The season is nearly over – who are North Wales football’s major hotshots?
1 Harrison Bellis (CPD Y Glannau – Tier 5) – 68 goals
(47 league, 21 cups – 29 appearances)
Five goals in a 9-1 demolition of Prestatyn Wanderers on Tuesday, May 7, lifted Y Glannau striker Harrison Bellis’ total up to 68 for the 2023-24 season.
Before his latest quintet, the 22-year-old had already passed last term’s total of 62.
Has netted a seven-goal haul, plus three fives and four fours during 2023-24.
2 Sam Giles (Acton – Tier 5) – 54 goals
(43 league, 11 cups – 29 appearances)
Giles passed the 50-mark in Acton’s 6-2 win at Holywell United on April 13.
Has notched eight hat-tricks this term, including two sixes, a five and a four.
In just 20 league matches he has banged in 43 goals and gained deserved silverware for his efforts at the weekend when Acton won the Two Counties Cup.
3 Harry Massey (Overton Recreational – Tier 5) – 52 goals
(44 league, 8 cups – 27 appearances)
Finished the season absolutely on fire with 17 goals in his last six matches, including all five in a 5-2 whipping of Aston Park Rangers.
Chalked up 10 hat-tricks over the season and is top scorer in the North East Wales League Championship on 44 goals.
4 Asa Thomas (Trearddur Bay) – 50 goals
(33 league, 14 cups – 29 appearances)
Having already passed the 700 career goals milestone this season, Asa recently hit the 50-mark in a single campaign for the seventh time.
The highest known goalscorer in North Wales football history, Asa was North Wales’ leading scorer last season with 75.
Has notched six club hat-tricks this term and is on course to win a Tier 4 league and cup double with the outstanding Trearddur Bay.
4 Jamie McDaid (Llanrug United) – 50 goals
(43 league, 7 cups – 28 appearances)
This amazing player has had a season to match his talent.
In just 28 league and cup appearances, McDaid has piled up 50 goals, his 43 in the league putting him top of the Tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier Division chart.
Jamie has all the pedigree having once represented Bangor City in the Welsh Premier League and in Europe.
6 Meilir Williams (Llanuwchllyn) – 41 goals
(24 league, 17 cups – 36 appearances)
A magnificent season for Llanuwchllyn sees him second top-scorer in the Tier 3 Ardal North East League on 24 goals.
The 27-year-old has also been successful in knockout competitions, scoring nine in the Welsh Cup and five in the FAW Amateur Trophy.
Previous clubs include Porthmadog, Conwy Borough and Blaenau Amateurs, as well as Penrhyndeudraeth, where he netted 100 goals in 90 appearances and was Welsh Alliance golden boot winner in 2018-19 with 28.
7 Callum Graves (Menai Bridge Tigers) – 40 goals
(30 league, 10 cups – 32 appearances)
What a finish to the season for this 28-year-old livewire!
Callum has scored in each of his last nine matches, blasting in 17 goals to reach 40 in total.
It has been a great campaign for Menai Bridge and Graves’ goals have been a central aspect.
He has netted five hat-tricks in all.
8 Kaine Bentley (Gwalchmai) – 39 goals
(30 league, 9 cups – 31 appearances)
Second youngest player in the top 10. This 20-year-old livewire is having a magnificent first season with Gwalchmai in Tier 4, having hit 30 league goals.
Having made his mark for Ynys Mon’s silver medal winning team at the 2023 Island Games in Guernsey, Kaine has gone on to shine for the Maes Meurig men in the North Wales Coast West Premier.
Has banged in six hat-tricks, including two fours.
9 Gerwyn Williams (Dolgellau AA) – 37 goals
(30 league, 7 cups – 30 appearances)
Leading scorer in the Tier 3 Ardal North East League with 30 goals.
Brilliant achievement by the Trawsfynydd Tornado to end up the highest marksman in a league of such good standard.
Has rarely failed to score in any match this season – remarkable consistency from a player still aged just 20.
9 Kallum Pierce (CPD Gronant) – 37 goals
(31 league, 6 cups – 30 appearances)
A marvellous first season in front of goal for a player which joined North East Wales League Championship runners-up Gronant at the start of the campaign.
Notched 38 goals for Aston Park Rangers last season, so could yet beat that figure with his new club.
Kallum has pocketed five hat-tricks in 2023-24, including a six and a five.
11 Callum Parry (CPD Y Rhyl 1879) – 36 goals
(24 league, 12 cups – 35 appearances)
Bagged 25 goals for Llanrwst United in all competitions before adding another 11 after joining CPD Y Rhyl 1879 in January.
With just over a goal-per-game average, it has been a fine season for the 26-year-old, who rounded things off nicely with a first hat-trick for the Lilywhites in a 3-1 victory at Llangefni Town.
11 Ryan Jones (Greenfield) – 36 goals
(25 league, 11 cup – 31 appearances)
Passed the 30-mark for the season with nine goals in his last two matches, including seven in a 10-1 triumph over eight-man Ruabon Rovers.
13 Jamie Williams (FC Plas Madoc) – 34 goals
(29 league, 5 cups – 24 appearances)
This veteran front man’s 34 goals, including 29 in the league, has helped guide Plas Madoc towards the Championship Division title.
Jamie, 34, has formed prolific partnerships with Ryan Jakovlevs (32 goals) and Nicky Williams (31).
13 Elliott Reeves (Flint Town United) – 34 goals
(33 league, 1 cups – 33 appearances)
The highest level player in this list has had an amazing debut season for Cymru Premier bound Flint.
Finished top-scorer in the Cymru North with 33 goals, having formed a dynamic partnership with Josh Jones, who hit 27 in all competitions himself.
A left-footed centre forward with a keen poacher’s instinct for goal, Elliott, 26, joined Flint last summer from Mickleover Sports in Derbyshire. He has also played for Alfreton Town, Margate, Ilkeston Town and Heanor Town.
It will be fascinating to see how he fares in the top-flight in 2024-25.
13 Jonny Crossley (Aston Park Rangers) – 34 goals
(league 27, cup 7 – 23 appearances)
Bagged a double hat-trick in September, hit 11 goals in three games during October – including a five – and added another five in a single match in December.
Great form from the 40-year-old net-buster.
ALSO ON FIRE THIS SEASON….
Ryan Jakovlevs (FC Plas Madoc) – 32 goals
(26 league, 6 cups – 24 appearances)
Just 17 years of age and already recognised as a major talent in Wrexham area football.
Notched a tremendous 32 goals in Plas Madoc’s championship-winning campaign, sharing the net-finding duties with the equally productive Jamie Williams and Nicky Williams.
From all reports, this teenager is certainly one to watch.
Robbie Parry (Bow FC) – 31 goals
(21 league, 10 cups – 28 appearances)
Attacking midfield maestro has been everything people expected him to be at Bow as the former Cymru Premier and Cymru North player rattled up 31 goals in his team’s North Wales Coast East Division One title and cup double success.
Owen Cordiner (Corwen) – 31 goals
(19 league, 12 cup – 26 appearances)
Prolific marksman for Corwen over the season with four hat-tricks included in his 31 goals across all competitions.
Will be hoping to celebrate lifting the North East Wales League Premier Division title with his club sooner rather than later.
Nicky Williams (FC Plas Madoc) – 31 goals
(25 league, 6 cups – 23 appearances)
Another goals fest from this prolific striker who was a key man in Plas Madoc’s Tier 5 North East Wales Championship Division title-winning side.
Corrig McGonigle (Bangor 1876) – 29 goals
(26 league, 3 cups – 35 appearances)
Reached the 400 career goals landmark in August and went on to have a tremendous debut season in Cymru North with Bangor 1876, finishing second highest marksman behind Flint’s Elliott Reeves.
Joe Jones (Llandudno Amateurs) – 29 goals
(24 league, 5 cups – 28 appearances)
Another great season for the skipper, who helped his team finish runners-up in North Wales Coast East Division One.
Azz Rogers (Llandudno Amateurs) – 29 goals
(22 league, 7 cups – 27 appearances)
There’s never much distance between Azz and Joe in the goal stakes.
Both are magnificent players for their club – as good as anything Tier 5 can offer.
Ben Hughes (Penyffordd Lions) – 29 goals
(league 16, cups 13 – 29 appearances)
A season to remember for Ben, who scored and laid on an assist when Penyffordd lifted the Premier Cup on May 4 with a 2-1 win over Connah’s Quay Town.
Michael Hayes (Flint Mountain) – 28 goals
(20 league, 8 cup – 40 appearances)
One of the signings of the season at any level.
His goals have helped Flint Mountain chase a treble. They are on course to win the Ardal North West League title, have reached the NEWFA Challenge Cup final, where they face Mold Alex this Friday and the semis of the Ardal Northern Cup.
There are still five possible games for this former Cymru Premier star to reach the 30-goals mark.
Nathan Williams (Rhydymwyn) – 28 goals
(21 league, 7 cups, 28 appearances)
Former Greenfield and Holywell Town Development striker who joined reborn Rhydymwyn this season and averaged a goal per game. Chalked up three hat-tricks. Injuries hit him hard after Christmas, allowing him just one full 90 minutes for the rest of the season, thus making his goals total in the time he had even more impressive.
Joshua Jones (Flint Town United) – 27 goals
(24 league, 3 cups – 35 appearances)
Joined Flint from Ruthin Town at the start of the season and was a resounding success in a prolific scoring partnership with Elliott Reeves for the Cymru North runners-up, who will be promoted back to the Cymru Premier at the first attempt.
Luke Baum (Talysarn Celts) – 27 goals
(23 league, 4 cups – 30 appearances)
Yet again this outstandingly consistent striker produced an impressive tally of goals for his side, which competes in the Tier 4 North Wales Coast West Premier.
Connor Owen (CPD Gwalchmai) – 26 goals
(19 league, 7 cups – 30 appearances)
This 19-year-old star grabbed a phenomenal 39 goals in 2022-23 and he has been magnificent again this season, netting 26 times.
His career tally for Gwalchmai (we estimate) stands at 77 goals from 94 appearances.
Llion Griffiths (Nantlle Vale Reserves) – 26 goals
(22 league, 4 cups – 25 appearances)
Nineteen-year-old hot prospect whose goals were crucial in Nantlle landing the FAW Reserve League Tier 3 North title.
Tom Watkin-Jones (Cerrigydrudion) – 25 goals
(22 league, 3 cups – 21 appearances)
Outstanding in attack for a Cerrig side which was in the North Wales Coast East Premier Division title race right till the end of the season.