The Lock Stock Ardal North West is looking as exciting as expected this year with battles across the table. 

Here we take a look at the state of play across the division.

The Title Race

A third of the way in and we’ve got ourselves a three horse race at the top of the table. Trearddur Bay are currently six points clear and unbeaten after 10 games, and are the only club not only with 40+ goals this season, but nobody else has grabbed more than 30 just yet either. The Beach Boys have dropped just four points so far and have won each of their last six games.

Looking to keep up, both Llannefydd (2nd) and Prestatyn Town (3rd) do have two vital games in hand over the leaders. Both sides remain unbeaten after eight games and we may well be setting ourselves up for one of the best title battles in the country if things carry on like this. 

Aiming High

Cracking the top three is going to be difficult this year by the looks of it, let alone the top two. Pwllheli, Nefyn and Penmaenmawr are all waiting in the wings from 4th to 6th on 16 points. Pwllheli just need some consistency whilst Nefyn’s four league wins on the bounce have propelled the newly promoted side. Penmaenmawr battled hard last season and have shown no signs of a tricky second season, winning five of their opening 10 games. 

Not Far Off

NFA on the face of it have perhaps taken a slight step back from last term, where they were so resilient for large parts of the campaign. They sit 7th but know a win could lift them as high as fourth. Felinheli and Llanrwst are just a point behind and would be right in there with three points. The latter have now bagged back to back wins for the second time this season, and a win of Felinheli next week would confirm a first trio of wins of the season. 

Llangefni have been unable to recreate last year’s hot start to the season as they sit 10th with 11 points whilst Llay have also found things tough so far a place and a point below them. The latter’s back to back wins in their last couple of league outings will bring them some confidence ahead of their clash at the weekend. 

Early Strugglers

Four points separate bottom side Bethesda and new-boys Kinmel Bay in 12th as sides begin the scrap at the wrong end of the table. Kinmel Bay have been waiting for life back in the third tier and wins over Bethesda and Pwllheli will give them heart. They sit a place above Mynydd Isa who are looking for their first win in four.

Another newly promoted side, Broughton United, have won two of their opening nine games as they reach this level for the first time. Remaining in the division and pushing on will be a priority for the Orange, who currently sit in the bottom three.

Image: Connah’s Quay Town FC

The final two of Connah’s Quay Town and Bethesda will be desperate for points as we enter the heavy winter months. Town know a win could lift them as high as 11th, but seven losses on the bounce in all competitions will be a cause for concern.

Bethesda’s struggles with a number of summer departures isn’t a surprise, though their win over Connah’s Quay at the end of September was something to build on. A draw with Llay completes their tally of points, as they stay three points off the side they took their only win from. 

Top Marksmen

Callum Parry’s 13 goals in the league this season tops the charts with the former Llanrwst man grabbing five in his last four games. He’s being chaced by two team mates in Osian Hughes and Ash Ainsworth. The top three scorers in the division all coming from Trearddur Bay is telling and is now surprise to them topping the table.

Tom Hilditch, a familiar name at the top of the chart in the Ardal Leagues sits on seven for Prestatyn along with Felinheli’s Gruff John, Llanrwst’s Luke O’Mahoney and Pwllheli’s Osian Thomas. 

Coming Up

Three games take place this weekend across the league with a couple of key battles. Connah’s Quay could leapfrog Broughton or the latter could pull away from trouble as 14th meets 15th. Felinheli and Llay know they’ll shoot up the standings with three points whilst Llannefydd travel to Nefyn. A win for the visitors would see them pull within three points of the leaders, but Nefyn will rise into the top four with success at Cae’r Delyn.