X-Roads captain Paul Simons netted a first half hat-trick to propel First Division leaders X- Roads to a 7-2 demolition of nine-men St David’s at Lord’s on Sunday.

The experienced striker scored in the twelfth, thirteenth and 45th minutes to all but secure his team’s emphatic victory against their landlords by half time. Kneiko Richardson, Donavan Thompson and Marcus Furr accounted for X- Roads’ remaining goals.

Keishen Bean (21st minute) and Clay Darrell (90th) replied for St David’s, who had Christian King and Kejon Butterfield sent off for foul and abusive language in the 27th and 54th minutes respectively.

X-Roads coach Farid El Karfa expressed mixed feelings over his team’s performance in their first outing of the year, with this their first game since losing on penalties to Somerset Eagles in the Shield quarter-final last month.

“Obviously I am happy with the three points,” he told The Royal Gazette. “It was a well-deserved three points.

“Even though it was a good score, I thought the performance could have been better in terms of the intensity and tempo from my team.

“I do believe that’s probably because we had not played a competitive match in a few weeks so that probably affected the intensity of the performance. But again I am happy with the three points.”

X- Roads hold a four-point advantage and have game in hand over second-placed rivals Boulevard Blazers, who were held to a 2-2 draw against Somerset Trojans at Goose Gosling Field on Sunday.

Boulevard led 2-0 at half-time courtesy of two goals from Reiko Trott in the fifth and 25th minutes, but Trojans regrouped after the break and hit back through Keyni Mills’s 72nd minute penalty and Tahj Wade’s 88th minute equaliser to salvage a point.

Trojans are sixth in the standings, level on points with fifth place Somerset Eagles.

Elsewhere, Jahni Bean and Sijay Samuels both scored twice to power rejuvenated Southampton Rangers to a 5-3 triumph over bottom side Vasco at Southampton Oval.

Bean scored in the third and fifth minutes and Samuels in the 78th and 86th minutes to lead the charge, while Dominique Hill netted the other goal. Rychus Symonds (eleventh), Jordan Watson (52nd) and Leo Burgess (84th) were on target for Vasco.

Rangers are fourth, level on points with third-placed Robin Hood but five points adrift of the second and final promotion spot.