CORNARD UNITED 0 HALSTEAD TOWN 4

Thurlow Nunn League division one

Halstead Town know all they can do in the Thurlow Nunn League division one promotion race is win their own games and they did just that with an entirely professional job at Cornard United.

There was far more than just the usual bragging rights hanging on this local derby for the Humbugs as they knew they had to keep the pressure on the top three.

Having staged a comeback of monumental proportions to win 3-2 against Stowmarket on Saturday, this 4-0 victory was somewhat more straightforward.

Manager Mark Benterman made three changes from the side that had beaten Stowmarket, with Jordan Pavett, Joe O’Hare and Jordan Hutchings all returning to the starting line-up.

The game started with both sides struggling to find their rhythm and neither was able to dominate possession, but once the opening spell had passed, it was Halstead who got on top.

The confidence gained from their recent strong run of form was evident as they spread the play and started to get a hold of the ball more.

However, possession isn’t effective unless you can do something with it so the Humbugs fans would have been pleased to see their team grow more and more threatening.

They were denied a couple of penalty appeals by referee Chris Hastings, but the first real sight of goal came in the 20th minute when the ball feel invitingly to Joe O’Hare in a central position.

However, he snatched at his shot and sent the ball well over the bar.

Fortunately for the visitors, though, they didn’t live to regret that miss and two minutes later, Ryan Weaver made no mistake in slamming the ball home from a corner.

The goal clearly buoyed Halstead and play became almost one-way towards the home goal for the remainder of the half.

Charlie Pleace unleashed a terrific volley that flashed across the face of the home goal and the Humbugs went two ahead in the 33rd minute from another corner.

It was Nick Wilderspin on target this time with an effort that just squirmed past home keeper Colin Athey and into the net.

The play was all Halstead now and Jordan Hutchings cemented their position in the 37th minute as he engineered space for himself and beat Athey with a low effort that went just inside the post.

It meant Halstead went into the break with a three-goal lead, but it could so easily have been even more from a 45 minutes that they completely bossed.

Cornard’s contribution had been just a handful of half-chances, but there was little for Thomas Spenser to do in the visitors’ goal.

They knew they would have to offer more after the break and came out with more purpose, but a lack of quality in the final third meant Spenser still wasn’t really required.

Halstead weren’t able to match the threat they held before the break, though, and much of the play during the second half became scrappy in the midfield area.

They did have a few opportunities, with Weaver firing over from a wonderful cross by Marcus Warren and Cripps should perhaps have done better when he broke clear of the hosts’ back line just after.

But while a goal stayed elusive n open play, Halstead did stretch their lead in the 83rd minute from the penalty spot.

Cripps was crudely felled as he ran across the area and Warren stepped forward to coolly slot the ball home to wrap up a very convincing win that kept Halstead’s promotion hopes alive.

Halstead: Thomas Spenser, Charlie Pleace, Marcus Warren, Nick Wilderspin, Jordan Pavett, Julian Simon-Parson, Ryan Weaver (James Walker 68), Joe O'Hare (Tom Cook 74), Sam Cripps, James Murray, Jordan Hutchings.

Unused subs: Kane Gilbert, Jake Brown.

Referee: Chris Hastings.