THE New Saints laid down a title marker with a comprehensive 4-0 win over reigning champions Rhyl at Park Hall.
The win saw TNS muscle their way to joint top of the table with Llanelli and Rhyl, all on 27 points.
The hosts provided a scintillating first half performance as they hit the visitors with three-goals in 45 minutes, leaving them in total control of proceedings.
Rhyl actually started the brighter of the two sides, but it was TNS who struck first, breaking the deadlock after 10 minutes.
Scott Ruscoe first saw a 20-yard drive parried by James Coates in the Rhyl goal, only for ex-Rhyl winger Craig Jones to latch onto the loose ball and cross for Steve Abbott to head home.
Rhyl should have got back on level terms through Marc Connolly, but he couldn’t add to his tally of 18 this season as he fired against the post, following good link up play with Lee Hunt.
TNS again punished their opponents for failing to convert their chances as they doubled the lead on the half hour.
On this occasion it was former TNS wing-back Martyn Naylor who was at fault for Rhyl, bringing down Matthew Berkeley inside the area, leaving Scott Ruscoe to convert his second penalty of the week.
Aeron Edwards then spurned a chance to extend the advantage, with Coates proving equal to the task in the Rhyl goal.
However, It was effectively all over for the champions on 43 minutes, when Steve Evans played in Jones who finished well with a chip over Coates from the edge of the area.
Any remote hopes of a second half comeback were extinguished early as TNS hit their fourth after only four minutes of the restart.
Ruscoe’s shooting again proved too much for Coates, who could only parry his effort to Berkeley who snapped up the chance from 12-yards out.
Rhyl were given further concerns when they lost Connolly, who was stretchered off with a knee ligament injury, and TNS narrowly failed to make it five, as Jones saw his effort cannon off the cross-bar.