Football: Dave Jones' review of the Cymru Alliance season

Jun 3 2008 By Dave Jones

SPORTS editor DAVE JONES takes a look back on how the Vale of Clwyd’s top three football clubs performed during the 2007/08 season in the Cymru Alliance League.

AFTER a five-season absence from the Cymru Alliance, DENBIGH TOWN can feel very satisfied with an eighth place finish on their return.

The 2006/07 Welsh Alliance champions came up with a strong squad but the campaign was a stop- start affair for the most part.

Cup commitments and numerous postponements put them well behind the majority of clubs in the fixtures, so much so that in three months between the end of November and mid-February they only played four matches with just one league game in both December and January.

Town were strong at home in the early stages with victories over Holyhead Hotspur, Llandyrnog United and Mynydd Isa at Central Park particularly pleasing, but they learned they were not quite ready for the elite in double defeats against champions Prestatyn Town and Llandudno. Tim Dyer’s men did doubles themselves over Buckley, Guilsfield, Lex and Llandyrnog and will have been delighted with their 1-0 home win over eventual runners-up Bala Town towards the end of the campaign.

Goals were not always in plentiful supply, Ian Evans and Kenny Burgess jointly topping the chart with 14, but were nicely spread around the squad.

Denbigh will be proud of the fact they finished the highest-placed Vale of Clwyd club and also won the "grand slam". In matches between Vale sides, Denbigh won two and drew two, thus topping the unofficial merit table.

Town also reached the semi-finals of the Cymru Alliance League Cup and North Wales Coast Challenge Cup and it took class sides in Bala Town and Flint to knock them out.

LLANDYRNOG UNITED’S season was a real curate’s egg affair – good in parts.

John James’ men finished 12th, well clear of the relegation places, but with a bit more consistency could have secured a higher berth.

Dyrny took four points out of six off Bala, becoming the first side to beat them at Maes Tegid, and were at their best in record 6-2 home thrashings of high flyers Flint Town United and Holyhead Hotspur.

Putting up great performances in losing efforts against champions Prestatyn and Llandudno in October, the villagers had a fantastic December which culminated in joint chiefs James and Roger Beech winning the Manager of the Month award.

In a golden spell they saw off Holyhead (6-2), Buckley Town (4-0), Llanfairpwll (3-1) and Ruthin Town (1-0) with Jon Slater banging in seven goals during the month.

The on-fire Slater was snapped up by Welsh Premier League strugglers Caersws early in the New Year and with that went Dyrny’s form. After the turn of the year Llandyrnog picked up just 10 points out of a possible 36.

United reached the second round of the Welsh Cup where they gave eventual winners Bangor City a good argument before going down 3-0 at Farrar Road.

Whereas the start of 2008 signalled a dip in fortunes for neighbours Llandyrnog, RUTHIN TOWN’S results took an upsurge.

The beginning of the season was nothing short of a disaster. Town won just three out of 18 matches and were embroiled in a relegation battle.

Following a 6-0 home loss to Prestatyn on January 12, however, there were big changes at the Memorial Fields.

Former Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Caernarfon Town and Llangefni Town manager Adie Jones took over as Ruthin boss and things were transformed almost overnight.

In came some highly influential signings, including Mike Garrod and Mike Robinson from Upton Athletic, Ben Collins from Christleton and goalkeeper Simon Williams from Gap Queens Park.

From the start of February until their final game on May 2, Ruthin scooped an outstanding 24 points out of a possible 39, clinching 13th place. Included in that spell were a win over top five side Holyhead and away triumphs at Penrhyncoch and Guilsfield during a run of four straight victories.

The way Ruthin finished the season suggests they can finish much higher next term if they keep the current squad together.