Proud dad Mark Benterman feels teams battling for Thurlow Nunn League division one promotion will be very aware that his Halstead Town team are well and truly back in the race.

On a day when his seven-week-old son Charlie was the Humbugs’ mascot, the Halstead Town players delivered a virtuoso performance with a 5-1 win against fourth-placed Swaffham Town.

Two goals apiece for Jordan Palmer – his second brace in consecutive games – and Jordan Hutchins and one for James Murray sealed the points for Halstead, who moved back up to second in the table with the result.

Manager Benterman said: “We are now four points in front of Swaffham and have a game in hand, so realistically it is all to play for.

“We’ve really dented Swaffham’s hopes with this result.

“I know people were there watching from other rival clubs and they’ll have gone away knowing that we are very much back in the promotion race.”

It made a special day for the Benterman family even better as young Charlie was the team mascot and proved a good luck charm at his first-ever game.

“It was such a proud moment to see Charlie there,” added Benterman.

“He’s only seven weeks old and it was his first game.

“He was so good, dressed up in his little Humbugs baby grow and I was a very proud dad.

“He certainly brought us luck and I’m hoping he’ll be there for the next 12 games – I’ll even have to take him to away games at Great Yarmouth and Fakenham!”