Congratulations Ruabon Rovers – champions of the North East Wales League Championship Division 2022-23.
Needing a win today to seal the title on goal difference in just their second season in the league, Gareth Edwards’ side got there in the end at Bronwen’s Green, but it proved tough going for a while.
Much-improved FC United of Wrexham took a fourth-minute lead through Ben Summers, but Kyle Evans soon equalised.
Summers struck again on 14 minutes to restore the home advantage, but with 18 on the clock, Conner Kendrick made it 2-2 from the penalty spot.
And that is how it remained up until half time, at which point the visitors still had plenty to do.
Enter the dynamic duo with more than 100 goals between them this season – Kendrick and Andrew Swarbrick.
Former Cefn Druids striker Swarbrick, who came on at the interval, scored twice in a minute after 53 and 54, Jimmy Jones and Niall Broe with the assists, to put Ruabon 4-2 up.
Kendrick then got in on the act, netting on 59 and 62 to make it a hat-trick and 49 goals for the campaign.
Swarbrick would not be outdone, also completing a treble with Rovers’ seventh goal in the 73rd minute.
That made it 58 goals this term for the 34-year-old.
The points were now in the bag, but it had been a big battle over those first 45 minutes for the champions.
Ruabon finished top on goal difference ahead of Caerwys, who went through the entire league campaign unbeaten.
Rovers were also runners-up in the NEWFA Horace Wynne Cup and Two Counties Cup finals.
27 May 2023
FC United of Wrexham 2-7 Ruabon Rovers
25 May 2023
Caerwys 5-2 Ruabon Rovers
16 May 2023
Johnstown YFC 0-12 Ruabon Rovers
9 May 2023
Acton 1-5 Ruabon Rovers
1 May 2023
Ruabon Rovers 4-0 Gronant
29 April 2023
Sychdyn 2-2 Ruabon Rovers
26 April 2023
Ruabon Rovers 18-0 Bellevue
22 April 2023
Aston Park Rangers 1-4 Ruabon Rovers
11 April 2023
Ruabon Rovers 14-3 Holywell United
8 April 2023
Ruabon Rovers 7-0 Johnstown YFC
1 April 2023
Ruabon Rovers 7-1 Acton FC
4 March 2023
Ruabon Rovers 4-2 Overton Recreational
25 February 2023
Holywell United 0-8 Ruabon Rovers
7 January 2023
Ruabon Rovers 9-2 Aston Park Rangers
3 December 2022
Ruabon Rovers 6-1 FC United of Wrexham
26 November 2022
Ruabon Rovers 8-0 Sychdyn
5 November 2022
Overton Recreational 2-5 Ruabon Rovers
29 October 2022
Ruabon Rovers 2-3 Caerwys
27 August 2022
Gronant 2-4 Ruabon Rovers
6 August 2022
Bellevue 2-8 Ruabon Rovers
PLAYED 20
WON 17
DRAWN 1
LOST 2
GOALS FOR 136
GOALS AGAINST 29
TOP SCORERS (LEAGUE ONLY)
Conner Kendrick 37
Andrew Swarbrick 32
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