The shortlist for April’s Player and Manager of the Month awards in the JD Cymru Leagues has been confirmed.
The fans’ vote will be combined with a league and independent voting panel to determine the winners.
JD Cymru Premier
Manager of the Month
Richard Davies – Caernarfon Town
Despite starting the month with a 3-1 defeat against Penybont, the side responded with a 2-1 win over Cardiff Met to complete their Championship Conference campaign to head into the European Play-Offs on a high. A resounding 5-2 win over Barry Town United followed as Richard Davies’ side booked their place in the semi-final.
Lee Fowler – Flint Town United
Flint Town United enjoyed a perfect April to complete their league season as a 2-1 win away to Briton Ferry Llansawel was followed by a convincing 4-0 win over relegated Newtown. Lee Fowler’s side finished ninth in the JD Cymru Premier table, below Connah’s Quay Nomads only on goal difference.
Andy Legg – Barry Town United
Barry Town United completed their Phase Two fixtures with a 2-0 win over Connah’s Quay Nomads to secure the final Play-Off place and then finished in style with a 5-0 win at home to Briton Ferry Llansawel. However, the Play-Offs would prove a step too far for Andy Legg’s side as they suffered defeat to Caernarfon Town.
Player of the Month
Ryan Brobbel – The New Saints
The creative midfielder was involved in both April matches for champions The New Saints and chipped in with an assist for the opening goal in the 2-1 win over Bala Town before adding his name to the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory away to Haverfordwest County a week later. It was his fourth JD Cymru Premier goal of the season.
Louis Lloyd – Caernarfon Town
It was a memorable month for Louis Lloyd as the 21-year old scored in all three of Caernarfon Town’s games during April, scoring six goals in total. On target against Penybont and Cardiff Met to share the league’s golden boot with Bont’s James Crole, Lloyd claimed the headlines in the Play-Off victory over Barry Town by scoring four of the goals in the 5-2 win.
Caernarfon Town | The Spirit – JD Cymru Leagues
Adam Roscrow – Cardiff Met
Despite not scoring for his club since September last year, Adam Roscrow scored in both April fixtures for Cardiff Met as the striker found the back of the net against Haverfordwest County and Caernarfon Town. The 30-year old then played the full-match as Bala Town were beaten 1-0 in the European Play-Offs.
Elliott Reeves – Flint Town United
Scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Briton Ferry Llansawel made it a positive start to April for Elliott Reeves and he added another in the 4-0 win over Newtown in the final match of the campaign. Reeves ends the season with an impressive 11 JD Cymru Premier goals to his name in his debut campaign in the top-flight.
JD Cymru North
Manager of the Month
Gavin Allen – Guilsfield
Guilsfield continued their excellent March form into April and once again went through the month undefeated. A 5-1 win away to Flint Mountain was followed by a 2-1 win against Llay Welfare to complete the JD Cymru North campaign and with it a seventh-place finish for Gavin Allen’s men.
Dave Evans – Ruthin Town
Ruthin Town claimed four points from their final two games of the season in April and did not concede a single goal in the process. Following a 0-0 draw away to top half Buckley Town, Dave Evans’ team ended the campaign with a 1-0 win at home to Bangor 1876 to secure survival and relegate the Citizens in dramatic style.
Michael Wilde – Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay sealed the JD Cymru North title in April with a 3-0 win over Llandudno and a 1-0 victory away to Penrhyncoch to complete the season three points ahead of rivals Airbus UK Broughton. Michael Wilde’s side lost just won league during the entire campaign and more than deserve their return to the JD Cymru Premier.
Player of the Month
Dan Atkins – Colwyn Bay
After opening the scoring in the 3-0 win over Llandudno, Dan Atkins netted the only goal to defeat Penrhyncoch on the final day which clinched the title for Colwyn Bay. It also meant that Atkins has scored in each of his last five JD Cymru North games.
Nathan Brown – Denbigh Town
Nathan Brown finished the season on 19 league goals after scoring three in two matches in April. After bagging a brace and an assist in Denbigh Town’s 5-0 win over Llay Miners Welfare, the forward also found the net in the 3-3 draw with Gresford Athletic on the final day.
Jamie Hyne – Guilsfield
It proved to be an impressive month for 26-year old Jamie Hyne as he started April by providing an assist in the resounding 5-1 win over Flint Mountain before scoring both goals in the 2-1 win over Llay Welfare on the final weekend.
Matty Williams – Ruthin Town
Defender Matty Williams was ever-present for Ruthin during the back-to-back clean sheets in April which began with a 0-0 draw away to Buckley Town. The season then ended on a high as the 27-year-old provided a cushioned header to assist substitute Jamie Reed for the decisive goal in the crucial 1-0 win over Bangor 1876.
JD Cymru South
Manager of the Month
Sam Houldsworth – Newport City
A perfect March for Newport City was followed by a perfect April as Sam Houldsworth’s side claimed a third-place finish in the JD Cymru South. A 2-0 win over Cwmbran Celtic and a 3-0 win against Goytre United on the final day meant that the side went through April without conceding a single goal.
Lee John – Llanelli Town
The JD Cymru South title was achieved for Llanelli Town in April as a 1-1 draw away to Cambrian United was followed by a huge celebration at Stebonheath a week later. With promotion and the league title secured, Lee John’s side eased past the challenge of Trefelin 3-0 to lift the trophy in front of the their fans on the last day of a memorable season.
Garry Taylor – Afan Lido
After a difficult start to the year, Garry Taylor’s side confirmed their JD Cymru South status for another season in April. An impressive 1-0 win over title challengers Trethomas Bluebirds ended their opponents’ hopes of catching Llanelli Town, and Lido then completed the campaign with a 3-1 win at relegated Taffs Well to finish in 11th place.
Player of the Month
Liam Eason – Llanelli Town
One of the real stars of Llanelli Town’s title-winning campaign, Liam Eason ended the season in style by scoring in both the 1-1 draw with Cambrian United and in the 3-0 win over Trefelin. Eason arrived at the club in January and scored in each of the last six league games of the season.
Toby Jones – Carmarthen Town
The 22-year old has enjoyed an extended run in the starting line-up at the end of the season and repaid the faith shown in him by scoring the opening goal in the 1-1 draw against Baglan Dragons before contributing two assists in the 5-5 draw with Penrhiwceiber Rangers on the final weekend.
Jack Lansdown – Llantwit Major
The 35-year old goalkeeper brought his career to a close in April and went out in spectacular style. Captaining the side in his final two games, Lansdown kept a clean-sheet in the 1-0 win over Caerau Ely before saving a penalty in his last ever match against Cwmbran Celtic a week later, even though it wasn’t enough to prevent his side slipping to a 1-0 defeat.
Kofi Rowe – Newport City
An impressive end to the season for Newport City was boosted by the contribution of Kofi Rowe. After providing an assist in the 2-0 win over Cwmbran Celtic, Rowe then scored the second and third goals in the 3-0 win over relegated Goytre United in the final match of the campaign.
