12 hot-shots who can prove the scourge of N. Wales defences
IT promises to be another thrilling season across North Wales football with the potential for lots of goals.
While each member of every squad has a part to play, more often than not it is the prolific goal-getters who make the headlines.
Here are 12 hotshots who could make a huge impression across the pyramid.
NICKY WILLIAMS (PLAS MADOC)
North East Wales League newcomers Plas Madoc are delighted to have persuaded the prolific Williams to drop two levels from the Welsh National League Premier Division with Chirk AAA.
It is a case of returning home for Williams as he started playing men’s football with Plas Madoc when they were known as Communities First, back in 2007.
Now Communities First have started up again as Plas Madoc with a lot of the original players, including Williams, who is already off the mark this season.
TOM HADLEY (HOLYHEAD TOWN)
A young talent who had a cracking debut season last time out with Town, scoring 31 goals as his new team landed an Anglesey League treble.
He is expected to fare just as well as the Harbourmen rise up to the Gwynedd League.
ASA THOMAS (HOLYHEAD TOWN)
The netting-machine who scored 112 times in 47 matches in the 2010/11 season and has bagged in the region of 350 goals in his career is expected to make a big impression for the Harbourmen in the Gwynedd League. Thomas has been a prolific marksman in the Welsh Alliance and poached a few in the Huws Gray Alliance, so the Gwynedd could prove rich pickings for this razor-sharp finisher.
CORRIG MCGONIGLE (CONWY BOROUGH)
An obvious choice considering he netted 59 goals in 35 starts for Welsh Alliance Division One champions Glantraeth last season. Perhaps the most natural goal poacher in North Wales football right now, he will be aiming to fire Conwy to the title at the same level. He started off with a hattrick for the Tangerines in an 8-0 hammering of Llanberis.
MICHAEL LATHAM (FC QUEEN’S PARK)
A major player in manager Martin Ford’s plans to make a big impression in the Huws Gray Alliance this season.
Latham joined Queen’s last term from Gresford Athletic, where he had carved out a reputation as a quality front-man. He went on to have a great season for Queen’s as they won the WNL Premier title.
Also had brief experience in the Welsh Premier with Cefn Druids.
JOHN LITTLEMORE (HOLYHEAD HOTSPUR)
This could be a big season for the 22 year-old, who has played in the Welsh Premier for Cardiff Met and Bangor City.
Made his mark with Anglesey side Bro Goronwy and represented the Welsh Schools FA and Welsh Colleges before joining Bangor. Now has the chance to make an impact in the Huws Gray Alliance with Hotspur, for whom he scored a hat-trick in preseason against Llanrug.
STEVEN WHITTAKER (BODEDERN ATHLETIC)
Netted 25 in Welsh Alliance Division Two for Cemaes Bay last season and is expected to impress at the same standard with new club Bodedern.
Strong front-man, leads the line well and, most importantly, knows where the goal is.
Won the Bob Brodie Trophy in 2014/15 after scoring 42 times for Cemaes.
JOSH DAVIES (DENBIGH TOWN)
Had a brief spell with Rhyl in the Welsh Premier last season, but is best remembered for his 22 goals at Porthmadog in the Huws Gray Alliance in 2014/15.
That suggests he can produce the goods back in the HGA with Denbigh this term.
Also has past good scoring record for Ruthin Town and Llandyrnog United.
JAMIE BREESE (CAERNARFON TOWN)
In his first two seasons with the Canaries, dynamic finisher Breese has chalked up 59 goals in 80 appearances in all competitions.
With Town having such a strong squad this season and expected to be pushing for the Huws Gray Alliance title, no doubt this popular front-man will have a big part to play.
RICHARD ROBERTS (ABERFFRAW)
Scored 37 goals in all competitions for Berffro in the Gwynedd League last season – can he now do similar in Welsh Alliance Division Two with his newly-promoted team-mates?
There is a pretty good chance this pacy goal poacher will do just that.
JOE CHAPLIN (PORTHMADOG)
Porthmadog have always had an eye for a sharp goalscorer and in Chaplin they have signed a gem.
Scored regularly last season for a struggling Conwy Borough in the Huws Gray Alliance, earning himself a move to Welsh Premier club Llandudno, which unfortunately did not work out.
MIKE CHAPMAN (LLANDUDNO AMATEURS)
Chapman has scored for fun at Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League level with Llandudno Albion and Llanfairfechan Town and there is no reason whatsoever to doubt he will do exactly the same in Division One this season for Sandy Malone’s newly-formed Llandudno Amateurs.