LEEDS United romped into the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup with a 4-0 win over Gillingham, including a hat-trick for star of the show Aaron Lennon.

Fifteen-year-old left winger Lennon turned in a sublime performance on the night, upstaging his captain and now first team squad member, James Milner.

The Chapeltown lad was not only one of the youngest on the pitch but also one of the smallest.  What he lacked in height he made up for in pace, constantly getting around the visitors back-line and providing good value for money for the few hundred crowd inside Elland Road.

It was largely one way traffic all throughout the match, Chris Jones hitting the bar after two minutes as an early warning, but then no warning for the Gills defence as Lennon twisted and turned inside the box before beating the keeper with a shot into the far corner of the net to give United an eighth minute lead.

Lennon came within inches of doubling the lead on 16 minutes with a shot from outside the area that grazed the top of the bar.   He was desperately unlucky not to get his second minutes after that when another confident shot came back off the left hand post.

Indeed, the schoolboy could have had a first half hat-trick, also shooting wide before half-time whilst Milner bossed the midfield and set up chances for Chris Armstrong.

Just into injury time and Leeds grabbed their second goal, a good cross from the byline by Martin Woods and Jones making no mistake with the header from close range.

Leeds relentless pressure continued after the break and it came as no surprise when Lennon slotted home Milner's pass to make it 3-0 and his second goal.

It was by no means a one man show though, Woods again doing well on 66 minutes and forcing the keeper to tip his goalbound shot over the top.

With just under quarter on an hour left to play, Lennon was presented with the chance to claim his hat-trick when he beat the keeper but was then hacked down in the penalty area.  There was no doubting who was to take the spot-kick and Lennon was given a standing ovation as he comfortably swiped the ball into the net.

It was a performance that also drew warm praise from his club captain Dominic Matteo and a man who can also remember a few Tuesday nights at Elland Road in the Youth Cup, Alan Smith, both there to lend their support.

Leeds now face Cambridge United away in the fourth round.

Leeds:  Carson, Constable (Edwards 70), McDaid, McStay, Cronin, Winter (Cousins 75), Milner, Lennon, Armstrong (Keogh 62), Woods, Jones.

Gillingham:  Knowles, Soloman, Vella, Green , Howell, Lawson, Jarvis, Benjamin, Pulman, Hayhoe, Carew.