WHILE many expected them to claim the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division One title, Conwy Borough exceeded all expectations with one of the finest campaigns in their history.

The Tangerines secured a notable treble from their sensational efforts throughout the season, and they will now ready themselves for a return to the Huws Gray Alliance after just one season in the third tier.

Gareth Thomas assembled a heavyweight squad littered with talent during the summer for the title favourites, and he selected the right sort of characters that all gelled together almost instantly.

This proved to be the catalyst behind their success, and although they may have had the biggest budget and the best squad, it is another thing entirely to produce a consistent run of results over a prolonged period and come away with multiple honours.

They were there to be shot at, that’s for sure, and the likes of Llangefni Town and Llanrwst United gave them plenty to think about during a frantic fixture list that was severely hampered by the weather, but Boro managed to stand firm in the face of some adversity to achieve and surpass their pre-season objectives.

When you look at the team’s success, looking at frontman Corrig McGonigle is a great place to start. The talented striker has been at the top of his game once again and managed to get past the 40-goal mark to lead his side to glory, and the former Bangor City Academy star will now finally get the chance to prove himself in the second tier after missing out with Glantraeth last term.

Another hugely influential member of the squad was Tom Creamer, with the hometown hero scooping a plethora of individual end of season awards in recognition of his outstanding contribution to get his beloved Tangerines back to the HGA.

The return to fitness of Cory Williams at a critical stage of the season was another huge plus, as were the signings of Leigh Craven and Dean Seager from Llandudno Junction, who provided goals and more big game experience to a talented young squad with the potential to go very far if they remain together as a unit.

Brendun Hogan and Matty Lock have provided an assured presence at the other end of the field for the Tangerines, with their level of commitment and quality on the ball aiding the team’s cause considerably throughout.

The manager has also emerged from the season with an enormous amount of credit and can be enormously proud of the way he has led his team this season.

Thomas was on a hiding to nothing in some respects when you consider the expectations surrounding the club after their relegation, but he has not only recruited well, he also picked the squad up during difficult stages of the season, kept morale high and let them continue to express themselves and play football the right way.

Obviously things are going to be more difficult next year in what promises to be another highly competitive HGA, but there is no doubt that with a few tweaks this squad can compete with higher quality opposition.