Ryan Brooks scored his seventh Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division hat-trick of the season as Ardley United stayed top with a 6-0 win at Brimscombe & Thrupp on Tuesday.

It was the ideal response to Saturday’s 1-1 draw at High-worth Town and saw Kevin Brock’s side stay a point ahead of Wantage Town.

Ardley went ahead after six minutes.

Brooks fastened on to a through ball from Stuart Bridges before firing under the body of keeper Adam Thomas.

Three minutes later, they doubled their lead, when Troy Bryan forced the ball in a goalmouth scramble.

Ardley went 3-0 up on 18 minutes.

Bridges again played Brooks through the middle and the striker ran on to put the ball in the back of the net.

Ardley had to resist concerted pressure from the hosts at the start of the second half before extending their lead on 71 minutes.

Callum Convey swung in a free-kick which Brimscombe defender Ben Snook headed into his own net to make it 4-0.

Jon Gardner scored Ard-ley’s fifth goal when he combined with fellow substitute Joe Eyre, making his first start since returning to the club, and fired past Thomas.

A minute from time, Brooks completed his treble, taking Gardner’s pass in his stride before racing clear and beating Thomas to take his season’s league tally to 39 goals.

Ardley had taked a second-minute lead in Saturday’s game at Highworth when Convey curled a free-kick around the wall from the edge of the penalty area.

But they failed to build on it and were punished when TJ Bohane equalised on 73 minutes.

Ardley piled forward, but Highworth held on to deny them.