Welsh National League: Who’s top and bottom at Christmas?

Every team wanted to achieve the distinction of being “top at Christmas” and it was certainly no different in the Welsh National League.

Many Premier Division teams are aiming for the ‘promised land’ of the 2020-21 Cymru North, or simply trying to maintain their position within the league, which is planned to be taken over by the FAW next season as part of their Cymru Leagues organisation plan.

Premier Division Top: Rhostyllen FC

The Vicarage Hill outfit have surprised many this season by finding themselves top of the Premier Division at Christmas and New Year, having won ten of their thirteen games this season, and having a 100% record away from home.

They are also the top scorers in the league, having scored 43 goals already, with 20 of those goals coming from the league’s top goalscorer, Tom Douglas, contributing to Rhostyllen’s impressive goal difference of +25, which could prove crucial as the season progresses.

The league is still a close contest, with last season’s FAW Trophy winners, Cefn Albion, just a point behind in second (but having played a game more), with Alex Williams’ 12 goals being a considerable factor in their promotion challenge.

Whilst last season’s runners-up, Queens Park, are only a further point behind in the third position. They have the league’s second-highest goalscorer in Barry Torrence, who has scored 15 goals of their 34 league goals so far

The team to potentially watch out for in 2020 will be Holywell Town, who are currently positioned in fourth place, and five points from the top. After having their season delayed, they have played three games fewer than the league leaders, but are unbeaten in their ten league games so far.

In addition, they have the league’s tightest defence, having only just conceded six goals so far.

Bottom: Brickfield Rangers

The 2017-18 runners-up have had a wretched season so far, having started the season on minus three points, and only find themselves on -1 come the festive period.

From their ten league games, they have only scored eight league goals but conceded a second-worst defence of 34 goals.

Their two draws from their league campaign being the only highlights of the season so far. However, they can take some heart from the fact that just above them on 0 points is Castell Alun Colts, who have lost all 14 of their league games so far.

The newly-promoted side have struggled to cope in the third tier this season, having conceded an astonishing 54 goals so far. 12 of them coming away at Holywell Town at the end of November.

Another team who have surprised everyone with their poor form is Chirk AAA, who have an identical league performance to Brickfield, with just two draws from their ten league games.

Despite having a decent defence (conceding just 24 goals), the five-time Welsh Cup winners are clearly struggling to score goals having only scored just ten goals this season.

Division One Top: Hawarden Rangers The Flintshire side are currently top of Division One on goal difference, having scored an impressive 36 goals from their eight league games so far.

The relegated club have the league’s top goalscorer, Tom Bridges. to thank in that department, having contributed 10 goals to their campaign, whilst Tom Janney has chipped in with a further six goals for Rangers.

On 18 points with Hawarden is Cefn Mawr Rangers, who are having a stellar start to their league campaign. They have only lost once this season (losing to Hawarden 1-3 in early September) and conceded just nine goals from their seven league games, as well as being the team in form in the league.

Ryan Harden contributing significantly to their promotion drive, having scored 7 of their 20 league goals this season.

Llangollen Town, who agonisingly missed out on promotion by goal difference last season, are also another title challenger, situated just three points behind the Rangers’ sides, and having played a game fewer than Hawarden.

They will certainly fancy their chances of the league title having beaten Hawarden 1-0 at the start of November.

Bottom: Johnstown Youth

Last season’s bottom side find themselves in familiar territory for this season.

They are bottom of the Division One table on minus three points, and having lost all eight of their league games so far in 2019.

Clearly there are problems at both ends of the pitch by being the worst goalscorers (two goals) and worst defence (60 goals) in the league.

However, the side has managed to win a league game this season, beating Rhosllanerchrugog 2-1 in early November.

But with the Wasps resigning from the league just before Christmas, and having all their results expunged, it has left Johnstown with a dismal looking record.

However it was announced that a number of coaches and players from Rhosllanerchrugog would be moving to Johnstown, so perhaps there may be some positivity for them in 2020.

They’ll be hoping to chase down Overton Recreation, who have just earned three points from their eight league games – a 3-1 victory over Halkyn & Flint Mountain in late August.

With both bottom sides having not played each other this season so far, the two league games will be crucial in 2020 to decide the fate of whom finishes bottom of the Division One table.