Darwin Espinal scored one goal and set up another. (Photo courtesy of Cosmos)

JOHNSTON, R.I. — It was over just about before it got started.

Cosmos B ripped the nets for three goals over an 11-minute span early in the first half and went on to record a 4-2 victory over Rhode Island Reds FC Saturday night.

The result improved Cosmos B to a perfect 5-0-0 as the Atlantic North Conference leaders reached the midway point of their regular season. Rhode Island fell to 0-3-1.

The visitors started their onslaught in the sixth minute when Bledi Bardi was taken down in the penalty area by the Rhode Island keeper. Captain Danny Szetela took the ensuing PK and converted.

It didn’t take long for Cosmos B to celebrate its second goal. This time Darwin Espinal found Bardic in the area as the forward slotted the ball behind the keeper for a two-goal advantage.

Espinal turned goal-scorer in the 17th minute, firing one home from atop the box for a 3-0 lead.

Wojciech Wocjik put in a rebound off the goalkeeper from a John Neeskens shot, but the forward was called offside in the 23rd minute.

Alejandro Penzini made it 4-0 in the 53rd minute as he converted a corner kick.

The hosts made it interesting in the waning minutes, scoring in the 84th and 90th minutes past goalkeeper Kevin Tenjo, who started in place of regular Macklin Robinson.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.