Race for the Golden Boot

Race for the Golden Boot

The race for the Golden Boot is wide open this year with just one goal separating five players and only two rounds of matches left to play.

Rhys Hughes of Connah’s Quay is one of the top scorers, and with the Nomads set to face Barry Town United and Aberystwyth Town in their final games the 23-year-old is expected to add to his 14 league goals before the end of the season.

Connah’s Quay will take on Barry Town United on Sunday afternoon, a team that has only kept one clean sheet in their last 23 games, before facing Aberystwyth Town, which is the club that has conceded the most goals in the league this season.

Rhys Hughes has won the Goal of the Month award twice this season and has reached the shortlist on two other occasions, which proves that his contribution has been special and valuable for the Nomads since he joined over the summer.

Louis Lloyd from Caernarfon Town is the other joint top scorer, but there are tough games ahead for the Cofis against Pen-y-bont and Cardiff Met, and it will be a challenge for the 21-year-old to find the net against the elite.

Having said that Lloyd has hit three goals in his last two outings, which means that confidence will be high with no pressure on the Cofis in their last two games.

James Crole from Pen-y-bont is the league’s leading goal contributor so far with 13 goals and seven assists to his name.

Three of those goals came against The New Saints, including a great strike to win the game two weeks ago, and the result ensured that Pen-y-bont confirmed second place.

Pen-y-bont will face Caernarfon Town and Bala Town in their last two games, and Crole has already scored six goals in six games against those clubs this season.

Ollie Hulbert will be one to watch in the final two games as Barry Town United’s top scorer looks to lead his side into the play-offs.

Barry Town United take on Connah’s Quay and Briton Ferry Llansawel next, and Hulbert has already grabbed five goals in six games against those clubs this season.

Another one who has shone is The New Saints’ frontman, Aramide Oteh who has scored 13 goals since joining the champions from Walsall over the summer.

But with only one goal in his last four games in all competitions, the momentum is not on Oteh’s side.

Ben Ahmun has been enjoying himself since joining Haverfordwest County over the summer with 11 goals this season, but there are challenging games ahead for the Bluebirds against Cardiff Met and The New Saints.

Despite being in a disappointing position in the league, Newtown striker Aaron Williams is among the top scorers yet again this season, and after hitting 16, 17 and 19 goals in his last three campaigns, he is certainly a threat in the battle for the Golden Boot.

Brad Young was the winner of the Golden Boot last season, netting 22 goals for The New Saints before his move to Saudi Arabia over the summer.

No player from one of the southern clubs has won the Golden Boot since Rhys Griffiths won the trophy for the 7th consecutive season in 2011/12 while he was with Llanelli.

Griffiths totalled 19 goals in 2011/12, which is the lowest amount by a Golden Boot winner in the entire history of the league, but perhaps that record will be broken this season as it’s so tight in the race for the top scorer title.

Previous winners (during 12-team format)