VOTING FOR THE FOUR PLAYER OF THE SEASON AWARDS HAS OPENED, SO LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT THE RUNNERS AND RIDERS. EVERY DAY UNTIL SATURDAY WE’LL GO THROUGH THE CONTENDERS FOR ONE OF THE TROPHIES

THE CONTENDERS

The Women’s Young Player of the Season Award is populated by a cast of thousands, as the Under-19s’ magnificent season helped fuel the senior teams’ exploits.

A remarkable number of key players for the senior team were also eligible for the youth side, and can win this award, making this a tricky vote to anticipate.

The 14 candidates are Ella Clifton-Stringer, Mia Roberts, Lili Jones, Erin Lovett, Kim Dutton, Libby MacKenzie, Lauren McCaffrey, Ava Suckley, Sophie Hodson, Amber Lightfoot, Bethan Jones, Faye Jones, Ruby Jones and Lily Whitefoot. Phew!

Where do we start? Kim Dutton, one of a number of dyed in the wool Wrexham fans living the dream in this shortlist, is captain of the senior team! An unfussy central midfielder who keeps the ball moving and is fiercely competitive, she’s an obvious option for the award.

Then there’s Lili Jones. A terrific powerhouse who can play in a number of positions and is able, even at her age, to physically out-match players in the senior side. She also, in the words of renowned football analyst Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, “packs a mighty wallop”!

Another player who is a contender not just for this award but for the senior one is Amber Lightfoot. Second top scorer in the Legero Adran North after the phenomenal Rosie Hughes, she is a constant threat on the flanks.

In a similar category you can put her near-namesake, Lily Whitefoot, whose ability to make things happen was beautifully illustrated by her brilliant assist for Hughes’ winner against Connah’s Quay at The Racecourse.

Sophie Hodson is also a dangerous player from wide positions, but in a different manner to Lightfoot and Whitefoot. A powerful striker, she is a serious threat where she drives in on the diagonal or looks for headers at the far post.

And then we come to Mia Roberts, who gave us one of the iconic moments of a stupendous season as she came off the bench at The Racecourse, building the fans to fever pitch as she made her passionate way to her position. She plays with her emotions similarly on display: a front-foot full back who loves crunching into tackles and driving play forwards.

Erin Lovett is another defender who stood out at the end of the season for the senior team. Playing as either a centre back or full back, her strength and timing in the tackle were outstanding, and she often took the responsibility of shadowing the opposition’s best player in her stride.

Ava Suckley missed the end of the season, but played a key role in the U19s’ success up front.Libby McKenzie and Lauren McCaffrey have both added a creative edge to the senior team, with their attacking movement and vision, while Ella Clifton-Stringer has offered important cover at full back.

Bethan Jones’ heroic efforts in the U19 Welsh Cup final really caught the eye. A tireless competitor, she would have covered every blade of grass if the pitch hadn’t been synthetic. Tigerish in the tackle, she also burst into the opposition box to good effect, and nearly grabbed a late goal which would have made the closing minutes very interesting indeed.

Faye Jones has been an able deputy to Del Morgan, and showed her quality in the U19 final against Cardiff, as did Ruby Jones, whose strength and decisiveness at the back is reassuring.

PREDICTION

This is an incredibly difficult one to call. It’s easy to make compelling cases for the consistent service of the skipper Dutton, the effervescent energy of Lili Jones, the attacking threat and quick feet of Lightfoot

To vote for the awards, go to the club website.