Ashley Flynn netted a hat trick for the Northern Counties East League Division I table-toppers AFC Emley in their 8-0 mauling over struggling Lincoln Moorlands Railway.

The hosts made a brilliant start to the game through Max Leonard who was on hand at the back post to tap home a Steven Kenworthy cross on three minutes.

Kurtis Noble came close to doubling Emley’s advantage when he unleashed an effort on goal, which forced Burrows into a fine save.

Burrows was in the thick of the action again just moments later when Leonard fired a rasping shot at goal from outside the box, with the Lincoln keeper beating the ball away to safety.

Emley again found joy from the wing when Jordan Townend’s cross was turned in by Michael Tunnacliffe for his side’s second of day.

Noble then had two opportunities to add a third for Emley before half-time, first he tapped an effort wide after some good pressure from Railway keeper Nathan Burrows before he unleashed a shot that narrowly missed the target from just outside the area.

The second half saw Emley raise the tempo of the game with Leonard volleying narrowly wide of the goal, before seeing another effort on goal deflected wide.

Captain Paul Sykes then forced Burrows into a great save with a point blank header being turned over the bar.

But the visitors hadn’t given up searching for a way back into the game and Adam Lawlor had to be alert when Alex Nicholls got a shot away, but his effort was weak and easily gathered by the keeper.

And on 65 minutes the game was sealed by a dominant Emley side who scored through Tunnacliffe, completing a brace after tapping home a Leonard cross from the left wing.

Ash Flynn scores the second of his hat trick against Lincoln Moorlands Railway

Leonard was again in the action moments later, this time his shot was deflected and Burrows was on hand to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

However, Emley soon grabbed their fourth with two second half substitutes linking up in the process.

Flynn tapped in from close range following some neat work down the left wing from Alex Hallam.

Another Emley substitute, Ruben Jerome, managed to get himself on the score sheet after the striker managed to work his way into the box, before shaping to cross the ball into the six yard box, wrong footing Burrows and slotting the ball inside the near post.

Flynn came close to making it six for the home side. Some good passing football from the midfield led to the ball breaking to the feet of Flynn who could only manage to fire over the bar.

The home side did make it six not long later, Leonard once again tormented the Lincoln back line, before crossing across the face of goal, finding Jerome at the back post who duly obliged in putting the ball into the net.

Flynn once again came close, showing good agility on the edge of the area, turning sharply before getting his shot away but Burrows was on hand to tip it around the post.

However, the tricky striker did find a way past Burrows not long later, when he fired home a Townend cross.

And the talented Flynn completed his hat trick for Emley when Hallam found him on the edge of the area, the front man turning and unleashing an effort which beat Burrows and nestled in the goal.

Darren Hepworth’s men have now won back-to-back games which sees them retain top spot just a point clear of Pontefract Collieries having played a game more.

Ash Flynn scores the third of his hat trick against Lincoln Moorlands Railway