As the Ardal North East carriers into the second half of the season, everything hangs in the balance. 

With teams beginning to come to terms – both good and bad – with what they’ll be battling, here we take a look at the last month in the third tier. 

Leading the Way.

Top of the league since August, Llanuwchllyn went into the weekend unbeaten in their opening 15 games. However, Dolgellau had other ideas when they made the trip to Village Hall with the visitors recording an outstanding 2-3 win to stun the leaders.

It’s narrowed the gap for Knighton who sit second in the table who took on Bow Street in a battle between two of the top three. It was the mid-Wales side who picked up maximum points at Bryn-y-Castell. Despite defeat. Bow Street are eight points adrift but not totally out of the title picture. 

Chasing the Top 

The same can be said of surprise package Penycae but the Wrexham side have played more than anyone in the top four and need to reduce a deficit of nine points to challenge at the top. Cefn Albion are 14 points away, but have two games in hand over Llanuwchllyn so could propel themselves forward, though two loses in their last three has hampered them.

A gap has formed from 5th downwards, with another surprise package in Rhos Aelwyd rounding off the top six and newly promoted Llanrhaeadr comfortable just below. Radnor Valley make up the top half but the gap feels a little too much for the last three to make up and challenge – but stranger things have happened. 

Need to Get Going

Corwen’s upheaval has seen them drop to 9th having been tipped to challenge for promotion this year, losing three on the bounce before returning to winning ways last weekend. 

Dolgellau have underperformed but their win over the unbeaten league leaders could be a springboard to pick up in the second half of the campaign. Llandrindod, Llanfair and Kerry – the latter regressing from last year’s sensational first season in tier three – all sit in the bottom half but with two possible relegation spots, look fairly ok for now at least.

Lex are yet to record a win this season with 15 games played. Two draws has them on as many points but they haven’t picked up anything in their last seven league games. Llangollen sit above them on seven points, and are four points adrift of Builth Wells who sit one place above them. 

Scoring Boots

Meilir Williams. Obviously. He’s now up to 29, and is on course to beat his 38 last year, and already surpassed 23/24’s total of 28.

Knighton’s Luke Boundford at 37 has shown no signs of slowing down by bagging 16 goals in 14 games for the promotion chasers. Penycae’s Zac Davies rounds off the top three with 14 this season

Rhys Hughes (Bow Street) has 13 and Alex Williams (Cefn Albion (12) complete the top five. 

Coming Up

A Boxing Day derby is coming up in mid-Wales as Llandrindod face Builth Wells. Just seven miles separate the two sides whilst both look to kick on at an important stage of the campaign. 

It’s followed by a full list of fixtures on January 3rd with the pick of the fixtures coming at Llanrhaeadr who take on Penycae, both sides have started well this year and are chasing a possible top two challenge. 

January 3rd:

Bow Street v Lex

Builth Wells v Llanfair United

Cefn Albion v Llandrindod Wells

Dolgellau v Kerry

Knighton v Radnor Valley

Llangollen v Llanuwchllyn

Llanrhaeadr v Penycae

Rhos Aelwyd v Corwen