Witham Town went goal crazy after they thrashed nine-man Basildon United 10-0 at Spa Road to boost their promotion hopes.

Basildon had goalkeeper Karl Sharman sent off after just 17 minutes for hauling down David Hawes in the penalty area.

Graham Poole took over between the sticks but could not prevent Witham from hitting the net with devastating regularity.

Kevin Hawes and Steve Wareham both scored twice, while Steve Joyce, David Hawes, Nick Emery, John Watson and Rory Bone, along with an own goal, made up the rest of the scoring for Witham, who consolidated second place in the table and boosted their goal difference in the process.

Witham manager Danny Greaves said: “It was a bit of a shame for Basildon.

“They’re struggling a bit player-wise at the moment and they’re desperate for the season to end.

“It did not help them that their goalkeeper was sent off but the referee had no choice.

“We were always going to beat them after that but credit to them, because they stuck at it.”

For more on this story, see this week's Braintree and Witham Times.