HALSTEAD Town bowed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle after losing 3-1 at Harpenden Town, writes KEN GILLIARD.

The Humbugs handed a first competitive start to Jack Newman, in the extra preliminary round tie.

The game got off to a fast start with both sides scoring in the opening ten minutes.

Halstead fell behind when Spaul got on the end of Andrew Simmons' driving run and low cross to score.

However, they held the advantage for just three minutes as Asa Cansdale headed home his second of the campaign from a superb Dean Ager corner.

Cansdale got sight of goal on the edge of the box but fired wide for Halstead while Kyle Rahho cleared the bar with a decent chance, from the edge of the area.

Newman’s effort was collected by the home keeper and Halstead keeper Will Healy saved well after a shot found its way through a crowded box.

Healy saved well from Jake Anthony who had been played in by Danny Webb before with half-time looming, the hosts regained their lead.

Rahho once again shot from the edge of the area and this time, his effort nestled in the back of the net.

Halstead almost responded immediately with a Matt Travell cross being met sweetly by Cansdale, but his volley was just wide of the mark.

The second period started with the visitors making one change with Newman replaced by Julien Simon-Parson, who was having his first taste of action of the season.

The Harps almost made it 3-1 on the hour mark when Hadley Gleeson's sweetly-hit volley flew just over the bar.

Halstead then gave the ball away to Danny Webb and were reliant on Healy again performing heroics, as he made himself big and turned the ball away for a corner.

But Harpenden eventually made their pressure tell with 20 minutes remaining when Ryan Plowright extended their advantage with a beautiful effort which went in off the woodwork.

Halstead introduced two debutants Luke Burgess and Logan Green on 78 and 81 minutes respectively as they rolled the dice in an attempt to pull back the two-goal deficit.

However, it was the hosts who went closest to adding to the scoreline with Webb's curling effort rattling the bar, as the Humbugs went out at the first hurdle.