HALSTEAD Town moved off the bottom of the Essex Senior League table with a much-needed 2-1 win over Benfleet on Tuesday night, writes KEN GILLIARD.

The hosts made a number of changes from the disappointing FA Vase defeat with a debut for Lewis Clifford and a return for former skipper and Halstead legend Lewis Cunliffe.

Benfleet made the early running and only McKenzie Bone's last-ditch tackle prevented Mason Shave having a clear run on goal while the visitors had a penalty shout rejected when Max Jobson tumbled under Bone's challenge.

Halstead fell behind when keeper Jack Cherry smothered Jobson's effort but the ball rebounded to Toby Dickinson, who converted.

Benfleet keeper Florent Gilette did well to cut out Dean Ager's low cross, as Halstead worked hard to get back into the game.

Nathan Scarborough's header was blocked to safety, while Shave's effort was blocked for a corner.

Halstead equalised when the visitors stopped, thinking the ball had gone out and Clifford ran at the back four.

He eventually crossed for Scarborough to tap home, at the far post.

Scarborough then headed just over from Bone's cross, as Halstead enjoyed a better period of play.

The teams went in level at the break but Benfleet missed a great chance to restore their lead early in the second half when Billy Carter spooned over at the back post after Dickinson had got down the left and crossed.

Carter had a much better effort minutes later from outside the box which Cherry did superbly to tip around a post at full stretch.

At the other end, Clifford was close to a debut goal for the Humbugs as he chased down a high ball and beat the advancing keeper, only for the back-tracking Cameron Harris to turn off the line for a corner.

The game was end to end with Benfleet going close but as their two players closed in on goal they poked the ball wide.

Cunliffe then made a superb block as Carter broke one challenge and fired in what looked likely to be a scoring shot.

The visitors then enjoyed a sustained period of pressure but Halstead weathered that storm and almost hit Benfleet on the break but didn’t get the run of the ball from substitute Lewis Owiredu’s cross.

Scarborough headed narrowly over before Cleal cleared almost off his line, as the pendulum continued to swing.

Halstead then grabbed their winner when Jamie Everliegh was fouled in the area and despatched the resultant penalty into the bottom left hand corner.

Lawrence came agonisingly close to rescuing a point for Benfleet before the end with a 30-yard strike that came back off the crossbar but the Humbugs claimed victory.