Michael Bradley hit his first hat trick to lead Heerenveen past derby rivals Groningen, while Charles Kazlauskas and TOP scored a slim win at Helmond Sport.

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BRADLEY TRICK LIFTS FRISIANS
Heerenveen held firm in fourth place thanks to a 4-2 win over visiting rivals FC Groningen sparked by three goals from US international Michael Bradley.

The visitors wasted little time in gifting the Blue White Vikings the lead as Goran Lovre stooped to nod a Jakob Poulsen cross meant for Bradley into his own net.

Five minutes later, the American notched his first of the day after a clumsy turnover by Groningen defender Gabril Sankoh. Gerald Sibon played Danijel Pranjic into the area for a close range shot that Brian van Loo could only parry into the path of Bradley, who made no error.

Two minutes after that, Gang Green continued the pulsating start to the northern grudge match by slicing into the lead. Bruno Silva crossed from the right for Erik Nevland to place a pinpoint header past Brian Vandenbussche.

After Sibon hit the bar from a corner kick, the away side drew level near the quarter hour. Nevland bagged his second by collecting a long Van Loo boot to fire a left shot home.

The deadlock only lasted until the 22nd minute when Bradley put Heerenveen ahead to stay by redirecting a low Miralem Sulejmani cross inside the far post.

Poulsen was instrumental in creating the sixth goal of a stunning first half, charging into the area to force a Van Loo save. Bradley was again in the right place at the right time to put the biscuit in the basket, capping his natural hat trick.

The contest cooled off considerably after the break, but Koen van de Laak put a scare into the home side when he smashed a shot off the woodwork in the 62nd minute.

Pranjic and Sibon would go close at the other, but on the scoreboard, the match ended as the first half did.

The win pulls Heerenveen to within five points of tabletop Ajax ahead of Saturday's trip to NAC Breda.

Scoring
HEER - Own Goal (Goran Lovre) 2'
HEER - Michael Bradley 4 7'
FCG - Erik Nevland 5 (Bruno Silva) 9'
FCG - Erik Nevland 6 (Brian van Loo) 14'
HEER - Michael Bradley 5 (Miralem Sulejmani) 22'
HEER - Michael Bradley 6 41'

Line-ups
FCG - Brian van Loo; Bruno Silva, Gabril Sankoh, Arnold Kruiswijk, Frederik Stenman, Yevgeni Levchenko, Koen van de Laak (Stefan Nijland 79'), Mark-Jan Fledderus (Shkodran Metaj 69'), Goran Lovre, Marcus Berg, Erik Nevland (Martijn Meerdink 42')

HEER - Brian Vandenbussche; Gianni Zuiverloon (Gonzalo Garcia-Garcia 77'), Kristian Bak-Nielsen, Michael Dingsdag (Calvin Jong-A-Pin 35'), Michel Breuer, Jakob Poulsen, Geert Arend Roorda, Michael Bradley, Danijel Pranjic, Gerald Sibon (Henrico Drost 83'), Miralem Sulejmani

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TOP EDGES HELMOND AWAY
TOP Oss got a late goal from substitute Regilio Jacobs to defeat Sunday hosts Helmond Sport 1-0.

Charles Kazlauskas worked his typical 90 minutes at right back for the victors.

Birthday boy Revy Rosalia and Davy Zafarin squandered the two best scoring opportunities of the first half, then at the hour, the former nodded just over from a Kazlauskas cross.

Soon therafter, TOP keeper Wilko de Vogt was able to keep the game scoreless with a top drawer save on Bruno David Roma.

Dimitri Djollo and Zafarin failed on chances, but the misses only served to set up the late heroics of Jacobs. With eight minutes remaining, the defender stepped up to bury a 20-meter free kick and collect the points for the road team.

Scoring
TOP - Regilio Jacobs 82'

TOP - Wilko de Vogt; Charles Kazlauskas, Niek Ripson, Dirk Schoofs (Regilio Jacobs 56'), Leon van Dalen, Bart van Hintum, Mike Thijssen, Erik van der Ven, Davy Zafarin, Revy Rosalia (Casper van Elsäcker 75'), Dimitri Djollo (Wouter van den Herik 90+)

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ON THE SIDELINE
Lee Nguyen was not in uniform as PSV Eindhoven slipped off the top of the Eredivisie with a 4-2 home loss to Roda JC.