CORNARD UNITED 4 HALSTEAD TOWN 5

Thurlow Nunn League Cup round one

HALSTEAD Town put a couple of poor results behind them to progress into the second round of the Thurlow Nunn League Cup with a tight victory at Cornard United.

The Humbugs had lost both of their previous two Thurlow Nunn League division one south games, but they got back to winnign ways by beating division one north United 4-1.

The damage was done by the visitors in a strong first half when goals from Jake De’ath, Chris Harris, Jordan Pavett and Jamie Baker opened a lead that proved crucial after the break.

Cornard hit back with three goals but a fifth from Nathaniel Downes was decisive as Halstead repelled their hosts’ second-half comeback.

There was little between the sides in a tight opening period when both looked to get on the front foot.

Cornard threatened several times as they tried to get in behind the Humbugs’ back line, but the home side fell behind in the 12th minute.

Halstead’s opener came when a ball to the back post was met by a thunderous volley from striker Chris Harris that was kept out by a stunning save from Cornard keeper Alex Silver.

It was a top-class stop, so it was a bit harsh on the home keeper that Jake De’ath reacted quickest to the loose ball and turned it into the net to put Halstead ahead.

That one-goal lead was inches away from being doubled on 25 minutes after Harris was fouled on the edge of the Cornard penalty area and Pavett fired in a free-kick that whistled just over the bar.

Halstead were putting the home goal under pressure at this stage and an overhead kick by Pavett then flew just over, so it was somewhat against the run of play when an equaliser came on 31 minutes.

It came from an innocuous-looking bit of midfield possession for the hosts, but a slip by Alex O’Leary allowed United’s George Vallentyne to break clear and slot the ball into the Halstead net.

Parity lasted less than two minutes, though, as Halstead regained the lead in emphatic fashion when the impressive Harris cut inside from the left before drilling a wonderful shot past Silver.

Just three minutes had passed when lead was extended from a corner.

Firstly, Harris met the ball into the centre with a lovely header that clattered back off the bar, but Pavett responded and managed to place his header into the goal for a 3-1 lead.

And that became 4-1 before half-time when the ball was fed to Jamie Baker on the right and his low effort proved too fierce for Silver to handle as the ball squirmed under his body and in to put the Humbugs in a commanding position at the break.

Cornard predictably came out looking for a way back into the tie after the restart and after one shot went agonisingly wide, Kendle made a superb save to deny a long-range effort by Vallentyne.

A header from Dave Dowding then crept just wide of the target from a free-kick and the hosts did get one back on 68 minutes, but it came in contentious circumstances.

United striker Kade Ivatt appeared to have tripped his marker before racing clear and slotting in a cross, but rather than pull the play back to award a foul, referee Darren Lander allowed the goal to stand amid Halstead protestations.

It gave the hosts hope that a comeback could be on the cards and that was reinforced with 15 minutes remaining when a break was finished by a shot from Ezra Drann to make it 4-3.

Halstead nerves may have been starting to jangle but they were calmed five minutes later when the advantage was extended to two again as substitute Nathaniel Downes slid the ball in from close range.

They needed that as a tense second half ended with Cornard turning the ball in from a free-kick in the 90th minute, but the Humbugs ultimately held on to progress into the second round.

Halstead Town: Sam Kendle, Liam Whitehead, Alex O’Leary, Jack Schelvis, Connel Dunlop, Brad Amos, Jamie Baker, Callum Vincent, Chris Harris, Jordan Pavett (Nathaniel Downes), Jake De’ath (Kane Munday). Subs not used: Ben Morgan, Rocha Fosker.

Referee: Darren Lander.