Halstead Town manager Mark Benterman admitted his side’s Thurlow Nunn League division one win at Cornard United could have been more emphatic, but felt they did a good job in front of goal considering his first-choice strikers weren’t available.


Benterman was full of praise for the work done by Dan Grindrod and James Murray up front after Brad Fleming and Adam Brotherton were both unavailable for the local derby.


The Town boss said: “We had chances and we could have been a bit more clinical in front of goal, but we had two strikers who weren’t available for the game.


“Brad Fleming had an illness and he would have made a difference.
“I think he would have got two or three goals in that game with the chances we created and Adam Brotherton would have got a couple if he’d been available and not suspended.


“Instead we had a lad (Dan Grindrod) who has been playing at right-back all year up front and he did very well in holding the ball up in tricky conditions.
 

“There were two old-style centre-backs up against him and he did well, while Muzza (Murray) showed real class and I know that he could easily hold his own if he was playing in the Ryman League.


“The only reason I believe he isn’t at a division one north club now is that he hasn’t been at a higher-profile club earlier in his career.


“So I was just happy to take the two points.


“With no recognised strikers in the squad, we did a great job."

See this week's paper for the full version of this story