It may not be the joke that it once was, but Halstead Town manager Mark Benterman feels his team are now being viewed as proper promotion candidates in Thurlow Nunn League division one.

Halstead’s 2-0 derby day win against leaders Long Melford underlined their credentials as being a team who can challenge not only for a move up into the premier division but for the title this season.

His team may not have found the consistency that he may have wanted in the opening months of the season, but Benterman feels they have found their stride now ahead of another big game tomorrow at Debenham LC.

“The win against Long Melford has really put us right back in the mix,” he said. “Had we lost that game, we would have drifted away from the sides at the top, but we are right up there now.

“People didn’t think we would win that convincingly, but we did and it has put us back in there."

Halstead are due to travel to Debenham LC in the league today.

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