Looking back at 2016
10 Top football moments of 2016... Dave Jones selects some of the finest footballing achievements from the Herald area over the past 12 months
CAERNARFON TOWN WIN HUWS GRAY ALLIANCE DOUBLE
CAERNARFON clinched the league title in some style at the end of April with a remarkable 7-0 victory at nearest rivals Cefn Druids.
And Town followed up by becoming just the fourth HGA club to complete the double when they defeated Flint Town United in the League Cup Final.
The Canaries also had a great run in the Word Cup last season, knocking out Welsh Premier sides Bangor City and Bala Town before being eliminated in extra time by gap Connah’s Quay.
Unfortunately, despite finishing up as HGA champions, Caernarfon were refused promotion to the Welsh Premier as they failed to secure a domestic licence.
CAERNARFON TOWN KNOCK CARMARTHEN TOWN OUT OF WELSH CUP
GIANT-KILLERS supreme Caernarfon again proved they have the measure of most Welsh Premier sides by dumping Carmarthen Town out of the Welsh Cup in early December.
Goals from Jamie Breese (2) and Darren Thomas secured a well-deserved 3-1 triumph for the Huws Gray Alliance champions at The Oval.
Next up is a home tie against Welsh Premier Rhyl in the new year.
LLANYSTUMDWY RAISE NWCFA INTERMEDIATE CUP
GWYNEDD League side Llanystumdwy were worthy winners of the Intermediate Cup in May when a Sion Parry hat-trick clinched a 3-0 victory over Vale of Clwyd and Conwy champions Llandudno Albion at the Bangor University Stadium.
PENRHYNDEUDRAETH LIFT MAWDDACH CHALLENGE CUP
PENRHYNDEUDRAETH celebrated the most significant triumph in their long history with a convincing 4-1 triumph against Anglesey aces Glantraeth at Nantporth, Bangor.
Two goals by teenager Sion Bradley in the space of four minutes around the hour provided the breakthrough, and Meilir Williams drilled a third goal, before Paul Roberts added a late fourth.
Y FELINHELI LAND THE DOUBLE
EURON Davies’ Felinheli side were crowned Gwynedd League champions despite a 2-1 home defeat to Aberffraw on May 14.
That completed a double for Felin,who the previous month beat Menai Bridge Tigers 2-0 in the Meditel Gwynedd Cup Final.
LLANLLYFNI SCOOP TAKE STOCK VAN HIRE CUP
IN May’s final of the Welsh Alliance Division Two Take Stock Van Hire Cup, Llanllyfni proved too strong for a Prestatyn Sports side which finished up with nine men.
Goals from Aeron Pritchard (2), Gerwyn Williams, Robert Daniels and David Parry clinched a 5-1 victory and the trophy.
TROPHY FOR BONTNEWYDD
BONT lifted the Gwynedd League’s Safeflue Shield at the end of last season after beating Aberffraw 3-1 in the final at The Oval, Caernarfon.
Gareth Edwards (2) and Callum McDonald provided the goals for the winners.
CAERNARFON TOWN LADIES IN GREAT FORM
CAERNARFON look to be surefire bets to land the North Wales Women’s League title after ending 2016 with an 11-point lead at the top of the table having won 13 of their 14 matches with a stunning 94 goals scored and just seven conceded.
Top-scorer is Catrin Thomas, sister of Caernarfon Town hero Darren, with 32 goals including seven on her birthday in a 12-0 demolition of Prestatyn on December 18, but it has been very much a team effort from the Canaries.
Last season also saw Caernarfon lift the Betty Pickering Cup in May after beating Llanfair United 3-0 in the final.
JULIAN WILLIAMS HITS FOUR GOALS FOR PORTHMADOG
TO score four goals in a game at any stage of a season is quite a feat but to do it in your very first match in more than impressive.
Julian Williams landed a quadruple in Porthmadog’s 6-2 Huws Gray Alliance League romp at Mold Alex on August 13.
Williams is a consistent goal-getter for the Traeth side and is their current top-scorer for 2016/17.
BETHEL LADIES WELSH CUP RUN
IN the new year North Wales League side Bethel have a home Welsh Cup quarter-final to look forward to against current holders Cardiff City FC Women.
Having already knocked out Penrhyncoch (5-1) and last season’s semi-finalists Denbigh Town 3-2, the Cardiff challenge will be a whole lot tougher for the Caernarfon area team.
But Bethel are having a fine season in the NWWL and look a decent shout for a top-four finish.