HALSTEAD TOWN 2 – 1 MARCH TOWN UNITED
Rigdeons league one

HALSTEAD TOWN notched up their first league win of the season, but were made to work hard for their victory against a March side who refused to lie down.
In a tepid opening 30mins, it was the visitors who made the early running and should have gone ahead after 11mins when James Ritcheson's long range shot grazed Town's post and 10mins later, great wing-play between Ash Brand and Denny Escorsio saw Rory Wheeler's close range header saved by keeper Ed Wootten.
Then, Halstead went ahead against the run of play. Ryan Sutton was released down the right hand side and danced through the March defence, only to see his shot handled in the box.
Hyun Jin-Lee calmly converted the penalty.
10 minutes later, it was 2-0. Sutton again rounded a couple of defenders to cross to Jamie Williams to head home.
But March fought back and had two chances thwarted by Wootten just before the break.
In the second half March carried on in the same vein with Denny Escorsio becoming ever more dangerous and had chances to narrow the deficit.
However, Town should have buried the game on 80mins when Jamie Williams was set through on goal and on rounding the keeper hesitated long enough for a defender to block his shot and minutes later, Adam Hunt saw his shot brilliantly saved by keeper Lee Brooks.
But March got their rewards 5 minutes from time. From a corner, Wootten mis-timed his punch allowing Mark Welcher to head home and they were unlucky not to equalise at the death when Paul Rowell shot agonisingly wide.
Halstead rode out the final minutes to chalk up their first league success of the campaign and now have a week to prepare for a savoury encounter in the FA cup against Stanway at Rosemary Lane on Saturday.