The New Saints boss Scott Ruscoe was full of praise for Ryan Brobbel as the in-form midfielder fired Saints back to the top of the Welsh Premier League on Friday.

The playmaker scored twice, and struck a post, to give Saints a comeback win against Bala Town at Park Hall, with Greg Draper adding a third late on.

Ruscoe was delighted with Brobbel and believes he should be considered as one of the best in the Welsh Premier League.

“That’s 13 league goals for Ryan now – that’s like striker form and is outstanding,” said Ruscoe.

“His fitness levels and the options he gives us across the pitch are great and he’s an excellent footballer. Sometimes he switches off and is probably the only thing stopping him stepping up.

“Technique-wise, and as a gifted footballer, he comes under the good category.

“He and Danny Redmond were able to raise the tempo for us. Danny was great driving at players because once he beats that press, then he can set players up like he did for Greg and he finished with a great little toe poke.”

Ruscoe admitted he was concerned about Saints’ first-half showing, heading into the break goalless after Redmond missed a penalty.

But he insisted he was confident in his side’s ability to ease past a spirited Bala, despite the Lakesiders breaking the deadlock.

“It’s almost like we need Bala to score to get us going,” said Ruscoe. “It was frustrating – the first half was a bit pedestrian at times.

“When we got the penalty, I thought that would be the spark we needed but again we missed a penalty against Bala and last time it cost us two points.

“Tonight I knew it wouldn’t as we’d be a lot fitter and more organised but in the past we could have sulked after their goal – that period has long gone.

“I knew we’d react and I made a change to force that. Not saying that the change affected that but the timing of the goal straight away picked us up again.

“Plus to score straight after scoring our first, it knocked the wind out of their sails.

“The first half could have possibly been down to rustiness because we didn’t play for two weeks. We had that great win against Connah’s Quay but then the week after, we have no game, which knocks you down.

“But in the second half, I saw some great play and what we’re abut so I wasn’t too worried. It was going to be a decider as Bala come out and give it a go.

“I’m not sure they were more direct but when you’ve got Blaine Hudson and Jack Bodenham, they were two centre halves who can dominate, we looked after that.

“As soon as Henry Jones came off, we knew we could deal with it as Mike Hayes didn’t really trouble us, though the goal from a corner where we’re still susceptible.

“They didn’t really give Paul much to do.”