Imperial Saints came out emphatic winners as they thrashed Crosscourt in the second round of the GFA Junior Cup.

The Suburban League Division I leaders never looked back after Mark Chappelle had put them ahead. Daniel Golding helped himself to four goals, while Billy Downes (2), Jonny Daniels and Ben Griffiths piled on the misery for District League outfit Crosscourt, who replied through Ricky Earrey.

"We were outstanding," said delighted Saints manager Shaun Morgan. "Some of the football we played was second to none.

"At the start of the season we lost eight players and we thought about folding, but we signed some good players, including Ben, (Griffiths), Golding and Jonny Daniels, and have formed a terrific team."

The match started faily evenly but once Saints had opened the scoring it was one-way traffic. The goal came when Daniels whipped in a corner from the left which missed everyone apart from Chappelle, who knocked it in at the back post.

Saints scored their second after a lovely move. Griffiths played an incisive ball to Marcus Morgan, who made a good run to the left and centred low for Golding to convert.

Against the run of play, Crosscourt pulled one back when the unmarked Earrey headed in a Fabian Fowler corner.

The old adage which says you are at your most vulnerable just after you have scored again proved prophetic as Saints immediately hit back to make it 3-1.

The goal was set up by the brilliance of Griffiths, who made a good run into the box and beat his man with ease before chipping the ball to the far post, leaving Golding with another simple finish.

Just before half-time it was 4-1 when Daniels cracked a free-kick from just outside the area into the bottom right corner of the net.

Downes got the first of his two goals soon after the break. Golding played him through with a superb pass and he made no mistake with a cool finish.

Ten minutes later, Downes struck again when his shot from outside the box took a deflection off a defender and wrong-footed Crosscourt keeper Scott Hirons.

Golding completed his hat-trick after Hirons had punched poorly at a Morgan cross. The ball fell to Tom Phillips, whose shot was directed into the back of the net by Golding.

The outstanding Griffiths grabbed Saints' eighth of the game as Daniels spotted his run into the box and picked him out with an inch-perfect pass. Griffiths saw Hirons advancing and knocked the ball past him with great confidence.

Fittingly, Golding ended the rout with the goal of the game. Receiving the ball inside the Crosscourt half, he raced into the penalty area and scored with an exquisite chip.

Saints, with Golding and the superb Griffiths in unstoppable form, were more than worthy winners and could have scored more goals.

What was most impressive about Saints was that, after going in 4-1 up at half-time, they came out wanting more in the second half. They didn't get complacent and showed a real hunger for the game.

Crosscourt United: Scott Hirons, Fabian Fowler, Ricky Earrey, Sam Marks, Luke Scoulding, Martin Cole, Rob Lucas, Jason Stiddard, Darren Godfrey, Ryan Earrey, Jason Mogg. Subs: Kerry Earrey, Andy Forse.

Imperial Saints: Mike Hooper, James Britton, Joe Sheppard, Mark Chappelle, Tom P[hillips, Lee Jones, Marcus Morgan, Billy Downes, Jonny Daniels, Ben Giffiths, Danny Golding. Subs: Mark Rees, Sam Downes, Dean Wilson.