Halstead's run of success goes on, Saturday's victory at Stoneylands duly completing a Ridgeons League division one double over Long Melford to consolidate their promotion challenge. Apart from a spell at the start of the second half, when Melford enjoyed plenty of possession without really worrying the visiting defence, Halstead always looked comfortably in control of this derby.

They dominated in patches, but created more than enough openings during those spells to register a comfortable victory, and should have had the game totally wrapped up before the interval.

But they took a long time to make the superiority count, with the first goal not coming until the 29th minute after a series of chances had been squandered, or the excellent Floyd Croll had kept them out.

Both keepers had good games. Croll produced a series of superb saves throughout the match, and although much of what Paul Rutherford had to do was routine, one excellent save early in the second half proved crucial.

It came when Melford, 2-0 down, were enjoying their best spell of the game, and the Halstead defence failed to cut out a long ball. David Kenyon was on to it swiftly but Rutherford was swiftly out to make a fine blocking save.

That really was Melford's last chance, and only their second clear opening of the game. After that Halstead gradually regained control, and when the third goal went in after 70 minutes it really was just a question of how many.

Melford created the first clear chance of the game, after eight minutes, but Paul Walker, unmarked at the far post, failed to properly connect with Dan Grindrod's cross.

Halstead saw shots from Chris Bryan who went on to score hat -trick, Stuart Fergus and Phil Battell saved splendidly by Croll, and Ross Barton denied by a great saving tackle from Steve Adams before they took a 28th-minute lead.

Melford totally failed to cut out a free kick, Barton ran clear down the right and crossed for the unmarked Bryan to head powerfully in at the far post.

Bryan saw a shot cleared off the line by Adams before getting his second in the 35th minute, courtesy of a slice of luck. Dan Rowell's clearence cannoned off Tony French into the path of Bryan, who raced away unmarked, shooting across Croll and into the far side of the net.

Danny Brind hit a free kick straight into Rutherford's arms, and Justin Crissell had to clear a shot from Fergus off the line as Halstead chased another before the break.

They started the second half in similar style, with Brind clearing a shot from Bryan off the line, and Croll making good saves from Barton and Phill Battell.

Croll superbly turned a shot from Rowell behind in the 70th minute. The corner produced a scramble and Rowell netted.

Another 12 minutes and Steve Daly got the fourth. Melford, expecting play to be stopped for an injury, let Bryan break down the left and the unmarked Daly converted.

Danny Rochester was brought down by Grindrod in the 92nd minute, Bryan completing his hat-trick from the spot.

Long Melford: Croll; Cawtheray, Grindrod, Brind (Chisholm 85), Adams, Crissell, Wilson, Walker, French (Bull 75), Kenyon, Daw (Hardy 72)

Halstead Town: Rutherford; Battell, Austin, Emerson, Passfield, Joslin, Fergus (Cooper 72), Daly, Bryan, Barton (Rochester 63), Rowell (Harper 76). Sub (not used): Pollard