HALSTEAD Town were beaten 6-3 at in-form Takeley in the Essex Senior League, writes KEN GILLIARD.

The Humbugs, plagued by injury and absentees, are rooted to the bottom of the table after the defeat.

They have struggled to get a settled line-up and made four changes from their last outing with Julian Simon-Parson, Matt Travell, Alfie Cleal and Jamie Eveleigh starting on a very wet evening.

Credit to the hosts groundsman for having the pitch match ready and in great condition, despite persistent rain throughout the day.

Halstead, not for the first time, got off to a poor start and found themselves behind within the opening five minutes.

Wing-back Coby Miles benefitting from his own endeavours and industry when he initially closed down the ball and kept his running going and the ball eventually came back to him in the area and he slammed home.

Jack Cherry in the visitors' goal then pulled off a great save from Connor Clarke as he let fly from edge of the box and looked like he was going to extend the hosts' lead.

Halstead weren’t without threat in the early stages as Eveleigh was prominent on the right and they clawed their way back into the game on 15 minutes when a Dean Ager corner was comprehensively headed home by the returning Travell.

The game was completely turned around four minutes later when Ager let fly from 25 yards and Jarvis Monk in the home goal simply didn’t have time to move.

Both sides created chances and Ager almost got a second but his effort was blocked superbly by a defender whilst at the other end Cherry had been commanding in his box.

Takeley were pushing forward and a series of blocks prevented them scoring but the official didn’t help the visitors cause when he gave handball in a dangerous position after a ball spun onto a hand after another superb block.

However, Jack Mitchell’s effort flew just over the visitors' bar and the Humbugs remained in front at that stage.

Another home free-kick and this time George Powell headed wide for the hosts when well placed as they applied some pressure on the Humbugs defence, which finally paid off as Halstead conceded a corner and the in swinging effort seemed to go straight in at the far post and the goal was credited to Lewis Powell and it restored parity.

The hosts regained the lead on 35 minutes as Lanre Balogun burst through and set up Miles but his effort was saved by Cherry but the rebound rolled to Clarke who coolly slotted the ball into the empty net.

The hosts were on top at this stage with Halstead struggling to keep the ball and Balogun being a threat and he almost set up Jordan Westcott for a fourth but he sliced his effort wide.

Cleal then broke the Takeley’s backline with a superb through ball but Asa Cansdale couldn’t get the ball from out of his feet and Monk came out quickly to smother the ball and the danger.

Halstead trailed 3-2 at half-time but the early minutes of the second half were promising for the visitors as they came out with the bit between their teeth but the home defence stood firm and Balogun was providing a great out ball for the hosts.

Takeley’s Powell then found himself free in the visitors box from a corner but his header was weak and cleared by home defence as the hosts started to assert themselves again.

Mitchell then spurned a chance when free on the edge and then tried to weave his way through but his effort was blocked and Halstead were soaking up the pressure well.

They then had a great break with Ager playing in Lambert but his effort was well saved by Monk when an equaliser was on the cards.

A superb free kick from Ager curled into the far post and only needed a touch from the visitors but it wasn’t to be and the opening 20 minutes of the half passed without addition to the score.

A goal was on the cards and it went the way of Halstead as Ager swung in another fabulous corner and Cansdale met it superbly to head into the bottom right-hand corner of the net and set up an exciting final 20 minutes.

Halstead almost got another within a minute as a driving run by Cleal saw him cross and Eveleigh put his effort just wide.

At the other end Tom Graves was on hand, as he had been all game, to block and clear a shot and keep the game all square.

The game took another turn on 76 minutes as the visitors failed to deal with a ball into their box after Miles and Balogun again combined and Morgan Arnold stole in to score and give the hosts the advantage.

Halstead almost got back on level terms when a driving run and through ball by Alfie Lambert found Ager and his chip was inches wide of the upright.

The visitors were left to rue their luck as Takeley immediately broke and benefited from the ricochets in the Halstead box and the ball fell at the feet of Mitchell and he dispatched the ball passed Cherry to put some clear daylight between the hosts and the Humbugs.

Takeley were looking dangerous on every attack and substitute Jamal Obeng driving run at the visitors' defence ended with him slamming the ball passed Cherry to get a sixth for the hosts.

They almost added a seventh but Cherry was off his line quickly to save with his legs and final whistle went with Humbugs well beaten but the scoreline was a bit harsh on them and the performance, for the first 75 minutes was a step up from those that had gone before it against a very good Takeley side.