Gregson, the ever-dependable Casey Boylan, midfield ace Ryan Lees, the dynamic Darren Lewthwaite – the list goes on….
Manager Ricky Williams will not be getting carried away, but as long as everyone stays fit and available, this season has massive potential for the green army.
Aug 21: New Brighton Villa (away – FAW Trophy R3) 7-0 (Marc Evans 2, Asa Thomas 2, Ryan Lees 2, Jordan Taylor)
Aug 14: Llandyrnog United (home – Welsh Cup R1) 5-1 (Marc Evans, Casey Gregg, Jordan Taylor, Asa Thomas, Darren Lewthwaite)
Aug 11: Aberffraw (away – North Wales Coast West Premier Division) 4-0 (Asa Thomas, Casey Boylan pen, Sam Gregson, Shaun Jenkins)
Aug 7: CPD Cefni (home – FAW Amateur Trophy) 2-0 (Asa Thomas 2)
Aug 2: Amlwch Town (home – NWCWPD) 4-1 (Casey Boylan pen, Sam Gregson, Asa Thomas, Darren Lewthwaite)
July 24: CPD Y Fali (away – Welsh Cup QR2) 6-1 (Marc Evans 2, Asa Thomas 2, Casey Gregg 2)
July 21: Pwllheli (home – NWCWPD) 2-0 (Marc Evans 2)
July 17: CPD Y Fali (home – Welsh Amateur Trophy R1) 9-0 (Marc Evans 4, Asa Thomas 2, Casey Gregg 2, Sean Pritchard)
July 10: Bodorgan (away – Welsh Cup QR1) 11-0 (Marc Evans 3, Sam Gregson 3, Asa Thomas 2, Ryan Taylor, Casey Boylan pen, Tom Wood)
July 7: Pentraeth (away – NWCWPD) 3-2 (Marc Evans, Asa Thomas 2)
They may have lost their debut season’s 45-goal top-scorer Dylan Summers-Jones to Llangefni Town at the start of this year, but it has not stopped Bangor 1876 netting a stunning 62 times in their opening nine games of this term.
Old heads Les Davies (13) and Chris Jones (11) are leading the way with 24 goals between them, but such is the class in the squad anyone is capable of finding the net.
1876 have won all five matches in the tier 4 North Wales Coast Premier Division so far, but one senses they face a much tougher task than they did in their debut title-winning Gwynedd League campaign.
Nefyn United – six wins from six – Bodedern Athletic, Penrhyndeudraeth and Pwllheli are among the teams who can push 1876 hard this season.
But the Treborth side are an outstanding outfit – as their early progress proves.
July 3: Pentraeth (home – North Wales Coast West Premier Division) 9-0 (Les Davies 3, Gethin Thomas 2, Chris Jones 2, Jamie Petrie, Cameron Barry)
July 7: Pwllheli (home – NWCWPD) 3-2 (Gethin Thomas, Joe Culshaw, Tomos Clarke)
July 10: Menai Bridge Tigers (home – Welsh Cup R1) 8-2 (Chris Jones 4, Cameron Barry 2, Les Davies, Gethin Thomas)
July 17: Blaenau Amateurs (away – FAW Trophy) 4-0 (Les Davies, Gethin Thomas, Chris Jones 2)
July 21: Aberffraw (home – NWCWPD) 6-0 (Gethin Thomas, Tomos Clarke, Chris Jones, Les Davies 2, 1 pen, Sam Roberts)
Aug 7: Amlwch Town (home – FAW Trophy) 9-2 ( (Aaron Heald 2, Tomos Clarke, Chris Jones, Sam Roberts, Les Davies, Dylan Williams, Luke Steele, Jamie Petrie)
Aug 11: Amlwch Town (away – NWCWPD) 9-0 (Sam Ashworth, Les Davies 2, Jamie Petrie 2, 1 pen, Joe Culshaw, Gethin Thomas 2, Harry Galeotti)
Aug 18: Gaerwen (away – NWCWPD) 9-1 (Tom Clarke 2, Cameron Barry 3, Harry Galeotti, Joe Culshaw, Les Davies, Ben Owen)
Aug 21: Halkyn & Flint Mountain (home – FAW Amateur Trophy) 5-2 (Harry Galeotti 2, Chris Jones pen, Les Davies 2)
While Bodedern Athletic and Bangor 1876 have swept aside most of their opponents, it has been a major battle to stay unbeaten for Llanrwst.
But the Conwy Valley side have done it. Played 9, Won 8 and Drawn 1.
It has been a magnificent opening to the campaign for Leighton Griffiths and Barry Owen’s men.
They have had to really scrap to beat lower league Gwalchmai, Llanfairfechan Town, CPD Y Rhyl 1879 and Amlwch Town in knockout games, but are into the Welsh Cup second round, where they have landed a trip to Welsh Premier giants The New Saints, and the last 32 of the FAW Trophy, where a visit to Llandudno Albion awaits.
In the tier 3 Ardal North West, the Roosters have been superb, currently lying joint top with three wins, over Porthmadog, Llandudno Albion and Llay Welfare, and a draw at Y Felinheli.
The Jones brothers, Sam and Tom, have been outstanding in front of goal, while the return of prolific hitman Callum Parry is a real tonic.
Llanrwst have made one of their finest starts to a season in years.
Aug 24: Porthmadog (a – Ardal North West) 2-0 (Callum Parry 2)
Aug 21: Gwalchmai (a – FAW Trophy R3) 4-3 (Chris Nicolson 2, Kyle Kelly, Tom Jones)
Aug 18: Llandudno Albion (h – Ardal North West) 2-0 (Leighton Griffiths, Benn Lundstram)
Aug 14: Llanfairfechan Town (a – Welsh Cup R1) 2-1 (Benn Lundstram, Callum Parry)
Aug 7: CPD Y Rhyl 1879 (a – FAW Trophy R2) 2-1 (Sam Jones, Tom Jones)
Aug 4: Y Felinheli (a – Ardal North West) 2-2 (Tom Jones, Sam Jones)
Aug 1: Llay Welfare (h – Ardal North West) 3-2 (Sam Jones 2, Tom Jones)
July 24: Amlwch Town (a – Welsh Cup QR2) 2-1 (Sam Jones, Benn Lundstram)
July 16: Llysfaen (h – FAW Trophy R1) 3-0 (Benn Lundstram, Sam Jones 2)
Who is surprised to see Cefn Albion doing so well this season?
No-one who knows their Wrexham area football is the answer we would expect.
From the day they were born, in the 2014-15 campaign, these lads have been winners, back-to-back league titles, league cups and the FAW Trophy all secured….the Cefners deal in silverware.
So it is no shock to see them pushing for top spot and unbeaten after four matches in the tier 3 Ardal North East League.
Nor is it unexpected that they are marching on in the Welsh Cup and FAW Trophy.
Undefeated in nine matches in all competitions, just the one draw at Caersws in the league.
With a nice mix of youth and experience, many players capable of scoring goals, Cefn look set for a fine season.
Aug 24: Corwen (a – Ardal North West) 3-2 (Tom Gunson, Alex Williams, Jordan Jones)
Aug 21: Chirk AAA (h – FAW Trophy R3) 2-1 (Dion Gibbins, Jordan Jones)
Aug 18: Welshpool Town (h – Ardal North West) 7-1 (Dion Gibbins, Jordan Jones, Alex Williams 2, Callum Mannion, Mike Latham pen, Josh Millington)
Aug 14: Caergybi (a – Welsh Cup R1) 4-1 (Dion Gibbins, Nic Jones, Jordan Jones, Tom Gunson)
Aug 7: Chirk Town (a – FAW Trophy) 2-0 (Alex Williams, Callum Mannion)
Aug 3: Rhos Aelwyd (a – Ardal North West) 5-4 (Kien Morris 2, Alex Williams, Andrew Watkin, Nic Jones)
July 31: Caersws (a – Ardal North West) 2-2 (Callum Mannion, 1 OG)
July 23: FC Queen’s Park (a – Welsh Cup QR 2) 4-1 (Dion Gibbins, Alex Williams, Mike Latham, Callum Mannion)
July 16: Ruabon Rovers (a – FAW Trophy R1) – Ruabon forfeited
Having not entered the Welsh Cup or FAW Trophy, all of Cerrig’s matches have been in the league and they are currently undefeated.
Top of tier 5 North Wales Coast East Division One, the villagers are on the longest unbeaten league run in North Wales to date of 12 matches – nine wins and three draws.
Goals have flowed from throughout the team, with the leading scorers being Tirion Griffiths (14), Tomos Tryfan Jones (12) and Gruffudd Edwards (10).
Aug 24: Betws-y-Coed (a) 7-0 (Robin Evans 3, Dyfed Baldry, Tirion Griffiths 2, Ifan Jones)
Aug 21: Penrhyn Bay Dragons (h) 4-2 (Gruffudd Edwards, Tomos Tryfan Jones, Alun Kimberley, Tirion Griffiths)
Aug 14: Y Glannau (a) 5-2 (Gruffudd Edwards, Robert Parry, Carwyn Williams, Nidian Jones, Ynyr Roberts)
Aug 10: Betws-y-Coed (h) 8-1 (Gruffudd Edwards 3, Jac Edwards 2, Tirion Griffiths, Tomos Tryfan Jones, Ifan Gwyn)
Aug 7: Rhyl Dragons (h) 2-2 (Andrew Hession 2)
July 31: Llandudno Amateurs (h) 5-4 (Tirion Griffiths 2, Robert Parry, Gruffudd Edwards 2)
July 24: Henllan (a) 5-3 (Tirion Griffiths, Gruffudd Edwards, Tomos Tryfan Jones 2, Ynyr Roberts)
July 20: Caer Clwyd (h) 10-0 (Tomos Tryfan Jones 3, Tirion Griffiths 3, Gruffudd Edwards 2, Robin Evans, Alun Kimberley)
July 17: Rhos United (h) 3-3 (Tirion Griffiths 2, Tomos Tryfan Jones)
July 10: Rhos United (a) 1-1 (Tomos Tryfan Jones)
July 6: Abergele (h) 2-1 (Jac Edwards, Tirion Griffiths pen)
July 3: Rhyl Dragons (a) 4-1 (Tomos Tryfan Jones 3, Tirion Griffiths)
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