How Connah’s Quay Nomads were crowned back-to-back Adran North champions

In the end it was not quite as emphatic as last season, but they still got the job done clinically.

Connah’s Quay Nomads became the first team to win back-to-back Genero Adran North titles after their 2-0 victory over Flint Town United on March 22.

Last Sunday, the Deesiders received the league champions trophy after rounding off their Adran North campaign with a 5-0 success at Berriew.

Alisha Whitehead-Hughes, Megan Andrews, Megan Galeandro (2) and Libby Mackenzie shared the goals for Nomads, who scooped the title by an 11-point margin – identical to last season.

Here is how they did it……….

12 GAMES 10 WINS 2 DRAWS – 2025-26 ADRAN NORTH CHAMPIONS

Oct 5: Llanfair United (a) 5-2

GOALSCORERS: Ella Jones, Hannah Slack, Polly Wild McGregor, Aimee Redfern, Megan Galeandro

Nov 2: CPDM Bangor (a) 9-0

Ella Jones 4, Hannah Slack, Aimee Redfern, Polly Wild McGregor 2, Natasha Spearing, 

Nov 16: CPDM Y Felinheli (h) 8-0

Ella Jones 4 (1 pen), Libby McKenzie, Megan Andrews, Polly Wild-McGregor, Megan Clarke

Dec 7: Flint Town United (a) 3-1

Ella Jones 2, Megan Galeandro

Jan 11: Berriew (h) 10-0

Ella Jones 6 (1 pen), Megan Galeandro 2, Polly Wild-McGregor, Elana Harley

Feb 1: CPDM Bangor (h) 4-1

Elana Harley, Ffion Bee OG, Ella Jones, Hannah Slack

Feb 15: CPDM Y Felinheli (a) 3-2

Ella Jones 2, Phoebe Ellis

Feb 22: Llandudno (h) 0-0

Mar 8: Llanfair United (h) 3-2

Hannah Slack, Millie Evans OG, Elana Harley

Mar 15: Llandudno (a) 0-0

Mar 22: Flint Town United (h) 2-0

Phoebe Ellis, Melanie Barlow

Apr 5: Berriew (a) 5-0

Alisha Whitehead-Hughes, Megan Andrews, Megan Galeandro 2, Libby Mackenzie

PLAYED 12

WON 10

DRAWN 2

LOST 0

GOALS FOR 52

GOALS AGAINST 8

GOALSCORERS (52)

Ella Jones 20

Megan Galeandro 6

Polly Wild-McGregor 5

Hannah Slack 4

Elana Harley 3

Megan Andrews 2

Aimee Redfern 2

Libby McKenzie 2

Phoebe Ellis 2

Own Goals 2

Alisha Whitehead-Hughes 1

Natasha Spearing 1

Megan Clarke 1

Melanie Barlow 1

NOT THE PERFECT SEASON

Last season, the Nomads won the title with a 100% record: Played 14 Won 14 Goals For 67 Goals Against 6 Winning points margin 11

This season they went unbeaten again but were held to two 0-0 draws by Llandudno. Record: Played 12 Won 10 Drawn 2 Goals For 52 Goals Against 8. So less goals scored and two more conceded, but still a tremendous goal difference. Winning points margin was 11, same as 2024-25.

CUPS

Nomads were able to concentrate on the league very early on due to poor showings in the cups. They failed to progress beyond the Adran Trophy group stage for the first time and slumped 2-1 at Llandudno in the Welsh Cup. There was no NEWFA Challenge Cup to participate in this season.

LLANDUDNO JINX

Despite finishing well ahead of Llandudno in the league, Nomads were unable to beat the Seasiders in four attempts, drawing 0-0 twice in the league, losing 1-0 in the Adran Trophy and 2-1 in the Welsh Cup.

ELLA JONES STARS

While Jones piled up an amazing 20 goals in seven league games and was a key factor in the Nomads winning the title again, she missed the closing three matches.

Nonetheless, the razor-sharp 21-year-old finished up Adran North top-scorer by some margin and became just the second player to net 50 times in the division’s history during the season.

INS AND OUTS

Last summer saw Nomads lose a few quality players from the 2024-25 tirle-winning 100% invincibles – Poppy Kendrick-Jones, Anna Marsh, top-class keeper Molly France and central defensive midfielder Keira Hardstaff, who moved to play in America, among them.

Jordan Parry needed to strengthen and brought in lively teenage striker Megan Galeandro, a former Manchester United prospect, who scored some vital goals in 2025-26, as well as experienced ex-Wrexham midfielder Libby McKenzie, but the arrival of much-hyped Paris Schofield from Llanfair proved very short-lived.

In the new year, young keeper Beca Davies landed from Llandudno and Tier 3 goal machine Lexi Walsh signed over from Kinmel Bay, with a view to 2026-27.

Many of last season’s squad shone again, including captain Polly Wild McGregor, young talent Hannah Slack and the dependable Elana Harley, as well as the unstoppable Ella Jones.

UNBEATEN RUN

Nomads end 2025-26 unbeaten in their last 29 Adran North matches. Their last defeat was 2-1 at CPD Y Rhyl 1879 in March 2024. 

NEXT UP

Can Nomads succeed where they failed last season and win the Adran Premier play-off?

They take on Adran South champions Cardiff Met in the play-off final at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, on Sunday, April 26, 2.30 pm.