BRANDON Vaessen enjoyed a perfect start to the decade as he scored a brilliant hat-trick to fire Bracknell Royals to a 7-3 home victory against Bracknell Cavaliers Reserves in Division Four of the Bracknell Town & District Sunday League.

Simon May also bagged a brace for the home side, with the other goals coming from Kam Williams and Lewis Cameron.

Leaders Harts of Bracknell were held to a 3-3 draw at FC Showcase, enabling Finchampstead Athletic A to close the gap to three points after they brushed aside Bracknell Titans 6-1.

AFC Dukes Reserves ran out 4-3 winners in a seven-goal thriller at Bracknell Spartan U21, while doubles from David Burton and Gary Gowers gave Silver Birch A a 4-2 win at home to Bracknell Athletic U21.

In the Premier Division, Crowthorne Inn took a major step towards the title by beating reigning champions FC Fernhill 4-2.

Second-placed Bracknell Rangers sit seven points back – albeit with a game in hand – after they thumped Panthers FC 5-0, while Dan Best was Berks County's man-of-the-match in their 2-2 draw at Raglan.

Basement side Morale Madrid picked up their first win of the campaign with a 4-3 success against Loveman United.

Woodley United showed character, but began 2020 with a disappointing 3-2 Division One defeat at Athletico Forest.

The home side raced into a 3-0 lead inside half an hour as the Kestrels suffered from a New Year hangover, and despite Harrison Wilks and Craig Hunter finding the back of the net, they were unable to find an equaliser.

Table-topping Woodley Saints Kites eased to a 5-1 home triumph against Bracknell Athletic, but second-placed Athletico Ascot remain just three points adrift after winning a remarkable game 8-5 at Sandhurst FFC.

Wokingham & Emmbrook also won a high-scoring thriller as they ran out 6-3 victors at Crowthorne FC.

Nick Cooper and James Sandy got the goals which secured a point for Bracknell Corinthians from their 2-2 draw at home to Golden Farmer Rangers, a result matched by Braybrooke Athletic and Newbold.

William Twigg downed Bracknell Cavaliers 4-2.

In Division Three, leaders AFC Dukes made it seven wins from seven with a 6-2 defeat of Crowthorne FC A, and Ashridge Park eased past Running Horse 3-0.