The New Saints are just four points behind new Welsh Premier League leaders Barry Town United after smashing seven past near-neighbours Cefn Druids on Boxing Day.

A Ryan Brobbel hat-trick was added to by a Kurtis Byrne brace plus one apiece for the returning Jamie Mullan and Greg Draper as TNS ran riot at Park Hall.

The win also brings TNS to within two points of Connah's Quay Nomads, who lost at Bala Town.

Saints boss Scott Ruscoe admitted the performance was the perfect Christmas present following a rough time in November, and queried how his title rivals will react.

"It was nice to sit back and watch a game of that quality," he told TNS TV. "To see that from start to finish is excellent.

"Inbetween our goals, Cefn did cause us a little bit of trouble whether it was the set plays or us switching off, but I did feel we were always comfortable and that was a joy to watch.

"It's the high standards we've set. When people do see us get a dodgy result or performance that isn't up to standard, then they'll openly say that.

"That's testament to the football club that everyone is looking at our results. They'll have certainly seen our last two results where we've scored 11 and conceded none.

"The goal difference is back up there now and with the other teams playing games with not much recovery time, we'll see how good they are now."

Meanwhile, in the North West Counties League Division One South, Ellesmere Rangers lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with a fine 4-2 away win at Eccleshall.

They are now five points behind Maine Road and also have a game in hand over the Manchester side.

They were fired to the three points by a double from Adam Davies, which bookended the scoring, while Aaron Davies doubled Rangers' lead and James Gregory-Cork added a third with 15 minutes to go.

The Meresiders headed into the break at 1-1 following Luke Walsh's leveller for the home side while Bradley Carr grabbed an stoppage-time consolation for the Staffordshire side.

There were no Boxing Day fixtures for St Martins and FC Oswestry Town but both return to action on Saturday.