HALSTEAD Town booked their place in the FA Vase third qualifying round after beating a youthful Haverhill Borough 4-3 in a thriller, writes KEN GILLIARD.

The hosts made a number of changes, with Matt Travell, Nick Miller and Alfie Lambert back in the starting eleven.

Jake Brown was denied early on by Freddie Wallis while moments later, the keeper was beaten but no-one from Halstead managed to put the ball in.

Haverhill then had a chance as Harry Farrow collected the ball on the edge of the box and turned his defender but his shot came back off a post, with home keeper Jack Cherry beaten.

The first goal of the game came on ten minutes as Asa Cansdale turned the Boro back-line, got to the byline then pulled the ball back for George Frodsham to tap home into an empty net, his first for the club.

Wallis denied Nathan Scarborough soon after before Haverhill had a goal disallowed for offside.

Halstead doubled their lead on 20 minutes when Scarborough headed home Dean Ager's superb curling cross, giving the keeper no chance.

Wallis denied Ager's 25-yard effort but Haverhill reduced the deficit on 33 minutes.

Neat interplay saw Micky Cipriani get the wrong side of the home defence and he coolly slid the ball under the advancing Cherry.

Ager's free-kick went just wide before half-time and after the break, Fraser Bull’s effort from the edge of the box fell just the wrong side of the upright.

But Haverhill equalised on 54 minutes when Wilson danced down the left and his cross was turned into his own net by Alfie Cleal, for 2-2.

Wallis denied Cansdale and Travell, while substitute Lewis Owirdu weaved his way through but tried to square the ball when he should have had an effort on goal.

Haverhill were still dangerous on the break and Farrow scuffed wide, when well placed.

But with five minutes left, Cansdale smashed a free-kick through the wall and a slight deflection took it away from Wallis and into the bottom corner of the net.

And within minutes, Cansdale turned provider as he flicked the ball back from the byline for Owirdu to smash the ball home.

Haverhill pulled a goal back three minutes into additional time when Farrow outpaced the backline and scored but the referee’s final whistle went almost immediately, as Halstead progressed.