A brace by Callum Boylan and a goal from Harry Talbot secured a comfortable win on the road as Great Wakering Rovers came away from Halstead Town with a 3-0 win.

Great Wakering Rovers are now unbeaten in three league games this month and are now up to third in the Essex Senior League.

Ben Search missed out via a suspension but Marcus Bowers choices were boosted with the return of defender Kingdom Dawson from a lengthy hip issue since late September and forward Harry Brown after overcoming a shoulder issue.

KICKOFF:

Rovers couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game as they were on the front foot from the first minute. Great play from the midfield via James White and Jack Dickinson caused trouble for the full backs of hosts who struggled to cope with the energetic runs of Callum Boylan and Harry Talbot. However, the central defence of Matt Travell and Alfie Cleal did well to cope with the pressure of the rovers.

However, rovers soon broke the deadlock just after ten minutes. Rovers won a throw in on the right and Bradley Bennett delivered a long throw into the box. Thomas Barton held off his marker to head the ball on across goal and the ever dangerous Callum Boylan was there on hand to tap the ball in from close range to give the rovers an early lead.

Just after the goal, a stoppage in play occurred when Raheem Gray was down and needed treatment. After a short break, he was back up and running.

With a quarter of an hour play, the hosts soon grew into the game. Halstead Town appealed for a penalty as Dean Ager went down just on the edge of the area, but the referee wasn’t interested and waved away the appeals.

Two minutes later, Harry Talbot played the ball through to Callum Boylan who was through on goal, but Halstead Town’s goalkeeper Jack Cherry was quick off his line and collected the ball well.

Halfway through the first half, rovers had an excellent chance to double their lead when Raheem Gray received the ball on the left and delivered an inch perfect cross into the area which Callum Boylan met and headed the ball which seemed destined for the net. But the host’s keeper Jack Cherry was equal to it and he stuck a leg out to deny the forward.

With twenty five minutes played, Callum Boylan once again had another chance to extend the visitors lead when he got possession of the ball on the edge of the box, but his shot curled just wide of the right post.

Just before the half hour mark, Halstead Town had a spell of their own. George Martin did excellently well to perform a double save as he pushed away a shot from just outside the area from Dean Ager and then got up quickly to block the second attempt from Lewis Clifford. A couple of minutes later, Halstead Town’s Owen Betts was played down the right wing and crossed the ball back to the edge of the box to Lewis Clifford. However, his shot was comfortably saved by George Martin.

The last ten minutes of the half was all Halstead Town, thankfully the stoic defence was stubborn and dealt with any threat the hosts threw at them.

HALFTIME: Halstead Town 0-1 Rovers

The second half started out as the first half ended, Halstead Town were on the front foot and could have been level. A great bit of play from the hosts found Jamie Everleigh on the right in space and he hit a ferocious curling shot which just sailed past the left post.

However, rovers were soon back on top ten minutes later as they doubled their lead. Raheem Gray received the ball in midfield and played a ball through to Callum Boylan who beat the offside trap to run through on goal. Jack Cherry came out to meet him but Callum squared the ball to Harry Talbot to tap the ball in to double the rovers lead.

The goal would take the wind out of the host’s and the rovers were soon to extend their lead five minutes later with an excellent taken goal by Callum Boylan.

Harry Talbot played a ball over the top for Callum Boylan to run through on goal. He was stood up on the
left side of the area from Jack Cherry and Theo Duffin to hold him off, but the quick feet of the rovers striker caused the keeper to slip and he turned his marker to curl the ball over two defenders and into the top left corner of the goal for his brace and his seventeenth of the season.

With twenty minutes left of play, Callum Boylan could have scored his hattrick when he won possession inside the area and dribbled past Jack Cherry, however a defender was on the line to clear the ball.

Just after, Halstead has a great chance when Dean Ager got a shot off on the edge of the box but George Martin was in top form to brilliantly tip his dipping shot over the bar. George was soon called into action again when he pushed another curling effort from Ager around the post to preserve his clean sheet.

The rest of the game worked in favour for the rovers as any danger came from the hosts, it was quickly dealt with by the well organised defence of Bradley Bennett, Danny Cossington, Thomas Barton and Alfie Whiteaker.

With ten minutes left of play, rovers won a free kick when substitute Harry Brown was pulled down outside the area. Graves was booked but the free kick never caused problems for the hosts.

Substitute Max Gnandi had the ball in the net in stoppage time but it was disallowed for a foul in the build up.

FULLTIME: Halstead Town 0-3 Rovers

The win moves rovers up to third in the table and will now turn their attention to Saturday as they welcome Stansted at Burroughs Park.