NEWMAN Ball bagged a brilliant hat-trick as unbeaten champions Ashton Boys Under-12s opened a five-point lead at the top of Division I with a 6-2 victory over spirited Brislington.

Leading scorer Ball broke the deadlock when a Josh Brace cross found him in space to finish from close range.

Will Thomas worked the Ashton keeper on two occasions, while at the other end Max Backwell made two great saves to deny the home team,

Ashton switched Kelvin Kalunghi to centre-back at half-time and the versatile midfielder put in a man-of the-match performance. Kalunghi's surge from the back helped create the opportunity for Brace to find room on the right and drive the ball over the keeper's head to double Ashton's lead.

Ball made it 3-2, but Sam Crumb hit a left-foot screamer to pull a goal back for Brislington and he soon added a second following a penetrating run and lovely cross by Thomas.

Ashton, however, scored three more goals to run out deserved winners. Ball completed his hat-trick before Dan Payne and Elliot Gardner linked up to tee up midfield dynamo Alfie Clarke to slot into the corner of the net for the goal of the game.

Gardener was rewarded for his hard work when he bravely challenged the keeper from a Dom Barassi strike to round off the scoring.

Hallen Under-12s stormed eight points clear at the top of Division II with a superb 9-0 win over Yate United.

Four first-half strikes from deadly Cameron Dyte took Hallen into the break 4-0 up and five more goals from Luke Henderson (2), Joe Hodson and star man Billy Oldfield (2), who scored the pick of the goals with a great solo effort, capped a magnificent three points.

Longwell Green Lions Under-12s produced a powerful performance to comfortably see off Winterbourne United 3-0 in Division II.

After Longwell keeper Jamie Griffin had made a good early save, his team took control. Kyle Roberts tapped home their opening goal and George Honeywell added a second from close range. Roberts cleverly chipped the keeper well for his second goal to complete the scoring.

The visitors were solid at the back, with Tom Frankcom, George White, Matt Pope and Dan Sparks dominant, while Dan Tancock and Luke Harding ably provided plenty of midfield thrust.

Ellis Lymer fired a hat-trick as Southmead Colts Under-13s stepped up their Division III title challenge with a 5-0 success away against Downend Saints.

After a shaky start, in which they nearly went 2-0 down, Southmead roared into life and a great run and cross from Jacob Walsh led to Ben Trueman hitting his shot straight at the keeper.

Southmead started to dominate midfield with Danny Wilkes and Sam Haggett picking out some fine passes, and it was Haggett who played the ball to Jake Dalton to beat his man and the Saints keeper with a clinical chip.

Soon afterwards, Lymer made it 2-0, before good individual skill from Trueman saw him smash his shot against a post. Wilkes seized the rebound and played the ball through to Isaac Wells, who slotted it into the bottom corner.

Southmead made a flying second-half start, scoring straight from the kick-off with Lymer's second goal after Ben Davies had won possession with a strong tackle.

Another marauding run and cross by Walsh set up Lymer to complete his hat-trick. Cameron Smith nearly made it 6-0 late on, but his effort hit a post.

In Division I, Longwell Green Sports Under-13s produced a tigerish performance to hold visiting Ashton Boys to a 2-2 draw.

Kyle Russell pounced on a cross from Adam Brooks to put the home team 1-0 up and, with keeper Brandon Clarke, Charlie Dunn, Luke Wilshire, James Ellis and Josh Seeley looking rock-solid at the back, Ashton were restricted to only one first-half chance.

Longwell started the second half strongly and Russell darted on to Eli Britton's through pass to grab his second goal after five minutes.

Sports midfielders Tom Sprules, Lewis Bartlett, Britton and Adam Brooks continued to battle hard, while Hugo Brunston made some great runs.

However. without any substitute to call on, the boys began to tire and Ashton hit back with two goals to level the game.

Man-of-the-match Josh Morris led the way with a hat-trick as St Vallier Under-14s went top of Division II with a 5-2 home victory over a battling Shireway Rangers side.

Morris opened his account with a superb 30-yard volley before netting with a neat lob and going on to complete a splendid treble.

Oliver Walker and Fraser Venables also chipped in with goals as a delighted Saints put themselves in pole position.

In-form Warmley Rangers Under-15s overcame Keynsham Town 4-0 in atrocious conditions.

The first half finished in stalemate, but Warmley opened the scoring within two minutes of the restart when Liam Oswin threaded a ball inside the Keynsham full-back to winger Adam Campbell, who finished adroitly into the far corner of the net.

Warmley upped the ante and soon made it 2-0 when Oswin curled a fine finish into the top corner of the Keynsham net.

A 25-yard block buster from debutant midfielder Jack Francis, and a low drive by centre-half Liam Wright capped a fine Rangers performance.