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.
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 |