HALSTEAD Town crashed to a 6-0 defeat at home to Takeley in the Essex Senior League, writes KEN GILLIARD.

Manager Mark McLean shuffled his Humbugs pack with Jake Brown, Julian Simon-Parson, Joe Maybanks and Tom Graves all back in the team.

Halstead made a fast start and in the opening three minutes Maybanks' cross-cum-shot had goalkeeper Jarvis Monk back pedalling quickly, but it just cleared his bar.

Takeley responded immediately and a cross from the left was headed wide by a well-placed Jack Mitchell, when he should have done better.

The visitors were on top and Simon-Parson was needed to head over his own bar with Mitchell ready to pounce and then Halstead keeper Jack Cherry made a brilliant flying interception as the hosts gave the ball away and almost contributed to their own downfall.

The unmarked Asa Cansdale's header just cleared the bar, while Cansdale side footed wide from the edge of the box when Monk failed to come and claim the ball.

On 24 minutes Halstead fell behind when they gave the ball away and Balogun chested down the resulting cross and shot which Cherry saved but Jaden Marzell slammed home the rebound.

Takeley doubled their lead when Halstead carelessly gave the ball away, allowing Mitchell to get in down the left, cut inside and smash home a second.

Halstead were then immediately down to ten as Nathan Scarborough was sin binned, making the hosts task for the remainder of the half even more difficult.

Takeley took advantage as a long ball over the top found Balogun who rounded the advancing Cherry and slid the ball home, despite frantic efforts from the home defence.

A tough scoreline on the hosts which, whilst Takeley were the better side, didn’t reflect the half of football where Halstead often gave as good as they received.

Halstead had a couple of efforts after the break but Ager’s was charged down and Maybanks dragged his wide from distance.

The hosts then succumbed to the sucker punch as great switch of the ball from left to right found Coby Miles and he cut in and slammed the ball past Cherry to give Takeley a four-goal advantage.

It was 5-0 on 86 minutes when Halstead again failed to clear their lines and the recently introduced Conor Clarke scrambled home.

And when Harrison Tweedwell was bought down in the box and dispatched the resultant penalty, it rounded off an evening Halstead will want to forget.