Michael Bakare has given Connah’s Quay a boost heading into the festive period by putting pen to paper on a contract extension which will keep the 32-year-old forward at the Deeside Stadium until the end of next season.
Bakare, who is on a full-time professional deal with the club, joined the Nomads last season following a brief spell at Wrexham.
“I’m very happy to have signed this extension and am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the growth of this club and it’s full time status – I am also looking forward to enjoying more success with the team this season and next,” he said.
Bakare claimed his eighth goal of the season on Saturday as he fired home inside 60 seconds to send the Nomads on their way to a 6-1 win over Cardiff Met, which keeps the Deeside club top of the Welsh Premier League table.
Michael Wilde’s hat-trick ensured a comfortable victory for Andy Morrison’s side, who now arguably face the most difficult festive double-header of the three title chasing clubs.
Connah’s Quay will fourth-placed Bala Town on Boxing Day and again on New Year’s Day with Barry Town and The New Saints breathing down their necks.
Barry Town face back-to-back matches against Cardiff Met, starting with a revised 12:30 kick-off time at Jenner Park on Boxing Day.
Kayne McLaggon and Mo Touray were both on target to secure Barry Town a 2-1 win against Caernarfon Town to keep the Dragons within a point of the Nomads.
And following a routine 4-0 victory over bottom side Llandudno, The New Saints take on unpredictable Cefn Druids twice, looking to close a five-point deficit on the top of the table.
Rounding off the top-six, Bala Town, Newtown and Aberystwyth all face a tense run in over the final four rounds of games before the league split.
Friday night saw sixth-placed Aberystwyth drop points at home to Cefn Druids in a successive defeat that leaves Seasiders a single point above seventh-placed Caernarfon Town.
Aber’s top-six aspirations will rest heavily on how they fare in their two games against mid-Wales rivals Newtown, who two points ahead sit in fifth spot.
Newtown’s inconsistent run of form continued on Saturday where they were forced to share the points with Carmarthen. Nick Rushton cancelled out Liam Thomas’ first-half penalty for the visiting Old Gold.
Bala Town striker Steven Tames hit four against woeful Llanelli as Bala claimed a 7-1 win at Stebonheath. Tames leads the WPL scoring charts with 17 goals in just 18 league starts and leaves relegation-threatened Llanelli picking up the pieces ahead of two games against Carmarthen Town.
Llanelli remain keen on significantly strengthening in the transfer window but back to back defeats against Carmarthen, who sit immediately above them in the league table, would cast them 12 points adrift from safety and leave Andy Hill and co with an enormous task in Phase 2.
The biggest crowd over the festive period could well be at The Oval, a bumper attendance should turn out on Boxing Day to see Caernarfon continue their push for a top-six spot against basement side Llandudno, who are now without a win in their last 12 WPL games.
Round 18 results
Aberystwyth 0-2 Cefn Druids, Barry Town 2-1 Caernarfon Town, Connah’s Quay 6-1 Cardiff Met, Llandudno 0-4 The New Saints, Llanelli 1-7 Bala Town, Newtown 1-1 Carmarthen.
Boxing Day fixtures (2.30 unless stated)
Llanelli v Carmarthen (12.00), Barry Town v Cardiff Met (12.30), Aberystwyth v Newtown, Bala Town v Connah’s Quay, Caernarfon v Llandudno, The New Saints v Cefn Druids.
| 1 | Connah’s Quay Nomads | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 46 | 16 | 30 | 39 |
| 2 | Barry Town United FC | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 24 | 7 | 38 |
| 3 | The New Saints | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 44 | 12 | 32 | 34 |
| 4 | Bala Town | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 39 | 27 | 12 | 31 |
| 5 | Newtown | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 23 | 10 | 29 |
| 6 | Aberystwyth Town | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 31 | -8 | 27 |
| 7 | Caernarfon Town | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 26 |
| 8 | Cardiff Met | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 25 | 29 | -4 | 21 |
| 9 | Cefn Druids | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 24 | -1 | 20 |
| 10 | Carmarthen Town AFC | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 36 | -13 | 17 |
| 11 | Llanelli Town AFC | 18 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 18 | 61 | -43 | 11 |
| 12 | Llandudno FC | 18 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 36 | -24 | 9 |
