HALSTEAD Town were beaten 4-0 at home by Stansted in the Essex Senior League, writes KEN GILLIARD.

The Airportmen went close in the opening seconds when

Michael Mignot got away down the left and his cross found Jack Mitchell but his effort was poor and the home defence cleared.

Mignot then got the wrong side of the defence and found George O’Connor but he was eventually crowded out and play switched to the other end.

Brothers and Jordan Palmer combined to set up Tom White but his effort went wide of the far post.

Stansted took a fourth-minute lead when Jack Cherry failed to collect a cross and Mitchell turned the ball back to Asuaan Siddik who slammed home.

Halstead almost hit back immediately but White’s effort was blocked for a corner, as the hosts applied the pressure.

The Airportmen almost extended their lead on 12 minutes when a low corner came back off the near post and Cherry made an incredible stop after the rebound was turned goalwards by Mignot.

Halstead slowly got themselves back into the game and most of the danger was coming from Joel Older and he broke the Stansted back line but could only force a corner.

Jordan Blackwell swung in and it crashed against the visitors' bar.

Siddik then went on a mazy run for the Airportmen but as the ball ran away from him he went over a defenders leg but the referee waved away their penalty appeals.

Just beyond the half hour the hosts should have levelled; Matt Travell’s cross was met by Blackwell but he headed over from a central position six yards out.

At the other end Mignot wriggled down the by-line and his cross found Jason Reynolds-Blanche who fired over when well-placed and he really should have added to Stansted’s tally.

However, they didn’t have to wait long to extend their advantage.

Halstead again made a mistake at the back and George O’Connor nipped in to dink over Cherry and increase their lead to two.

The visitors were looking the more likely and John Clarke got down the right flank and his cross was met at the near post by O’Connor but his effort went the wrong side of the post.

The half ended with the two sides exchanging attacks but there was no addition to the score and the two goals advantage gained by the visitors reflected play to that point.

The second half got underway after a ten-minute delay due to issues with the floodlights and Halstead were kicking down the “slope”.

The opening exchanges of the half were even but Halstead again made a fatal error at the back on 51 minutes and O’Connor seized upon it, played in Mignot who calmly slotted passed the advancing Cherry.

The hour mark saw Halstead’s first attempt of the second half as Brothers turned on edge of area but his effort was blocked away for a corner.

Halstead looked to try something different and bought on Ed Plackett for a debut and moved Robbie Bennett to the centre forward role

Halstead started to have a bit more of the play and forced a number of corners and once again Blackwell hit the woodwork direct from a corner, this time the near post as they tried to reduce the arrears.

Stansted then hit the hosts on the break and substitute Andre Embalo tapped home after Mignot’s header came back off the inside of the post to ensure, if there was any doubt, that the points were going back down the A120.

Halstead mustered a couple of attempts on goal with a goalmouth scramble and a 30-yard free kick from substitute Joe Jones coming to nothing.

The game headed into stoppage time and Stansted substitute Charlie Adams dragged his effort wide, as Halstead were beaten.