Hitman McGonigle Danger For Conwy In Trophy Final

Conwy Borough, leaders of the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance, take on Wrexham club Rhos Aelwyd in the FAW Trophy Final at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium on Saturday (April 7, 2pm).

Both clubs are former winners of this trophy and came through six rounds to reach the final.

Conwy overcame Merthyr Tydfil-based Penydarren BGC in the semi-finals, while Rhos defeated Greenfield.

Huw Rowlands is the Rhos manager and he says: “Promotion is the main objective for us, but we are excited to be in the final of the FAW Trophy.

“Conwy are favourites, but the underdog tag suits us.”

The biggest problem for Rhos is likely to be stopping Conwy’s prolific goalscorer Corrig McGonigle, a 20-year-old striker who is far and away the leading goalscorer in Welsh Alliance football with a tally of 34.

Conwy Borough manager Gareth Thomas pictured with Corrig McGonigle. Pic: Conwy Borough.

In all matches his 2017-18 total is 49.

The hitman from Anglesey fired 59 goals for Glantraeth in their Welsh Alliance Division One title-winning season in 2016-17, while he fired 64 goals during the previous campaign.

In all competitions Welsh Colleges under-19 international McGonigle fired reached a total of 110, also playing for Bangor City’s under-19 development team (28 goals) and Coleg Menai (18 in 14 fixtures).

Former Halkyn United player Gareth Thomas, now aged 45, is the Conwy manager and he says: “Corrig is still young, but his goalscoring record is superb.

“He is an extremely clever player and I’m sure he will be given the opportunity to play at a higher level if he continues with his goal scoring. We hope his goals will help us earn promotion and he can play at a higher level with Conwy Borough next season.”

Rhos Aelwyd are second in Welsh National League Division One on goal difference and manager Rowlands said: “Delighted is an understatement when you reflect on our season so far.

“There is a buzz in the village knowing we are only 90 minutes away from winning this prestigious cup.

“It’s exciting to be in the final and challenge at the top of our division, but we have won absolutely nothing yet. We must stay focused on the task ahead.”

Rhos defender Tom Davies was in their team who won the FAW Trophy a decade ago, beating Corwen in the 2008 final, while club captain Aled Robertson has played a major role in helping the team close in on a league and cup double.

“All the lads are looking forward to it and going into the game with plenty of confidence off the back of a good run of form,” said Robertson.

Conwy are chasing a treble – Alliance title, FAW Trophy and Cookson Cup – and goalkeeper goalkeeper Ben Heald said: ”We are fighting on three fronts and while the club’s priority will always be to get back into the Cymru Alliance, for me personally the FAW Trophy is the one I’m desperate to win.”

“It’s been a really strong season for us and to have the chance to end up with three trophies at the end of it is brilliant.”

Borough, who were FAW Trophy winners in 1982, when they were known as Conwy United, have been in sensational goalscoring form this season, scoring 137 in all competitions.

“Conwy will be aware that all the pressure is on them as they are the clear favourites,” says This boss Rowlands.

“Nobody at the beginning of the competition would have named us as finalists, but here we are and we may spring one more surprise.”

Conwy follow the FAW Trophy final with another cup date next midweek. They play Barmouth and Dyffryn United in the Cookson Cup final.

Conwy Borough (from): Ben Heald, Ryan Roberts, Iolo Hughes (capt), Gerwyn Jones, Matty Hughes, Guto Hughes, Brendun Hogan, Nathan Williams, Anthony Williams, Tommy Creamer, Leigh Craven, Jamie Roberts, Warren Adams, Matty Lock, Tom Cad Williams, Sion Hogan, Corrig McGonigle, Cory Williams, Dean Seager, Adam Buckley.

Rhos Aelwyd (from): Steffan Parry, Will Dodd, Aled Robertson (capt), Ryan Jenkins, Tom Davies, Denis Piliner, Aled Dodd, Aled Parry, Jake Simms, Dan Harrison, Scott Reeves, Adam Griffiths, Dafydd Robertson, Ian Hughes, Jamie Rogers, James Haynes.

Conwy defeated Holyhead Town (h) 4-3 (aet); Coedpoeth United (a) 7-2; Cefn Albion (h) 2-1; Llanfair United (h) 5-4;  Grange Albion (h) 7-1 and Penydarren 3-0 on their way to the final.

Borough netted 28 goals in six ties and conceding 11.

Rhos Aelwyd won against Penycae (h) 2-0; Llanberis (h) 2-1; Mochdre Sports (h) 2-0; Abertillery Bluebirds (a) 3-1; Buckley Town (h) 1-0 and Greenfield 3-2 in their run to the final.

Rhos scored 13 goals and conceded four, also in six rounds.

FAW Trophy final (2pm) at Hollingsworth Group Stadium, Broughton

Entry: £4 Adults, £1 Concessions

Leading goalscorers in the Welsh Alliance:

1 Corrig McGonigle (Conwy Borough) 34 goals (29+5pens)

2 Sam Jones (Greenfield) 20 (20+0)

3 David Maddock (Llandudno Albion) 19 (19+0)

4 Mark Roberts 15 (13+2)

5 Alwyn Roberts (Mynydd Llandegai) 13 (13+0)

6 Allan Mark Owen (Llanrug United) 12 (12+0)

7 Harry Galeotty (LLangefni Town) 12 (12+0)

8 Mike Lundstrum (Llanwrst United) 12 (12+0)

9 Craig Moore (Trearddur Bay)) 11 (11+0)

10 Iwan Jones (Llangefni Town) 11 (9+2)

Lock Stock Welsh Alliance

Division One Table

# Team Pl HW HD HL AW AD AL W D L F A Diff Pts Adj
1. Conwy Borough 22 5 4 2 10 0 1 15 4 3 83 31 52 49 0
2. Llangefni Town 22 7 1 2 7 3 2 14 4 4 52 18 34 46 0
3. Llandudno Albion 19 8 3 1 4 1 2 12 4 3 60 30 30 37 -3
4. Llanrwst Utd 18 6 3 2 4 2 1 10 5 3 50 31 19 35 0
5. Llanberis 19 5 1 2 6 1 4 11 2 6 33 42 -9 35 0
6. Llandyrnog Utd 23 4 1 6 3 5 4 7 6 10 44 53 -9 27 0
7. Llanrug Utd 15 3 3 1 3 5 0 6 8 1 40 29 11 26 0
8. Mynydd Llandegai 18 2 1 4 5 1 5 7 2 9 42 54 -12 23 0
9. Greenfield 16 3 1 4 5 0 3 8 1 7 49 36 13 22 -3
10. Penrhyndeudraeth 20 3 2 6 3 2 4 6 4 10 39 37 2 22 0
11. St Asaph City 20 4 3 4 1 3 5 5 6 9 36 41 -5 21 0
12. Barmouth & Dyffryn Utd 19 3 2 4 3 0 7 6 2 11 21 35 -14 20 0
13. Pwllheli 22 4 0 7 1 2 8 5 2 15 35 74 -39 17 0
14. Trearddur Bay 22 4 0 7 1 1 9 5 1 16 35 71 -36 16 0
15. Nantlle Vale 19 1 2 6 2 1 7 3 3 13 17 54 -37 12 0

Welsh National League

Premier Division P W D L F A Pts
Brickfield Rangers 16 13 1 2 54 21 40
Cefn Albion 21 12 2 7 56 43 38
Corwen 19 11 2 6 55 33 35
Buckley Town 15 11 1 3 48 13 34
Llanuwchllyn 19 9 3 7 40 34 30
Chirk AAA 19 9 2 8 39 27 29
Mold Alex 19 9 2 8 38 39 29
Rhostyllen 18 9 2 7 37 38 29
Lex Glyndwr 18 7 6 5 38 27 27
Saltney Town 18 8 2 8 37 38 26
Llay Welfare 18 6 5 7 37 37 23
Hawarden Rangers 18 6 1 11 28 39 19
FC Nomads 19 5 2 12 30 45 17
Penycae 18 3 3 12 23 50 12
Coedpoeth Utd 17 0 2 15 15 91 2
Division One P W D L F A Pts
Brymbo 15 12 1 2 63 22 37
Rhos Aelwyd 15 11 3 1 51 17 36
Llangollen Town 17 11 0 6 65 38 33
Cefn Mawr Rangers 12 8 3 1 40 18 27
Maesgwyn 17 7 1 9 52 64 22
New Brighton Villa 16 6 3 7 24 37 21
Castell AC 18 6 2 10 34 51 20
Rhydymwyn 17 4 6 7 44 51 18
Overton 15 3 2 10 25 41 11
Mynydd Isa Spartans 10 2 3 5 20 25 9
Johnstown Youth 16 1 2 13 22 76 5
Reserves Division P W D L F A Pts
Cefn Druids 19 16 2 1 74 27 50
Ruthin Town 19 16 1 2 68 27 49
Gresford Athletic 18 11 1 6 47 29 34
FC Nomads 16 10 0 6 53 29 30
Hawarden Rangers 18 8 3 7 42 39 27
Flint Town United 18 7 3 8 45 40 24
Buckley Town 14 6 4 4 49 24 22
Chirk AAA 17 6 2 9 36 50 20
Mold Alexandra * 16 6 4 6 44 40 19
Queens Park 20 4 2 14 28 65 14
Corwen 17 2 1 14 25 47 7
Castell AC 18 1 1 16 17 111 4
Reserves & Colts P W D L F A Pts
Brickfield Rangers 14 11 1 2 61 25 34
Rhostyllen 14 11 1 2 54 20 34
Rhos Aelwyd 13 10 2 1 48 21 32
Ruthin Town 17 8 3 6 44 26 27
Llay Welfare 16 8 3 5 42 27 27
Cefn Albion 16 8 2 6 47 35 26
Overton 17 7 3 7 45 44 24
Coedpoeth Utd 14 5 0 9 26 47 15
Maesgwyn 17 4 3 10 45 71 15
Brymbo * 13 5 1 7 35 48 13
New Brighton Villa 14 4 1 9 29 43 13
Mynydd Isa Spartans 13 3 1 9 30 41 10
Holywell Town 11 3 1 7 18 35 10
Johnstown Youth 15 3 2 10 23 64 8

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