HALSTEAD Town tumbled to a 5-1 defeat at new leaders Great Wakering Rovers in their latest Essex Senior League match, writes KEN GILLIARD.

The opening five minutes saw the visitors struggling to find their feet and Raheem Gray twice had goalbound efforts blocked for Rovers.

Asa Cansdale's effort flew just over but Rovers went close again when Harry Brown let fly from the edge of the box with an effort just cleared the bar.

The temperature rose a little when Harry Brown broke the Humbugs backline and Jack Cherry came flying out and caught him but the referee decided yellow.

Halstead took an unexpected lead when Jamie Everleigh danced down the left and his centre found Alfie Lambert, who smashed home.

The remainder of the half saw the hosts dominant and Callum Boylan squandered a great chance to equalise when he spooned his effort over.

Halstead went in at the break ahead but Rovers equalised within the opening minute of the second half when they cut through the visitors defence and Brown tapped home.

The next five minutes saw Rovers applying the pressure and Halstead needed last-ditch blocks and a one-handed save from Cherry to keep their goal intact.

Rovers squandered a great chance to go ahead when Boylan was fouled in the box but was high and wide with the resultant spot-kick.

They nearly paid the price immediately as Jules Simon-Parson turned in the box but his effort flew just over.

However, Boylan made amends as he received the ball on the edge of the box and sent his shot wide of Cherry and into the net to give the hosts the lead.

Boylan almost added another moments later as he pounced on a back pass but Cherry was out quickly to smother.

Harry Brown went close for the hosts and Halstead needed a combination of Cherry and the defence to block another dangerous effort.

Brown scuffed an effort wide before Harrison Topliss rose highest from a corner to plant his header passed Cherry to give the hosts a two-goal advantage.

Halstead’s day went from bad to worse when George Frodsham was shown a straight red for an off the ball incident with a home defender.

Cherry denied Boylan and substitute Harry Talbot before Rovers then got their second penalty of the game, although much more contentious than the first one with Talbot slotting away coolly.

Halstead were then grateful to a superb covering run by Tom Graves as he managed to get back and clear off the line.

Talbot lobbed just wide of the upright but he only had to wait a short while until the visitors presented him with another chance and this time he slammed it home.

The whistle went with the visitors left to reflect on a poor second-half display and the hosts joyous with a performance that took them to the top of the league.