HALSTEAD Town were thrashed 5-2 at home by Barking to remain bottom of the Essex Senior League table, writes KEN GILLIARD.

Halstead once again conceded early with just four minutes on the clock, when Jewan Akintunde crossed for an unmarked Sam Shaban to pass the ball into the net.

Barking almost doubled their advantage within two minutes when Akintunde turned the home defence but his effort thudded off the inside of a post and went to safety.

Halstead were then saved by the assistant’s flag as Shaban seemingly broke the back line and planted the ball in the net, only to be ruled offside.

The hosts were then grateful to Tom Graves' superb goal-line clearance as he laid on the floor, after Andre Anderson turned in the box and fired in a low shot.

Debutant goalkeeper Hayden West did superbly to block Anderson's effort while at the other end, Dean Ager's effort was tipped over by keeper Max Spence.

The upright then came to the Halstead’s rescue again as Ryan Cosson's effort came off the woodwork and bounced to safety.

West saved an effort from six yards before Barking finally got their second when a flowing move was finish off by Anderson.

(Image: TERRY GILBERT)

Halstead were then destined to play the final ten minutes of the half with ten men as Everleigh was sin binned for comments made to the official.

However, the Humbugs pulled a goal back in the 40th minute through Lambert, who fired home after Ager's cross was sliced by Cansdale.

Everleigh almost got on the end of an Ager cross and then Cansdale did well to wriggle through but Spence blocked well, as Halstead went in at the break behind.

Barking took just five second half minutes to restore their two-goal advantage as a simple long ball from the back split the home defence and Akintunde ran through and fired a deflected shot home.

West denied Shaban and Anderson’s follow up struck a post as the visitors while Anderson's side-footed effort was way off target, with just West to beat.

However, Barking didn’t have to wait long to add to their tally as Anderson's cross beat everyone and was turned in at the far post by Shaban.

Stand-in skipper Alfie Cleal almost pulled one back for the hosts as he got onto Ager's pass but Spence was quickly out to block his effort.

However, Shaban was only denied a hat-trick by West, who was smartly down at his near post.

Barking made it 5-1 when Shaban was in the right place to poke the ball home and complete his hat-trick.

Halstead pulled a goal back through Cleal, who smashed home after substitute Luke Burgess's effort had been blocked.

West was then sin-binned, leading to substitute Nathan Scarborough taking over in goal.

And it got worse for Halstead in additional time when Cleal was shown a second yellow and left the hosts to play out the remaining minutes with only nine players.