Their 1-0 win over doomed Cardiff Grange Quins on Saturday made them safe, before they followed it up with a fabulous victory over full-timers Llanelli - by the same scoreline - on Tuesday. The back-to-back home successes made it five games unbeaten for Nomads, and took them up to 12th - their highest position of the season and just one place off the lucrative FAW Premier Cup spots.

It is a far cry from the dark days of November, when they were anchored to the foot having mustered only two points from their first 11 matches. That prompted chairman Gray to splash the cash, and the arrival of the likes of Gary Pinch, Gary O'Toole and Conall Murtagh brought about an upturn in their fortunes.

Indeed, apart from a winless March not helped by postponements, the Quay have enjoyed the type of end-of-season form that befits a side pushing for a top-six finish - which has delighted chief Powell. He said: 'November was a bad time. We never mentioned the word relegation but it was staring us in the face. 'So credit to the chairman for putting his hand in his pocket - not over excessively - to help me bring in quality players like Gary Pinch, Conall and Gary O'Toole. 'The lads have come good and we'd definitely be in the Premier Cup if it wasn't for that long break we had because of the weather around March time. 'We came back and we played teams like Porthmadog and Caersws - who had been playing - and they caught us cold. 'Those defeats put us back in the mire. But the lads dug in, and if we just miss out on the Premier Cup by finishing 12th then that will still be very creditable.'

Hero against relegated Quins and second-placed Llanelli was in-form forward Phil Molyneux. He netted the only goals in both games to take his tally up to eight for the campaign - making him the club's leading goalscorer in his first year in the top-flight. Boss Powell said of the 20-year-old: 'He's been a credit ever since he came in. He's proving to be a real handful and I'm looking forward to working with him next season and watching him get even better.' Molyneux's effort on Saturday - racing on to a Chris Williams through ball before confidently firing home - was the goal that ensured Nomads of a 14th straight season in the top tier.

Molyneux was the difference again on Tuesday night, in a match that was the best the Deeside Stadium faithful had witnessed all season. The entertaining contest deserved more goals, but just the one won it. And what a goal it was too, as Molyneux picked up possession on the right-flank and surged forward, before cutting inside and letting fly with an unstoppable, left-footed curling drive that nestled in the bottom corner.

Nomads wrap up their campaign with a trip to Carmarthen