BEN RICHARDS smashed in a double hat-trick as Flint Mountain’s 9-1 win at Llay Welfare kept them on top spot in the FAW Reserves North East League.

Charlie Cottis (2) and Luca Filby also scored while Tom Blaze fired in four goals as The New Saints mauled Mold Alex 15-0.

Connah’s Quay Nomads nailed NFA 6-3 while Gresford Athletic beat Holywell Town 4-1 thanks to Rob Reynolds (2), James Reynolds and Jordan Jackson.

Ruthin Town beat Buckley Town 3-0 and Denbigh Town were 4-1 winners at home to Prestatyn Town.

Paige Wilding (3), Alex Leaney, Lian Thomas and Alfie Roberts netted in Brickfield Rangers 6-0 win at Hawarden Rangers in Group A of the North East Wales Reserves Division.

Mynydd Isa are five points clear at the top despite drawing 0-0 with Corwen.

Sam Giles smashed in five for Penycae as they routed Ruthin Town 6-2. Callum Dutton got the other while Carwyn Davies’ hat-trick was the highlight of Rhos Aelwyd’s 5-0 thrashing of Saltney Town, who had two players sent off. Ed Neale and Steffan Williams were Rhos’ other marksmen.

Llangollen Town triumphed 3-0 at Cefn Albion thanks to Tom Williams, Ewen Dennis and a Cain Williams own goal.

Group B leaders Penyffordd Lions roared to a 10-0 win over Johnstown. Jay Vaughan hit a treble with Macken Tiley-Phillips settling for a double.

Jon Tear-Edmonds (2), Kieran Bennion (2), Damon Bradley and Sam Fairclough scored in Connah’s Quay Town’s 6-3 success at Coedpoeth United for whom Ross Hardy-Partington (2) and Billie Ellis replied.

Matthew Bithell (2) and Jack Mitchell scored in Queen’s Park’s 3-1 victory at Brymbo for whom Alyn Jones replied.

Greenfield (Dion Davies) and Castell Alun (Kieran Edwards) drew 1-1.

The New Saints must put all thoughts of the likes of Fiorentina and Panathinaikos to one side as they return to the bread and butter of the league this evening.

Looking forward to the forthcoming UEFA Europa Conference group stage, the Saints will travel to Aberystwyth Town this evening for only their second Cymru Premier League match of the campaign.

Boss Craig Harrison has been full of his praise for the players in the squad and after last week’s 3-0 aggregate win over FK Panevėžys in Europe, he told S4C’s Sgorio: “I think the biggest credit I can give to the boys is that we’ve got a really together group and we’ve had a few injuries, but the lads have stepped in.

“The lads that aren’t playing are supporting the other lads.”