Steve Castle’s Royston Town are now just four points off the Southern League Division One Central summit and leaders Kings Langley after this thumping win over 10-man Leighton Town on Tuesday night.

In-form frontman Simon Thomas notched his sixth and seventh goals in just six games since joining the Crows while Tommy Hull netted his first for the club and Gus Scott-Morriss, captain Scott Bridges and Erkan Okay completed the rout. It could have been more though as Town also had two goals chalked off for offside in the first half.

Hull coolly slotted home from eight yards early on to make it 1-0.

Leighton’s chances were in further jeopardy when Maxwell Ibeto received a straight red for a last-man challenge on Rhys Hoenes.

Thomas took penalty responsibility, but his spot-kick was saved by visiting keeper Bradley Kirkwood.

The scoreline was increased in the first-half stoppage time as Ryan Ingrey squared to Thomas who slammed the ball away.

Home-side dominance continued with Hoenes terrorising Leighton with the ball at his feet and only eight minutes into the second period he was again brought down and skipper Bridges took the ensuing penalty and powered it past the helpless Kirkwood.

Again, on 65 minutes, Hoenes was superbly unplayable and was predictably clattered in the box. Exuberant right-back Scott-Morriss finished the penalty in style.

Leighton’s dwindling spirit was broken and a fifth was added four minutes later as Hoenes this time found space on the left and delivered a dangerous low cross for striker Thomas to bury.

The scoring was completed in injury-time as Okay showed nice feet, sped forward and finished off his run with a clever shot.

Town host third-placed AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday.