2024-25 Adran North predictions: Can Llandudno win their third title?

The Adran North kicks-off on Sunday, with Llandudno aiming to retain the title.

Dudno won the trophy for the second time in three years in April, but failed to make it into the Adran Premier, losing to Briton Ferry in the playoff final.

Now, they want to defend their crown, but the chasing pack are closing on them.

Here’s our predictions for how the Adran North could shape up.

BANGOR

Last season: 7^th in Adran North

While the table suggests that Bangor struggled in their debut season in the Adran North, those underlying statistics tell a slightly different story. From a defensive point of view, Bangor were more than solid. Only conceding 35 goals all season, the club only conceded one more than fourth placed Rhyl.

It was at the other end where Bangor couldn’t find quality. Scoring 13 goals in 14 games, only relegated Airbus scored less. It’s certainly an area this summer that needed addressing, and they’ve done so by brining in Ashleigh Jones from Treaddur Bay. Also coming through the door are goalkeeper Catrin Roberts and defender Carol Lewis.

Aside from last season’s number one, Becca Elliott, moving to Adran Premier side TNS, most of the squad have stayed, and that will certainly help. Now the players know the level of the second tier, you have to believe there will be an improvement this year.

Their two games so far in the Adran Trophy are perhaps the biggest indicator of how the season could go; a 6-0 defeat to Connah’s Quay followed by a 7-1 triumph over NFA. The evidence is there to suggest that Bangor will have a better season, but contending with the league’s elite may be a bigger step up.

Clwb Pêl-Droed Prediction: 5^th

CONNAH’S QUAY NOMADS

Last season: 2^nd in Adran North

Many thought Connah’s Quay would win the title last season, but things well and truly fizzled out in the second half of the campaign. A loss to Llandudno, coupled with surprising defeats to Felinheli and Rhyl meant their title challenge fell away in the final weeks of the season.

Some in the team admitted they perhaps underestimated some of their opponents, but now, this is a squad that’s hungry to get their hands on a title that’s evaded them for so long. Experienced captain Kylie Jones has retired, while Llinos Hughes has moved to Rhyl, but now, youth is leading the way for the Nomads.

Polly Wild-McGregor has taken the captain’s armband, while youngsters such as Phoebe Ellis, Alisha Whitehead-Hughes and Emily Hughes-Jones are entering their second season. In addition to this, Nicole Samson, Natasha Spearing, Charlotte Bolland, and Mel Barlow add some Adran Premier experience to the team.

All in all, everything is in place for Connah’s Quay to have an incredibly strong season. They’ve already faced Llandudno in the Adran Trophy and defeated them. Mentally, that will give them a lot of confidence heading into the league campaign, and their name could well be on the trophy come April.

Clwb Pêl-Droed Prediction: 1^st

Connah’s Quay put faith in youth as they try to win Adran North

FELINHELI

Last season: 3^rd in Adran North

Without a shadow of a doubt, Felinheli were the surprise packages last season. A squad full of experience proved many doubters wrong as they pushed Llandudno all the way to the title. However, a 4-3 defeat to Dudno in their penultimate game put to bed their fairytale.

The biggest plus is that the majority of last year’s starters have remained on the Menai Strait. The likes of Catrin Evans, Ffion Williams and Fflur Williams have all stayed put and having that familiarity around the squad will help instantly. But some new faces have come in, as Ellie Jones, Elizabeth Maffia and Elis Williams will be hoping to contribute to another successful season.

The only thing that could trip Felin up is the fact that they are no longer a surprise package. Teams in the Adran North, especially the bigger sides, will know exactly what threats Felinheli carry and will nullify them quickly. The question this season will be, will Felin adapt their style to counteract this?

On paper, it is still a strong squad that has shown it can contend with stronger teams, and I would expect them to battle up at the top again this season.

Clwb Pêl-Droed Prediction: 3^rd

Six players to watch out for in the Adran North and Adran South

FLINT TOWN UNITED

Last season: 1^st in North Wales Women’s League East (Promoted)

Being a newly promoted side brings a lot of uncertainty, but in recent seasons, we’ve seen plenty of them surprise many. The question is, can Flint be the next one?

This is a team with plenty of players who look ready to make the step up from tier three to tier two, but they’ve also added some Adran North experience to the side. Kaelyn Williams and Carys Chaisty both join from NFA, while Alaw Jones joins from second tier side Denbigh Town. However, it’s the signing of India Howarth from Airbus that fans in Deeside are excited about.

If their two Adran Trophy games are anything to go by, Flint could well be the entertainers in this league. A 4-3 win against Llanfair United, followed by a 3-1 win away to Rhyl suggests not only do the Steelwomen know where the back of the net is, but also that they can compete in the second tier.

A good atmosphere can get you a long way in football, and that coupled with a more than capable squad means Flint could be a real surprise in this league.

Clwb Pêl-Droed Prediction: 4^th

Adran Leagues Transfer Tracker: Every deal from the summer window

LLANDUDNO

Last season: 1^st in Adran North (Champions)

Llandudno were head and shoulders above everyone else in the Adran North last season, as they finished six points ahead of Connah’s Quay.

Across the second tier, Dudno scored the most goals. Finding the back of the net 80 times, the team averaged a staggering 5.7 goals per game. The biggest positive heading into this campaign is that the champions have kept all their goal scoring parts. Maddie Williams, Kelsey Davies and Ella Jones will still don the striped shirt, while Stevie Donougher will return from her ACL injury later in the campaign.

The biggest question surrounding the side is, have they strengthened enough during the transfer window? Caitlin Hadaway and Mollie Roberts are the only new faces in the changing room but is it going to be enough. If the squad can keep up last season’s form, then new names may not be required.

Llandudno will be looking to secure their third title in four years, and this time, try and make it into the Adran Premier.

Clwb Pêl-Droed predicition: 2^nd

Llandudno aiming for Adran Premier after last season’s heartbreak

LLANFAIR UNITED

Last season: 6^th in Adran North

It was a mixed bag for Llanfair United last time out.

It took until mid-January for them to win their first game, but when they did, they managed to turn things around. Having flirted with relegation, Llanfair finished on twelve points, enough for them to record a sixth-place finish.

Llanfair already had some talented members in their team, most notably Mary Bailey and Harriet Davies, but over the summer they’ve added well. All three of their signings have come from Welshpool Town. Naomi Evans and Jenna Bell-Tomkinson will experience the second tier for the first time, while former Aberystwyth Town mainstay Lucie Gwilt will provide some much-needed solidity at the back.

Llanfair conceded 54 goals last season, the most in the Adran North, but having someone like Gwilt in their team will sew things up and be the basis of a solid season.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 7^th

NFA

LLANDUDNO, CONWY, WALES – 24th MARCH 2024 – NFA huddle before Llandudno FC Ladies vs NFA FC Women in Round 14 of the Genero Adran North at the OPS Wind Arena, Llandudno (Pic by Sam Eaden/FAW)

Last season: 5^th in Adran North

Another side who made their second-tier debut last season, NFA made a strong start to life in the Adran North.

Doing the double of Bangor and picking up a big win over Llanfair United helped NFA to a mid-table finish, a place they will look to finish again this season. However, they have lost some key players to rival clubs. Kaelyn Williams and Carys Chaisty have joined Flint Town United, Caitlin Hadaway has joined Llandudno, while Jade Scott has joined cross-town rivals Rhyl.

Mana Daneshvar and Mia Wall are the two new players to come in, both from Penrhyn Bay, but their Adran Trophy results are a cause for concern. A 9-1 defeat to Llandudno, followed by a 7-1 loss at home to Bangor is a sign that life could be difficult this season.

It will all be about making sure the defence stays solid all season, otherwise, it might be a long season for NFA.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 8^th

RHYL

Last season: 4^th in Adran North

There were plenty of reasons for Rhyl to celebrate last season.

The Lilywhites only lost five games, two of those coming against Llandudno, and picked up some impressive wins over the likes of Connah’s Quay. Conceding only 34 goals too tells a story. But it’s been a difficult start to the season.

Adran Trophy losses to Felinheli and Flint Town United perhaps shows other teams who were around them last season have strengthened a little better during the summer than they have. Jade Scott, Llinos Hughes and Jaz Mollat have come in, but can they rediscover last season’s form and propel them up the table?

It’s tough to predict how this Rhyl team will do, but if they can build their foundations on a strong defence, then anything is possible.

Clwb Pêl-Droed prediction: 6^th

CLWB PÊL-DROED ADRAN NORTH PREDICTIONS