THE Belvedere stormed back to the top of the Domino's Premiership following an emphatic 7-1 humbling of Café Royal.

The Royal had boasted a 100 per cent record before this fixture at Redlands.

Paul Hayers bagged his first hat-trick for the reigning champions while Ricky Lane hit a brace after the Café, who began purposefully, had actually edged in front midway through the first period.

Adam Billings caught the Belve defence napping when his quickly taken 20-yard free-kick found the net as keeper Nick Gregg was still lining up his wall in the 21st minute.

The Belve made a strong response as Lane and Hayers went close before the champions' pressure finally paid off in the 43rd minute as the latter brilliantly rounded Anthony McLucas to level.

Then, straight from the restart, the Belve stole possession and, forging forward again, Hayers added his second heading home powerfully at the back post to turn the game on its head.

Shell-shocked the Café boys came under constant pressure in the second period as wave after wave of attacks allowed the Belve to find the net on five more occasions.

On 51 minutes big centre back Lee Thompson came up for a corner and nailed his first goal for his new club with a booming header into the bottom corner.

And then, on the hour, it was 4-1 when a terrific passing move in midfield unlocked the Café defence allowing Lane to slide home from six yards.

Later McLucas denied Alex Halloran a goal but he could not prevent a rampant Lane adding his second in the 83rd minute from a tight angle seconds before Halloran teed up Karl Edgar to tap home his first for the Belve.

Man of the match Hayers left the best to last though when he hammered home a 16-yard volley in the 90th minute following a fine run and centre from Edgar down the right side.

Meanwhile Rob Pavey, having waited six weeks for a first Royal Oak victory, saw his side win for the second week running at the expense of a poor Alex side at Redlands - the 3-0 win lifting the Oak up to eighth spot in the Premiership table.

A series of early corners led to the Oak taking a second minute lead when Steve Spearing's whipped in corner caused chaos in the Alex box and Steve Walker was on hand to drive home from eight yards.

Three minutes later Pavey's charges romped two ahead when another left-footed corner from Spearing needed no intervention as it curled straight into the net.

With Alex heads down and the Oak now controlling proceedings with a neat passing game, it was no surprise to see them extend their lead in the 20th minute.

Returning Lee Rockingham played in youngster Dean Taylor who coolly slotted the ball past keeper Mowlam.

In the second half the Oak failed to take full advantage in a number of attacks - Mowlam thwarting Matt Brown on two occasions.

At the other end there were few chances for the Alex although Oak stopper Neil Robinson was forced to make a fantastic late save to maintain a clean sheet.

Kevin Russell was named man of the match.

Having stuck 10 past their nearest challengers last week, the Duke of Albany only hit a modest seven on Sunday against a physical Clean Connections outfit at Redlands in the Domino's Championship.

Russell North was at it again - bagging his fifth hat-trick of the campaign and bringing his tally to 20 goals so far this season.

Connections made a bold start as they netted an early opener, but once player boss Jamie Spivey had levelled for the Duke it soon became plain sailing for the league leaders, who coasted to a 4-1 half-time advantage.

Darren Samways latched on to a Luke Tomlin through ball to smash home the second and then the same player's drilled effort deflected into the net.

Don Wellman completed the first half scoring when he pounced on a defensive mix-up to net from 10 yards.

Neat two-touch football by the Duke carved out more chances in the second period - the first falling to North who rounded the keeper following a defence-splitting pass from Samways.

North added his second when he beat the offside before picking his spot from 20-yards before completing his treble with a curled cross that eluded everyone and flew in at the back post late on.

However, many chances went begging and Leo Fraser must be still wondering how he failed to score on two occasions.

Having blazed over from five yards Fraser later hit a post after rounding the keeper when it looked easier to score.