Leading scorer John Bale hit a hat-trick as 100 per cent leaders De Veys raced to a 7-0 away victory against Golden Hill Reserves and moved three points clear at the top.

Chris Devey, John Nutland, Paul Boznovitch and Ben Garland were also on the mark for De Veys, who were 5-0 up at the break.

Newcomers FC Bristol were runaway winners by the same score at home to Wessex Wanderers A, with the help of a treble from Alex Lamb, whose brother James also found the net. Wanderers' misery was completed by strikes from Joey Dean, Oliver Corse and Carle Elite.

British Royal SC have also yet to drop a point following a 7-1 romp at Iron Acton Reserves, for whom Mark Keet hit a consolation goal. On target for the Royals were Paul Smith (2), Jay Mallett, Adam Shapcott, Mike Smyth, Aaron Johnson and goalkeeper Matt Hamilton, who played as an outfield player in the second half.

Craig Foster gave Bradley Stoke A the lead at the break away to Knowle Reds, who crashed 4-0 to second-half strikes by Marton Vamosi, Livio Rodeanu and Adrian Chan.

Referee John Campbell called off the game between Carmel United and Lawrence Rovers Reserves because the pitch at Filwood was unfit for play.

"The area had been invaded by rabbits, who dug holes up to nine inches deep all over the playing surface," said fixture secretary Dave Webb.

● Imperial Reserves have been elected to fill a vacancy in the Bristol & Avon League and will kick off next Saturday with a home tie against FC Bristol in the Temple Colston Cup before catching up on a backlog of fixtures.

Results: Carmel Utd v Lawrence Rov post, FC Bristol 7 Wessex Wndrs 1, Golden Hill Spts 0 De-Veys 7, Greyfriars Ath 0 Bideford OB 2, Iron Acton 1 British Royal SC 7, Knowle Reds 0 Bradley Stoke 4.

FIXTURES

Saturday, October 24 – Temple Colston Cup, 1st rndI: Bradley Stoke Tn A v Iron Acton Res (N Dawson), British Royal Sports Club v Golden Hill Sports Res, De Veys v Long Ashton Res (F Cockle), Imperial Res v FC Bristol, Knowle Reds v Greyfriars Ath B (M Mills), Lawrence Rov Res v Bideford OB (J Campbell), Wessex Wdrs A v Carmel Utd (K Lusmore).