LLAY WELFARE’S 1-0 win at home to Ardal North West League leaders Rhyl has opened up an exciting end of season title race.

Tom Wells kept his nerve from the spot to score the winner for Llay, who are now only five points behind Rhyl but with four games in hand.

Both sides ended the game with 10 men as Llay’s Jared Taylor and Rhyl’s Miles Todd saw red.

Flint Mountain also have four games in hand on the front-runners and Aden Shannon’s side are now only three points behind the leaders after winning 3-0 at Brickfield Rangers.

Calyn Spencer, Ryan Kershaw and Lloyd Ellams got the goals for second-placed Flint.

Nantlle Vale are also in the title chase after a 7-1 win over Saltney Town, whose consolation goal came from George Davies.

Fourth-placed Holyhead Hotspur won 4-1 at Hawarden Rangers for whom Iwan Jones scored.

Llannefydd thrashed Llangefni Town 5-2, Y Felinheli moved off the bottom with a 4-3 win over Conwy Borough while it ended goal-less between St Asaph City and Llanrwst United.

Penrhyncoch have gone 14 points clear at the top of the North East League but the title race is not a foregone conclusion.

Daniel Owen’s hat-trick was the highlight of the leaders’ impressive 7-1 win at fourth-placed Radnor Valley.

But fast-finishing Llanuwchllyn remain in the hunt after Mike Pritchard scored the only goal of the game at Llandrindod Wells.

It was Llanuwchllyn’s 10th win on the bounce and they have five games in hand on the leaders, who they still have to play this season.

Llangollen Town produced a superb display to hold third-placed Bow Street to a 3-3 draw at Tower Fields.

Ben Wilson, Will Cooke and Jack Hanley looked like earning Luke Maybury’s side all three points but Gwion ap Dafydd popped up with a stoppage-time leveller.

Aled Bayley and substitute James Rumsey scored in Rhos Aelwyd’s 2-0 home win over Llansantffraid while there were 4-1 home victories for Builth Wells and Dolgellau over Llanfair United and Llanrhaeadr respectively.

Connah’s Quay Nomads powered past the 100-goal mark as they closed in on the FAW Reserves North League title.

Jayden Tang, Ben Connolly and Dylan Evans got the goals for Nomads in a 3-0 success at home to Ruthin Town.

The win moved Nomads three points clear of The New Saints.

Max McLaughlin - the Cymru North player of the month - scored twice as Chirk AAA thrashed Gresford Athletic 7-1 in the FAW Reserves North League.

Phil Pearce, Toby Nash, Harvey Edwards, Niall Freeman and Jack Jones also scored with Jardel Tavares replying.

Harvey Greig (2) and Daniel Semple scored as Airbus beat Buckley Town 3-1. Owen Jones hit Buckley’s reply.

In the Reserves Tier 3 League, second-placed Flint Mountain beat Llay Welfare 3-1 thanks to goals from Wayne Edwards, Ben Lawrence and captain Taylor Edwards. Matt Grundy replied for Chirk.

Carwyn Davies bagged both goals for Rhos Aelwyd in a 2-1 win at Pwllheli while Cefn Albion edged out Brickfield Rangers 3-2 with Jamie Foulkes and two Jordan Williams’ goals securing the points. Paige Wilding and Luke Armstrong hit back for Rangers.