Looking back at 2016
10 Top football moments of 2016... Dave Jones selects some of the finest footballing achievements from the Mail area over the past 12 months
TREARDDUR BAY UNITED – WELSH ALLIANCE DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS
A MAGNIFICENT end-of-season run which delivered 34 points from 12 games clinched Trearddur Bay the Welsh Alliance Division One title at the very first attempt.
Two goals from Asa Thomas in a 2-0 victory at Llandudno against Abergele Town secured the biggest trophy yet in Bay’s short but glorious eight-year history.
Formed as a Saturday club in 2008/09, Trearddur won the NWCFA Junior Cup, Thomas and Williams and Dargie Cups in their very first season.
The Dargie and Elias were lifted in 2009/10, then the following term reaped four trophies – Anglesey League title, Dargie, Megan and Thomas and Williams Cups.
The 2011/12 season brought the Gwynedd Cup, following which Chris Davies stepped down as manager after scooping 10 trophies across four campaigns.
Former Holyhead Hotspur boss Mark Williams took over for 2012/13 and he won the Gwynedd League in his first season, going unbeaten throughout.
Two seasons in Welsh Alliance Division Two saw Trearddur finish third twice, the latter feat seeing them promoted to Division One, where they finished champions at the first time of asking.
BANGOR CITY – WELSH PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
CITY’S Under-19 team were crowned national champions in May.
The Citizens claimed a dramatic 4-3 extra time victory over Cambrian and Clydach in the Welsh Premier Development League Play-Off Final at Newtown, Sion Bradley (3) and Corrig McGonigle the scorers.
Bangor had earlier finished top of the WPDL North.
BRO GORONWY WIN QUADRUPLE
LEE Potter’s side beat Llanfairpwll Reserves 4-1 in May to seal the Anglesey League title.
That made it a unique quadruple for the Cae Nerys club, who also lifted the Bwlch Car Boot Cup, Elias Cup and Megan Cup, as well as finishing undefeated in the league.
LLANFAIRPWLL RESERVES – NWCFA JUNIOR CUP WINNERS
IN a hugely impressive performance at Bangor City’s Nantporth ground, Llanfairpwll Reserves defeated Vale of Clwyd and Conwy League Division One champions Llanfairfechan Town by a convincing 4-0 margin to lift the Junior Cup.
Shaun Morris (2), Liam Morris and Aled Steele notched the goals for the islanders, who finished runners-up in the Anglesey League.
RECORD-BREAKER CORRIG MCGONIGLE SCORES 64 GOALS
ACE marksman McGonigle finished leading scorer in senior Anglesey soccer in 2015/16, securing the annual Bob Brodie Trophy with a record tally of 64 goals.
McGonigle represented Pentraeth last season, then in the summer secured a move to Huws Gray Alliance champions Caernarfon Town.
He has since signed for Welsh Alliance leaders Glantraeth, where he has netted 23 goals in 12 appearances.
GLANTRAETH WIN COOKSON CUP
IT was another great night in Glantraeth’s history in April, as the Anglesey village side beat Llanberis 3-0 at Bangor City’s Nantporth Stadium to win the Cookson Cup for the first time. Gerwyn Jones, Mike Lundstram and Craig Roberts shared the goals.
LLANGOED LIFT LUCAS OIL DARGIE CUP
LLANGOED and District became the first winners of the Anglesey League Lucas Oil Cup when Mitchell Jones’ last-minute goal clinched a 1-0 victory over Llanfairpwll Reserves in April’s final at Llangefni Town.
It was Llangoed’s first trophy in 12 years and they were also runners-up in the Elias and Megan Cups.
SIX GOALS FOR MEL MCGINNESS V MOLD
HOLYHEAD Hotspur striker McGinness made big waves in September when he netted a double hat-trick in his team’s 8-1 home thrashing of Mold Alex in the Huws Gray Alliance.
HOLYHEAD HOTSPUR 5 DENBIGH TOWN 4
ARGUABLY the game of the 2015/16 season in the Huws Gray Alliance saw Hotspur edge a nine-goal thriller over high-flyers Denbigh in March.
The visitors led 2-0 at half time, Holyhead levelled through Corey Jones and Ryan Jones early in the second period, Town nudged back in front, then Hotspur took the lead via Kenleigh Owen and Dean Garmey.
Denbigh made it 4-4 in the 83rd minute but the drama was not over as the Harbourmen’s Alex Jones grabbed the winner on 89.
BANGOR CITY 4 RHYL 3 – TWICE
TWICE in 2016 Bangor broke the hearts of their biggest rivals with late winners in 4-3 victories.
In January, Rhyl led three times at Nantporth, yet Steve Lewis clinched an amazing triumph over his old club thanks to a hat-trick which included a remarkable 90th minute decider.
Then two months later at the Corbett Sports Stadium, Rhyl were 3-1 up with eight minutes left. Cue a Michael Elstone goal and a late, late Rio Ahmadi double to pinch a win for City.