Witham recorded an excellent win at Spa Road on Saturday, and it was a great fillip for the new management team of Tony Kinsella and Bobby Harding who are in the process of putting together a team that will be hopefully good enough to see Witham away from the relegation zone.

Their latest acquisition is Tony English who made his debut along with Jamie Gold who was making his first appearance at Spa Road.

The first half saw a good midfield battle with hardly any goal mouth action.

However, after 15 minutes a fierce shot from Alan Vincent was blocked by a defender, and as it spun in the air ,Rob Hall the Banstead goalkeeper did well to push it over the bar for a corner, from which Vincent, at the far post, headed in from close range.

Although Witham were playing some good football the only other chance came just before half time when a long cross from Dean Holliday found Glen Driver but his shot went just wide of the post.

The second half was completely different with chances at each end with the visitors blasting most of theirs high and wide.

When they did get an effort on target they found Chris Kreihn the Witham goalkeeper in good form.

A Gold shot went just over and a powerful header from Stuart Joplin hit the Banstead crossbar.

In the last minute of normal time, after constant pressure from Witham, they went further ahead through an own goal when Steve Shaw stuck out a leg to prevent the ball going through to the unmarked Joplin and diverted it past Hall.

In the seven minutes of time added on, the visitors pulled a goal back when substitute Paul Thornton netted.

This was the best performance from Witham this season and should soon have the supporters who have strayed away from Spa Road during the bad times back to the games.

Witham's win came after 14 matches without a win in which time they scored seven goals, (none in the last five games) and had conceded 40 and when they visited Banstead back in August, Banstead won 7-1.

A good game is anticipated on Saturday when top of the league Ford United are the visitors to Witham, and next Tuesday, Town travel to play another promotion chasing side, Hemel Hempstead, with the supporters coach leaving Spa Road at 5pm.

Witham Under 18s beat Bowers United 4-3 at Spa Road on Sunday.

Gino Defeo scored all four of Witham's goals, three before half time and one soon after the break.

The visitors then fought back and scored three times as Witham wrongly thought that they had done enough, but they held on for a narrow win.

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