It was beyond belief how Witham were three goals down on Saturday after only 22 minutes as they had had the far better chances but at the other end, the home team had taken theirs.

The hosts took the lead after four minutes when Witham goalkeeper Chris Kriehn dropped the ball, from the first corner of the game, and Paul Hakim put it over the line from a yard out.

Witham then had three chances with Nigel Warren (twice) and Paul Dean hurrying their shots and blasting the ball over the top when they had time to be more accurate.

However, the home side scored two goals within two minutes when after a good run by Tim Becker, his cross was met by Dan Nyman who netted a good goal.

Within two minutes they were further ahead when Vhroskhi headed in a corner.

The same pattern continued after the break until the last ten minutes when the game sprang to life.

Wingate were gifted a fourth goal, when a Witham defender, with plenty of time on his hands, headed into his own goal.

Dean then pulled a goal back for Witham and Michael Kalli, the home goalkeeper, made a tremendous save from Chris Bassett and Bassett was then only inches wide again before he finally scored when heading in Witham's second goal.

By now Witham were swamping the home side and had they played like that throughout the game then the scoreline could have been so different.

With almost the last kick of the game Hakim got a fifth goal for Wingate.

On Sunday, Witham under 18s beat hosts, Chelmsford City, 2-1.

Bobby Lindsell got Town's first goal and after the break Gino Defeo netted before City reduced the deficit late in the game.

On Saturday Witham first team are without a match, while the reserves host Romford in an Essex & Herts Border Combination match (kick-off 3 pm) and on Sunday, the under 18s are at home to Heybridge Swifts under 18s in an Essex County Cup fixture (kick-off 10.30 am).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.