The champions have finally been crowned and the play-off representative now confirmed in another outstanding season in the Ardal North-West.

With half of the sides in the division finished for the season and almost everything confirmed, here we take a look at where we stand for 2024/25.

Title Chasers

When Paul Moore took over Rhyl in November, the side were nine points adrift of top spot, four months later they’ve won the title with a game to spare. The 2-0 win over Llanrwst United in mid-April confirmed their status as champions before lifting the silverware during their final game of the season at home to Llannefydd. They ended the campaign on 71 points, winning 23 of their 30 games. Boss Moore lost just twice whilst in charge, with his first coming 16 games into his tenure. A deserved league title for the Lilywhites.

Rhyl boss Paul Moore has been a sensation on the North Wales Coast: Image Lock Stock / Lisi Jones

Play-Offs

The battle for second has also come to a conclusion with Holyhead Hotspur pipping Porthmadog to the runners-up spot. Hotspur are currently on an eight-game unbeaten run, which includes a 14-0 hammering of basement side Conwy Borough. They have a game left in the league coming this weekend as they take on their rivals for the campaign, Porthmadog, who’ll be looking to prove a point this Saturday. It’s been a remarkable season for Holyhead who reached the Fourth Round of the Welsh Cup, exiting on penalties to Cymru South side Carmarthen. 

Porthmadog will see this season as a missed opportunity to bounce straight back to the JD Cymru North, though. The side from Y Traeth led the league for large parts of the season, but a disastrous December and January that saw them lose four of their six games meant they loosened their grip. Coupled with no wins in their final four games, it’s going to be another season in the Ardal North-West for Port. 

Could Holyhead be on the rise?

The Bottom Three

Two of the bottom three have been confirmed for a while now with Conwy and Menai Bridge Tigers cemented at the foot of the table. However, though extremely unlikely, Nantlle Vale sit 14th and are all but confirmed to be in the bottom three even if they win at home to Llanrwst United this weekend. Sitting three points behind Felinheli, Nantlle’s goal difference of -29 compared to Felinheli’s -16 means they not only need to win against Llanrwst, but do so by 13 goals. It’s not looking great. 

Meanwhile, St Asaph City secured third-tier football for a third straight season when winning three of their final four games, having been in trouble for a stretch this season. 

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The Rest

Treaddur Bay have finished the season as the top-ranked promoted side from last season by finishing at a minimum the top five. Sitting fourth at the moment, the Ynys Mon side could well finish ahead of Porthmadog nd take third with two games left to play. 

Rhyl-based NFA have been excellent and, depending on results elsewhere, could have a top-six finish to the campaign. Connah’s Quay Town and Corwen both finished in the top ten to round off the league new boys. 

Honourable mentions must go to Llannefydd who secured a top five finish and meet Treaddur Bay for their final game and Llanrwst who’ve pushed on well from last season’s 10th placed finish. 

Corwen finish well in their first season back: Image – Lisi Jones

The Final

The Final of the Lock Stock Ardal Northern League Cup has now been confirmed with Porthmadog meeting Brickfield Rangers in Rhyl on May 17th. Port will be looking to put aside their disappointment in the league by lifting the cup, whilst Brickfield could make it a famous double alongside the North East title. 

Goal-Den Boys

Whilst still ‘technically’ able to be caught, Dylan Proctor’s name is all over the Golden Boot for 2024/25. The Rhyl striker has 28 goals in 24 games in the Ardal North-West, nine ahead of Porthmadog’s Tom Hilditch. Unless the latter grabs ten this weekend, it’s Proctor’s award and with the season he’s had, rightfully so. Corwen’s top ten finish can be attributed to a number of outstanding performers, but Sam Henry’s 17 goals were vital and see him in the top three, three goals ahead of Llion Morris (Llannefydd), Osian Jones (Llangefni) and Cory Williams (Holyhead). 

Goalden-Boy! Dylan Proctor finishes the season 28 goals: Image Lock Stock / Lisi Jones