The Lock Stock Ardal North West is bursting with battles across the table as the nights begin to draw in.

There’s plenty to play for in an intense race at both ends with those at the top beginning perhaps to break away. 

Leading the Way.

A third of the way in and there’s two sides as it stands battling it out for the top spot. Bangor City 1876 and Porthmadog are proving to be the dominant force in the division in the early going, with the Citizens top of the pile by a point. Both nine games in, they also met recently at Bangor City Stadium, where the home side ran rampant in a 5-1 win. Bangor remain the only unbeaten side in the division, whilst Porthmadog’s only loss has come at the hands of their Gwynedd rivals.

Prestatyn currently sit third and four points adrift of Porth. Winning six of ten so far, the Seasiders will hope to pick up form following two defeats in their last four league games. Llangefni wrap up the top four a point behind Prestatyn and six off top spot as the quartet look to pull away, but with Prestatyn and Llangefni playing a game more than those in the following five places, that could easily change.

A Good Start

NFA have begun their second season in the third tier well and currently occupy fifth in the standings. They’ll need to find consistency to maintain a challenge at the top but the Rhyl-based side will be pleased with how they’ve begun. As will Llanwrst United and Llannefydd, who sit on 15 and 14 points respectively, though with ten points separating 7th from the final playoff position in 2nd, they’ll need to continue to push to throw their hat in the ring. 

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The Rest

Trearddur Bay were tipped to challenge again this season but things haven’t gone to plan so far, sitting 8th and 12 points adrift of top spot. They did remind everyone of their prowess last weekend with a 5-1 thumping of Llangefni away from home, but recent defeats to Prestatyn and Connah’s Quay have hurt them. Bethesda’s hopes of not repeating their one and done campaign in tier three two years ago are still intact as they take 9th with four wins from ten whilst Llay Welfare round off the top ten. Newly promoted Mynydd Isa have won half of their games so far, proving that feel-good factor of promotion last term is still alive. 

Need to Get Going

Just one side remains winless in the North-West with strugglers St Asaph City rooted to the bottom of the table and parting ways with manager Dan Sleet just two months into the role. Having had a three point deduction and drawing once and losing the remainder ten games in, they sit with -2 on the table and eight points adrift of 15th. 

Felinheli sit above them with two wins so far, whilst Penmaenmawr, winless until mid October, bagged back-to-back victories over Felinheli and NFA to rise to 14th where one more could see them well clear of any danger. 

Connah’s Quay Town and Pwllheli will need to grab points to pull away from any trouble early on. 

Scoring Boots

Bethesda’s Osian Hughes remains top scorer in the division with nine goals and has been integral to his side’s good start, whilst Callum Parry is up to his old tricks for Llanrwst by bagging eight. 

Cavan Daley (Llay), Corrig McGonigle (Bangor), Byron Davis (Felinheli) and Tom Hilditch (Trearddur Bay) all sit on seven goals to wrap up the top three. 

Coming Up

Four games take place in the division this weekend with others involved in the Dragons Signs Amateur Trophy. 

Porthmadog will look to leapfrog Bangor who are in trophy action in their trip to Connah’s Quay, whilst St Asaph have their first chance at points away at Llay. 

NFA battle with Mynydd Isa in an interesting clash whilst out west we’ll see Pwllheli face off with Trearddur Bay.