HALSTEAD TOWN 5 BURNHAM RAMBLERS 0

Essex Senior Cup round two

Halstead Town’s love of knockout competitions this year continued into the Essex Senior Cup as they progressed into the third round with a 5-0 win against Burnham Ramblers.

A young Ramblers team tested their hosts at times, but Halstead are in confident mood after a strong start to the Thurlow Nunn League division one season and good form in both the FA Cup and FA Vase.

They have had wins against higher-placed opposition and were on the front foot from the first whistle as they made the perfect start.

With less than 50 seconds on the clock and Burnham having hardly got out of their own half, Jack Charnock marked his first senior start in style as he put Halstead ahead.

Ramblers’ young players were visibly rocked and the home side looked to heap further woe on them with plenty of possession and strong movement in forward areas.

They almost doubled their lead when a cross from Charnock evaded Burnham keeper Reece Clarke and clattered off the far upright and the woodwork was rattled again when James Murray hit a thunderous drive from 25 yards that Clarke did well to tip on to the crossbar.

However, Halstead were unable to make their dominance count in terms of a second goal and Burnham grew in confidence as the half developed.

They enjoyed some good possession of their own, with Charlie Hughes working hard up front and he tested Joe Fowler in the home goal with a low drive.

But perhaps Ramblers’ best effort of the half came five minutes before the break when a corner was played to Ryan Stillwell in a deep position.

The Burnham forward showed great composure to take the ball and with defenders closing him down, he hit a rasping drive that Fowler claimed only at the second attempt.

However, for all Ramblers’ encouraging play, they were undone by a moment of individual brilliance at the other end.

With two minutes to go before half-time, a foul on the edge of the box on Chris Bryan saw Halstead awarded a free-kick.

Charnock showed amazing confidence to step forward and curl in an effort that went through the grasp of Clarke and into the top corner to make sure the Humbugs held an imposing lead at the break.

However, just as Burnham had been in the first half, Halstead were almost undone in the opening seconds of the second half.

A ball over the top of their defence was collected well by Alfie Bond and he lifted his shot over Fowler, but also just past the post.

It gave Ramblers’ youngsters a lift and some neat play around the home area opened a chance for Stillwell, who tested Fowler once again with a smart shot, while Fowler had to pull off a good save from a Grant Webb effort and Sonny Burch saw a header cleared off the line.

However, Halstead still had a greater cutting edge up front and a few minutes after joining as a substitute, Sam Cripps put them three ahead when Clarke had misjudged a ball forward and the Town striker had the simple task of tucking the ball into an open goal.

It effectively put the result beyond doubt and the advantage became four when a flowing Halstead move was finished by Cripps and Lewis Cunliffe made it 5-0 with almost the last kick of the game as Town wrapped up their progress into the third round.