1.0 up at Halstead away but lose 2.1

[Res Match Day Sec]

Unable to do any updates / match reports tonight. Got to be up early. All updates about 10.30 a.m. Mark.

[Res Match Day Sec]

Eastern Counties League Division One.
Halstead Town. (0) 2.1 (1) BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES.
Att. 50.

Kit - Shirt : Orange,
Shorts : Royal Blue,
Socks : Royal Blue,
Keeper shirt : Sky Blue.

TEAM :
1, LUKE BANNER
2, LUKE MALLETT
3, CALLUM WINTRIP
4, CONNOR SMITH
5, GEORGE PULLEN
6, JOE MOORE (CAPT)
7, REGAN PELLING
8, REECE SAYERS
9, SEYE OKUNLOLA
10, ALFIE WALKER
11, ELLIOTTT JOHNSON

SUBS USED IN ORDER.
67 MINS : 14 JACK TYRER FOR SHIRT 7
75 MINS : 15 MATT BAXTER FOR SHIRT 10
77 MINS : 16 LEWIS SORAF FOR SHIRT 2

UNUSED SUBS.
12 Not used.
17 JAKE GILDER

YELLOWS : NONE. (WELL DONE TO EVERYONE.)

BRAINTREE TOWN BENCH : Mark Sansom (Manager), Ross McPherson (Assistant Manager), Jake Gilder (Physio), Yours Truly (Match Day Sec)
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GOALS :
Braintree Town Reserves 1.0 (5 mins) Alfie Walker
Halstead Town 1.1 (62 mins)Lewis Cunliffe (PENALTY.)
Halstead Town 2.1 (75 mins)David Morgan
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We travelled to our local rivals with the return of Reece Sayers from the nasty injury at Hadleigh Utd and returning to us & back into the squad were Academy lads Callum Wintrip & Elliott Johnson who were to replace Flynn Tarman & Joe Maybanks who were injured on Saturday, we were still without the injured Richmond Ayoola.

Credit to Halstead Town last night, they were a footballing side, it was a clean game with firm challenges but no one from either side was injured and apart from the home sides David Morgan (former Witham Town player) that was the only yellow of the game.

As it happens to us a lot this season, we dominated the first half against a footballing side, rather than a kick us to pieces side and our domination could of been more but we had to settle for the one. Our goal coming after only 5 minutes from Alfie Walker (Reserves leading scorer) who had moved positions to just behind Seye Okunlola and this paid dividends immediately. We looked electric on the flanks, the player who impressed me the most in the first half was Elliott Johnson, from memory this is only his 2nd Reserves game for us. On 19 minutes the confident Connor Smith took a shot through a crowded area and got it on target. Two minutes later Elliott Johnson did one of his darting runs up the flanks and the end delivery was excellent with Connor Smith hitting just over the cross bar. Immediately the ball goes down the other end & Joe Moore made a firm decisive tackle keeping us in front.

Elliott Johnson continued his power runs up the flanks, beating players for fun and delivering into the box one such effort on 36 minutes found Alfie Walker who was inches wide of the post in another golden chance for us. Up the other end Lewis Cunliffe for the hosts had their best effort of the half. They then penetrated again with our Luke Banner (keeper) at full stretch to save with his legs.

Half time we are one up and apart from a couple of efforts we were in control. Second half changed all that, 62 minutes our Captain Joe Moore gave away a penalty. (we are on some kind of run in conceding pens of late) Lewis Cunliffe puts the spot kick away. A few minutes later and Alfie Walker gets caught out and the 15 Ellis Carter hits the post for Halstead. On 71 mins we had an effort with Reece Sayers shooting over a crowded area but into the keepers hands. Three minutes later Luke Banner is the busier keeper again, with a fantastic save and pushing it round the post. a mix up on 75 minutes with various players blaming each other led to David Morgan claiming the winner. We were not out the woods yet, Callum Wintrip had to make a vital clearance. Full time lost 2.1

Summary - fantastic first half dominant and creating chances, 2nd half individual errors costs us. Again these are only 16-18 year old boys and we need to remember to be patient with them. Hopefully with the 11 day break Mark & Ross can help them correct some of these errors. Forget the 2nd half lads and keep in your head some of the positives from tonight and Saturday's draw.