HALSTEAD Town manager Mark McLean was quick to sing the praises of Chris Harris after his double strike helped the Humbugs to a very welcome win at Team Bury last weekend.

The 3-0 victory ended a five-game winless run in Thurlow Nunn League division one and they will be hoping to build on that when they head to the side directly above them in the table tomorrow - Downham Town.

McLean said Harris, who was making just his fourth appearance of the season for Halstead, had been instrumental in the success at Team Bury and the Town boss was pleased to have a player who he rates so highly on board.  He said: “We changed the formation a bit so we had another man in the middle, which made us a bit more direct and we had an extra man up top - it worked a treat.

“Chris Harris was the target man up there and we got a lot of energy off of him.

“I have been wanting to do that since the summer but I couldn’t because we didn’t have a target man like Chris and having him in there for us adds another dimension for us.

“I’m not shy in saying that he is one of the best players I have worked with as a manager.

“He is very good at cricket and has earned a few pro contracts playing in New Zealand over the last couple of years, but he has come back this time.

“Fitness has been a bit of an issue as he was suffering with shin splints, but we have worked with him and got him back now and are seeing the benefits.”

Another positive to come out of the trip to Team Bury was a clean sheet and McLean was glad for goalkeeper Matt Walker after the team had conceded four the previous week against King’s Lynn Reserves.

“I was really pleased for Matt Walker as it had been tough for him to come in and see four goals go in in his first game,” added McLean.

“He brings a calmness at the back for us and I felt sorry for him in that first game, but keeping a clean sheet against Team Bury was merited and I was glad for him.

“It was good to see as it was only the second clean sheet we have kept all season.

“That has been a problem and one we had to address, but we have done that now.

“It was about time as we were due a result like we had against Team Bury.

“Despite them being where they are in the league, they had had close games against Debenham and Framlingham in the two before they played us, so to play the way that we did was outstanding.

“The only frustration was that we could have won by more as we dominated from start to finish.

“They had five minutes in the second half, but you will always get that and, apart from that, it was literally all in the one half of the pitch.

“That is what I expect to see.

“We made a few changes and we played the way that I wanted us to and that was really pleasing.”