HALSTEAD Town were knocked out of the Errington Cup at the second-round stage after losing 2-1 to Athletic Newham, writes KEN GILLIARD.

The majority of yet another healthy crowd, 111, would have gone home disappointed not only with the result but also with the entertainment provided.

Ultimately it was a game that will not last long in the memory.

It was a big evening for Halstead stalwart Jordan Palmer who was making his 200th appearance for the club and there were also starts for Joe Vogler, Harry Jacobs and Josh Demetriou.

It was the visitors, buoyed by three wins on the bounce, who made the stronger start and within the first five minutes they had a golden opportunity but Jacques Leurs put his effort wide.

Minutes later, the visitors' Joel Appiah shot narrowly wide but Halstead weathered the early surge and got a foothold in the game.

Oli Lonton came close to giving the hosts the lead with a quarter of an hour on the clock but his effort was pushed over the bar by the visitor’s keeper.

It was the other keeper Jack Cherry, who then pulled off a great save on the half hour mark to deny the dangerous Appiah.

Next it was the Humbugs turn to go close as Jordan Blackwell was played through, he beat the keeper and looked to square for Demetriou but the defender managed to block and the danger was cleared.

Newham got the ball into the net three minutes before the break but were denied by the assistant's flag and moments later Cherry was again called upon to make a top class save and keep the game all square.

It looked as if the whistle would go with the match deadlocked but on the stroke of half-time Appiah put the Kings ahead and finish an uninspiring half of football on a high.

Halstead made several changes during the break one of which was Matt Coppen, who made a welcome return after a long injury absence.

There was a similarity to the start of each half as the visitors again started the better and Leurs again had an effort which was just off target.

Halstead almost equalised through the recently introduced Tom White whose volley was blocked on the line and the ball went to safety.

Athletic then doubled their advantage when their leading scorer and the league's second highest scorer Richard Kone grabbed his 24th goal of the season.

The hour mark was approaching and Halstead made their final two changes and it meant the milestone match for Palmer was cut short as he made way for Pinkney.

Halstead were looking to reduce the arrears and it was again White who threatened as he went just wide with an effort from distance.

The game was petering out a little with action and chances very much at a premium and it wasn’t until we got beyond the 80th minute that the next threat on goal came.

Robbie Bennett seeing his header deflected wide of the goal which was the closest the hosts had come to reducing the arrears in the second half.

The game seemed to be meandering to a low-key finale but Blackwell pulled a goal back in injury-time and left everyone wondering if there was time for an equaliser.

It almost came when Harry Pinkney’s effort was well saved by the visiting keeper but Halstead were left to concentrate on the league, with a big game coming on Saturday against Sawbridgeworth.