Player of the Month

Darren Thomas of Llangefni Town wins the Principality Welsh Premier Player of the Month for March after he hit a fine run of form, scoring eight goals during the month resulting in three wins for Llangefni and thus enabling them to move off the bottom of the table.

His striking power has revitalised the club's fight against relegation and he will be keen to maintain his form in the last few weeks of the season and pull Cefni clear of the drop. The highlights of the month for the hot-shot were two fine hat-tricks in terrible conditions against Port Talbot and then in the mud versus Neath Athletic at Cae Bob Parry, whilst he also bagged an impressive brace against Aberystwyth Town.

Darren Bach, as he is affectionately known at the club, may be one of the youngsters in the team, but he is arguably one of the most talented as well, as he frightens opposition defenders as he runs at them with close control, which has been the catalyst for his excellent scoring streak.

Kelly Williams, Manager of Bangor branch of Principality Building Society, said;

"Darren's goals have undoubtedly played a significant part in helping Llangefni to stay in the League, which makes him a very worthy winner of this award. He is an excellent striker and it is great to see young talent being recognised in this way. That's one of the reasons why we're so proud to sponsor the League.

"As the second season of the Principality Building Society Welsh Premier Football League draws to a close, it's an opportunity to reflect on a great season of football." (Photo courtesy of: Richard Birch)

Welshpool Town midfielder Ross Stephens has been awarded the Principality Welsh Premier Player of the Month for February 2008.

The 22-year old finished February just as he started it - Scoring a tremendous individual goal to win the match for the Lilywhites. In his first game of the month in the Welsh Cup, at the scores locked 1-1 at Welsh League side Bryntirion Athletic, the left-sided midfielder struck an unstoppable shot to seal a Welsh Cup Quarter Final place, in what would be a potential Goal of the Season. In his final game of the month against his former club Rhyl in the League, Stephens struck another memorable goal from the edge of the box to seal all three-points at Maesydre and the Man of the Match award from former boss John Hulse.

In between, these two efforts, he gained the Man of the Match award in the 1-1 draw against Connah's Quay Nomads, but the visit to Carmarthen Town was one to forget for all of the Welshpool players as they lost 5-2. To cap it all off in February, the former Caersws midfielder was a late-addition to the Wales Semi Pro Under 23 squad and came off the bench against England to win his first Wales Cap in Exeter.

Donna James, Manager of Llandrindod Wells branch of Principality, said; "Ross Stephens has performed outstandingly this month and we are delighted that he has been awarded February's Player of the Month. We would like to congratulate Ross on his achievements in February and wish him and the team well for the rest of the season."

Llanelli's Red-Hot striker Rhys Griffiths has been awarded the Principality Welsh Premier Player of the Month for January 2008. He gains his first Award of the Season after an excellent start to 2008. He was a transfer target of Swiss Premier club Aarau before Christmas, but turned down a move to Europe and signed a new two-year deal at Stebonheath and he has continued his Red Hot Form for Llanelli.

The League's leading scorer has now scored 34 goals this season, and bagged an excellent eleven in the month from just six games. He started with a hat-trick and was also named Man of the Match on New Years Day against Carmarthen Town in the Carmarthenshire derby, and followed that with another three and the Man of the Match at NEWI Cefn Druids. He then struck twice in the Premier Cup against Wrexham and was the BBC's Man of the Match and scored another brace at home to Llangefni Town, as well as gaining the Star Man award again. He scored in the 3-3 draw against Neath the following week, but was then sidelined for two matches (Caersws and Aberystwyth) with a groin strain, before enduring his only barron match of the month in the Welsh Cup against Newtown.

Griffiths last won the coveted monthly Award in October 2006 and he is again one of the main reasons why his side are challenging for their inaugural Principality Welsh Premier League title. He was the Winner of last season's Golden Boot Award to add to his 2005/06 Player of the Year and Golden Boot Awards. The Fireman also won his first Wales Semi Professional Caps last summer and scored on his debut against Scotland.

Rhian Davis, Manager of Llanelli branch of Principality Building Society said,

"Congratulations to Rhys Griffiths, whose golden boot has been on fire this season! As the season draws to a close, Llanelli AFC are in a strong position to steal the Principality Welsh Premier League. Let's hope Rhys has a few more goals up his sleeve! We wish the team every success in the coming months."

The Principality Building Society Welsh Premier Player of the Month Award goes to Connah's Quay's Wes Kilgannon.

An unlikely candidate one might say with Nomads really struggling of late, but Wes thoroughly deserves the award as he becomes one of the few players to gain the opposing Managers' man of the match award for his every appearance in December.

Connah's Quay Nomads boss Jim Hackett completed the signing of Chester-born striker Wes Kilgannon just before the start of the 2007/08 season. Kilgannon had worked under Hackett before, whilst the pair were at Chester City Youth. Nomads Secretary Bobby Hunter was full of praise

"A deserving award for the lad who has worked hard over the last few weeks during our injury crisis and has now adapted well to the WPL in whatever position he has been asked to play."

Mark Pennell, Manager of Principality Building Society in Mold, said, "I would like to congratulate Wes Kilgannon on winning Principality Player of the Month award. Connah's Quay Nomads have been struggling recently but Kilgannon has performed outstandingly well in spite of this. His commitment and enthusiasm for the team is admirable. I hope that the coming months will bring more success for the team."

The Principality Player of the Month goes to Aberystwyth Town's Luke Sherbon who has been in great goal-scoring form for the Seasiders. The Ceredigion-based outfit have climbed into the Top Eight of the League and progressed through to the Semi Final of the Loosemores Cup this month and the 21 year-old has been one of the catalysts for that success. The Birmingham-born forward has bagged five goals in as many League and League Cup games and his blossoming attacking role with striker Jamie Reed is proving to be one of the most potent in the League.

Sherbon scored one of the goals in the 6-0 win against Haverfordwest County, which guaranteed their progression through to last eight of the League Cup and then followed that up with a brace against Llangefni Town in the League at Park Avenue. He also struck in the away draw at Llandarcy Park against Neath Athletic and finished the month with a penalty in the 0-3 win at Richmond Park in the Loosemores Cup.

Sherbon first appeared in the Welsh Premier with Barry Town during their 'troubled days', but still managed to impress in a poor team. He re-signed for Aber after appearing for them as a Youth team player and the former Leeds and Man Utd trialist, has flourished ever since.

Phillip Richards, Manager at Aberystwyth branch of Principality said, "Aberystwyth Town has had some great wins this month and I would like to congratulate Luke Sherbon on a well-deserved Player of the Month. "Luke is an excellent striker and it is great to see young talent being recognised in this way. That's one of the reasons why we're so proud to sponsor the Principality Welsh Premier Football League. We wish Luke all the best this season - we're all relying on his golden boot!'

The Principality Building Society Welsh Premier Player of the Month Award goes to Welshpool Town's Chris Venables. The Welsh Semi Professional International only moved to Maesydre in the summer from Caersws and he has fitted into his new squad with aplomb. The ex-Shrewsbury Town man has been a revelation for Tomi Morgan's side, scoring nine goals from the Midfield (four in October), which is an excellent return. The twenty-two year old was awarded the Man of the Match Awards by Llangefni boss Adie Jones and Rhyl chief John Hulse in League matches this month. Chris capped a fine October with a call-up to the Wales Under 23 Semi Professional squad for the match against Italy on Wednesday.

Deborah Slawson-Davies, Linkage Manager of Shrewsbury branch of Principality Building Society, said, "Congratulations to Chris Venables on becoming Principality Player of the Month, having only recently moved to the Welshpool team.

"Welshpool have enjoyed a good set of results this year and we would like to wish Chris and the team every success for the rest of the season. We are proud to be sponsors of the league for the second consecutive year and to be committed to grass roots sport."

Rhyl striker Andy Moran has picked up the Principality Building Society Player of the Month Award for August / September after an excellent start to the season. Moran has scored six League goals, three of which were penalties, as well as one in the Loosemores League Cup. It's not only his goals that won him the award, however, as his work ethic around the field gained him four "Man of the Match" awards from opposing Managers.

Carol Pritchard, Manager of the Principality Building Society in Prestatyn said, "Andy Moran is never goal shy and this season has proved no exception. Congratulations to Andy on winning this award for a great start to the season. We're hoping he's got plenty more goals up his sleeve as the season progresses."

Moran, who was born in Wigan, is a former Bamber Bridge, Derry Utd and Hereford Utd striker and he is one of the longest serving players at Belle Vue and he is also one of the most popular players at the club, so the Rhyl faithful will be delighted that he has scooped this award.

In his Belle Vue career, Moran has played almost 150 League games to date and was was the leading scorer in the Welsh Premier League in the 2003-04 season and helped the Lilywhites to a League, Cup and League Cup treble.