LLANRUG United secured a top-five finish in Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division One thanks to a narrow 3-2 home success over Nantlle Vale.

David Noel-Williams’ side looked like challenging for the title midway through the campaign before falling away during the second half of their fixture list, with Vale performing above expectations consistently to secure a sixth placed finish.

Despite the eventual result, it was the visitors that began the game brighter and they managed to break the deadlock on 11 minutes when player-manager Daniel Bell made the most of the space afforded to him with a neat finish to open the scoring.

This provoked a strong response from the home side, who got themselves back on level terms on 31 minutes when Jonathan Sadler pounced to restore parity to the score-line, and the same player was on hand to notch his second of the evening just before the break to give United the advantage for the first time with 43 gone.

After the break saw the away side raise their game once again, which resulted in them equalising on 72 minutes when a fine attacking move was finished off in style by Aaron Thomas Davies.

There was still time for further drama late on that altered the overall outcome of the contest, with the home side awarded a controversial stoppage time penalty which resulted in fierce protests from the Vale set-up.

Noel-Williams held his nerve to put away the spot kick and ensure that United ended the season on a high and three points ahead of Bell’s men following a hugely entertaining affair.