IT was a case of so near, so far for Llandudno during Phase One of the JD Welsh Premier League season.

The club narrowly missed out on a top six berth after failing to get a victory at Cefn Druids last weekend, but despite being in the second half of the table at the split there is plenty for the Giant Hospitality Stadium outfit to be excited about in the coming months.

There has been plenty of upheaval with the departure of manager Alan Morgan and assistant Craig Hogg, with former captain and Caernarfon Town boss Iwan Williams coming into the fold alongside his number two Matty Williams, who is one of the most decorated players operating within the Welsh pyramid.

This has been well received within the squad and Williams has already begun to implement his style of play on the group, something which has brought with it a number of clean sheets thanks to a more rigid structure and willingness to defend as a unit.

Some familiar faces have once again been at the forefront of their success, with senior figures such as Marc Williams, Toby Jones and midfield talisman Danny Hughes all performing well on a consistent basis.

The likes of Newtown, Barry Town United and even improving Aberystwyth Town are going to put up a real fight to secure a Europa League playoff spot, but there is no doubt that Tudno are favourites to secure this spot thanks to the strength in depth they now possess in all areas.

Wes Baynes has fitted in superbly since his arrival from Airbus Broughton and already looks like he is going to play a huge part during the second half of the season, while the trio of Danny Shaw, Sam Hart and James Joyce have once again showed why they are so highly regarded by the backroom staff.

One thing that they must improve on is their goal tally, which has seen them score just 22 times in as many games and has been masked by their stout defence who have conceded just 20. The arrival of clinical finisher Marc Evans could provide them with what they need up-front providing he hits the ground running following a record breaking stint at Melville United in New Zealand.

If they can turn around their fortunes in-front of goal then it is going to be a second half of the season filled with promise, and the club does look like it is going in the right direction despite them missing out on a top half finish.

Top performer: Mike Williams

The former Football League star has been at his brilliant best throughout the season, and he has provided Tudno with a dependable presence at the back who demonstrates incredible leadership talents on the field.

He is an imposing figure who is also a threat at the other end of the field, and the fact he has signed on to remain with the club until the end of the campaign is a huge bonus.

Best result: 1-0 (W) vs Bangor City

Williams’ men claimed a New Year’s Day success over the Citizens in what was arguably their most polished performance of the season to date.

They took four points off their nearby rivals over the festive period, and results such as this prove that Llandudno are capable of beating anyone in the division on any given day.