The Ardal North West has well and truly taken shape with the top and bottom of the table establishing itself, for some it’s now or never. 

Here, we take a look at the beginning of 2026 in what has been a telling month across the division. 

Leading the Way.

Surely now it’s official. We’ve got a two-horse race. 17 games in and Bangor are unbeaten having dropped just four points all year, but they still can’t shake off their rivals for the silverware.

The Citizens have won seven games in a row and will need to manage the fight for the league with battles on several fronts, including the Quarter-Finals of the Welsh Cup, FAW Amateur Trophy and Ardal Northern League Cup. It’s a lot of games to get through and if they can navigate successfully, they could lift more than one title come April. The addition of multi-Cymru Premier winner Declan McMannus may be the most high-profile signing in the division’s history and strengthens an already outstanding side.

Porthmadog remain firmly in the hunt, three points adrift but have played a game more. Port missed out on the top two last term but will be confident of going one better. With no more cup commitments, they can focus solely on the league which could give them an edge, but Bangor will remain favourites for now.  

The Chasing Pack

The gap between second and third has grown significantly to 14 points, meaning those below Port will have the slimmest of hopes of even a playoff spot. NFA are the side who sit third ahead of Llay on goal difference. The Rhyl-based side in their second season in the third tier have been superb and made serious progress. Without a defeat since October, goals are spread across the side, but most notably, they have the second-best defensive record after leaders Bangor, allowing just 22 in 17 games. 

Llay and Prestatyn came down last season and likely won’t be returning at the first attempt, so a solid finish to the year to take into 26/27 will be important to two teams rebuilding. 

Bethesda’s return compared to their last season in the league has been chalk and cheese, with striker Osian Hughes firing them forward as top goalscorer for the division; they’ve already surpassed their last points total of 19 by ten, having overtaken that tally by November. 

Elsewhere, Trearddur Bay’s three-point deduction earlier in the year has them 7th as opposed to 3rd, showing just how tight things are, whilst Llangefni’s form has seen them plummet to 8th with no wins in the league in seven games. At one point they looked like the third side in a possible promotion push. 

Should Have Enough

It’s been a bit of an underwhelming campaign for Llanrwst, who many expected to be at least in the mix around the top six but they lay 9th six adrift of Llangefni, but do have a couple of games in hand.

Newly promoted Mynydd Isa have had a great campaign all things considered in 10th and will be happy to go again next season, two wins on the spin has moved them right up the table and a couple more and they should be comfortable.

Finally, just below them are Llannefydd. An unfathomably difficult time for everyone at the club following the passing of forward Morgan Jones, they sit 11th with a couple of games played less than the rest, and here’s hoping they can regroup in memory of a talented and much-loved teammate. 

Battle at the Bottom

For the bottom three, the pressure will be mounting. St Asaph City’s one win all season and three-point deduction has them on two points, 15 adrift of 13th. Penmaenmawr looked to turn a corner earlier this season but they remain six points away, but do have three games in hand of Connah’s Quay in the final safe spot. Felinheli managed to stay in the division last term and are two points off it with two games in hand.

For Connah’s Quay Town it’s an uneasy situation, particularly after a positive first season last year. They’ve played more games than anyone in the bottom half of the table and are sitting dangerously above the bottom three. They aren’t in action this weekend, so where they remain come the beginning of February isn’t in their hands. However, with recent additions, they’ll hope to be boosted in the final leg of the campaign.

A point above them is Pwllheli, another side that managed to do enough last year but have more work to do. Two wins from their last three games has done them to world of good and another at the weekend could drag others into a scrap.  

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Up for the Cup

There are still places up for grabs in the Quarter-Final of the Lock Stock Ardal Northern League Cup. From the West Connah’s Quay take on Llangefni to earn the right to face Bangor in the Quarter-Final, whilst Trearddur Bay journey to North East side Cefn Albion in the last-eight.

Llay Welfare will travel to Rhos Aelwyd for an all-Wrexham affair or make the long trip to Knighton, depending on the winner of their Second Round clash between the latter two. 

Scoring Boots

As mentioned, Osian Hughes sits top of the charts with 17 goals for the campaign but Bangor Corrig McGonigle is close behind on 15. Felinheli forward Byron Davies, Trearddur Bay’s Tom Hilditch and Llay’s Jonathan Collo make up the top five with 13 apiece. 

Coming Up

This weekend six games take place in the North West with perhaps the pick of them coming at Y Traeth. Porthmadog could – with Bangor in Cup action – take over at the top on goal difference, though they’d need an emphatic win. That being said they take on a solid Bethesda side in sixth who know a win could take them into the top three if results elsewhere allow. 

Felinheli host NFA, knowing three points could be massive, but the visitors are so difficult to break down, whilst Llay and Llannefydd will be a really close contest. St Asaph have 13 games to pull off the greatest of escapes, and they need to start now at home to Llanrwst. 

Elsewhere, Penmaenmawr travel to Prestatyn on Saturday and Pwllheli go to Mynydd Isa. 

January 31st:

Felinheli v NFA

Llay Welfare v Llannefydd

Mynydd Isa v Pwllheli

St Asaph City v Llanrwst United

Porthmadog v Bethesda Athletic

Prestatyn Town v Penmaenmawr Phoenix