HALSTEAD Town boss Mark McLean is considering bringing in some fresh legs for the FA Vase game against Hackney Wick this Sunday, writes GRAHAM DOVER.

The Humbugs have had a run of four hard-fought games in just under two weeks.

The FA Cup game at Leiston the previous Saturday had taken a lot out of his players as the team who play their football three divisions higher constantly moved the ball with pace around the pitch and Halstead had spent a lot of time without the ball, sapping their energy trying to regain possession.

Nevertheless, McLean was proud of his players’ performance.

Conceding after just two minutes is not the ideal start to a game and his team found themselves three goals down after 30 minutes.

Halstead, though, had their chances, taking the game to Leiston when they could and winning eight corners in the first half.

Unfortunately all of these were cleared by the home defence and McLean was disappointed that none of these set-pieces produced the goal that could have put his team back in the game.

The scored remained at 3-0 until five minutes before the final whistle when Leiston scored a further two goals to perhaps put a gloss on the game for them and not show a true reflection of the game.

After this gruelling test, the last thing the Humbugs wanted was to turn out for another game but for them there was to be no immediate rest.

Three days later their hectic start to their season continued with a return to league action at home to Wivenhoe.

Some of the players clearly hadn’t fully recovered from the previous game and although there were some good phases of play and the momentum was still there, Mclean will be hoping for more when they line up for the cup-tie.

Halstead's game against Hackney Wick (kick-off 3pm), which is being played at Witham FC, was originally scheduled for one day earlier.

But as Hackney Wick have a league fixture themselves that day the match has been put back for 24 hours and will be played on Sunday.

This extra 24 hours rest will surely benefit Halstead as they play their third cup-tie of the season although the first against a team at the same level in the football pyramid.

One worry for the Humbugs will be goalkeeper, Jack Cherry who was forced off the pitch against Wivenhoe to have stitches to a nose injury incurred after a collision with an opposing forward.

When he left the field striker, Joe Jones donned the keeper’s gloves and gave a confident performance between the sticks to the delight of his manager.

At present it is uncertain whether Cherry will be ready to face Hackney.

The initial diagnosis was that his nose was not broken but more will become clearer when the initial swelling comes down.

One thing that will not be missing is the massive support that the Humbugs now enjoy.

The attendance at the Milbank Stadium on Tuesday night was an impressive 248 and many of them, including the becoming-famous Halstead Ultras, will no doubt be making the trip to Witham and making their voices heard.