DOWNS League leaders Bristol Barcelona ran out deserved winners against Division I rivals Easton Cowboys to reach the second round of the Norman Hardy Cup.

Jon Barton put Barca into an eighth-minute lead but Nathan Stokes equalised for Cowboys before the break.

In the second half, Barca took control of the game and enjoyed most of the possession. And their pressure eventually told when Matt Roberts scored from the penalty spot and Bhavin Solanki added a third goal.

Barcelona manager Tom Portingale said: "We played at too high a tempo and the Cowboys deserved credit for forcing us to do this by pressing us so well.

"But in the second half our quality came through. It's great to keep our unbeaten record going."

The first real chance fell to Barca's Dan Cannon, who headed just over the bar after strike partner Andy Hayward had broken down the right and put over a decent cross.

They took the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances when they were awarded a free-kick 30 yards from goal on the left side of the field. Barton took the set-piece and sent it straight into the top right hand corner of the net.

Barton was englufled by his team-mates but he admitted afterwards that it was meant as a cross rather than a shot.

Barca began to fall away after the goal as Cowboys hustled them into mistakes. They were still on top but Cowboys defended well and didn't allow them any real chances to extend their lead.

The Cowboys' high work-rate was rewarded with an equaliser midway through the half. Keeper Shane Owen produced a massive kick, which bounced over the Barca defence and striker Stokes collected the ball and finished well in a one-on-one battle with the keeper, slotting the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Barca upped their game after the break as Cowboys began to tire. As in the first half, they dominated possession but the difference now was that they were creating decent chances.

Roberts played a great through ball to Cannon, who hit a powerful left-foot shot onto the crossbar from 12 yards.

It was the sign of things to come. Moments later, Barton produced a wonderful free-kick to find Cannon, who outjumped the Cowboys' defence only to see his header strike a post.

The Barca pressure finally paid off when Steve Newell ran into the box after a flick-on from Hayward and was brought down by Owen. Roberts stepped up to place the spot-kick into the bottom right corner, sending he keeper the wrong way.

The game was effectively ended when Solanki made it 3-1, cracking home a stunning 20-yard volley following a poor clearance.

Barcelona certainly deserved to win the game. They were the better side, despite being guilty of not making the most of their possession, especially in the first half.