Battling back! A look at how Corwen FC have transformed their fortunes this season
Corwen Football Club are on the way back!
The Edeyrnion side captured their first league title in 25 years on Tuesday night when they drew 3-3 at Penyffordd Lions to be crowned champions of the Tier 4 North East Wales Football League Premier Division.
It was their first league title since 1998-99, when they became Welsh National League (Wrexham Area) Premier champions.
Just four years ago, Corwen were in Tier 2 Cymru North, but two subsequent seasons in T3 Ardal North East ended in relegation last term to fourth-tier football for the first time since 2003-04.
This season Jamie Hulse’s side have bounced back in glorious fashion, winning their first 12 matches to build a mighty lead at the summit. They achieved the longest run of successive victories in the whole of North Wales men’s football in 2023-24.
In their first six wins, they conceded just a single goal.
Corwen did not lose a single league game until April 20 when they went down 3-1 at Coedpoeth United. Their first league points were not dropped until early April.
Wins over fellow high-flyers Connah’s Quay Town (4-3 and 7-1) and Rhostyllen (6-1 away) were huge in terms of establishing a large gap between themselves and the rest.
It has been a fantastic team effort from Corwen, with star billing arguably going to Owen Cordiner, who has scored 23 league goals and 32 in all competitions to date.
Alex Webster and Robbie Williams have been invaluable in the double-figure goal stakes also, with captain Scott Evans and Henry Evans prolific with assists and in dead-ball situations.
Les Brophy has been a colossus at the back, while Corwen have coped well despite having to field a number of keepers over the season, perhaps part-explaining that dip in form after going 14 games undefeated.
After that impeccable first dozen results, they had collected just eight points out of a possible 18 before Tuesday’s visit to Penyffordd earned them the draw they needed to clinch the title.
Following two quick relegations, Corwen are moving back in the right direction.
HOW THE TITLE WAS WON
Aug 12: Greenfield (a) 2-0
Aug 26: Coedpoeth United (h) 6-0
Sep 9: Caerwys (h) 2-0
Oct 14: Caerwys (a) 6-0
Nov 11: Castell Alun Colts (a) 6-1
Nov 18: FC Queen’s Park (h) 4-0
Nov 25: Greenfield (h) 5-2
Dec 16: Rhostyllen (a) 6-1
Jan 13: Ruabon Rovers (h) 3-1
Feb 3: Connah’s Quay Town (a) 4-3
Feb 24: Ruabon Rovers (a) 4-2
Mar 23: Castell Alun Colts (h) 3-1
————————————
Apr 6: Rhostyllen (a) 2-2
Apr 13: Connah’s Quay Town (h) 7-1
Apr 20: Coedpoeth United (a) 1-3
Apr 26: Lex XI (a) 2-2
May 4: FC Queen’s Park (a) 0-2
May 10: Lex XI (h) 3-2
May 14: Penyffordd Lions (a) 3-3
To play
May 17: Mynydd Isa (h)
May 21: Mynydd Isa (a)
May 24: Penyffordd Lions (h)
Top scorers (league only)
23 – Owen Cordiner
13 – Alex Webster & Robbie Williams
6 – Matty Gilsenan
4 – Henry Evans, Tom Williams