Halstead Town midfielder Luke Hammond has told how he is loving football again after enduring an unhappy spell at neighbours Braintree Town.

And Hammond admits he was delighted to play a major part in Halstead's shock 2-0 Essex Senior Cup victory over The Iron last week.

"It was good to go back," said Hammond, 19, who spent nine months at Cressing Road in 2003 without ever becoming a regular.

"And it was good to show what I could do.

"I played a few matches at right-back or wing-back, but I was never really given a real go in my favourite position - centre midfield.

"I don't think Gary Bellamy (former manager) gave me a proper chance.

"It was a brilliant feeling to win against Braintree and it was nice to have played well."

Published Thursday January 22, 2004

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