Halstead Town manager Mark Benterman admits his players have given him a headache.

The Humbugs return to Thurlow Nunn League division one action with a home game against Woodbridge Town today and will head into the game with confidence gained from an impressive demolition of Newham in the second round of the Essex Senior Cup.

Goals by Llewellyn Evans and Aaron Chinnery wrapped up the win, but it was the team performance that caught Benterman’s eye.

He had 12 first-team players out of action through a mixture of suspension, injury and unavailability and those who stepped up to the challenge have made their case for selection today.

Benterman said: “I know I’ll have James Regan and Lewis Cunliffe coming back in and maybe two or three others who were out on Tuesday, but I liked the balance of the team against Newham and it will be difficult to change it too much.

“I liked the way we were set up and I don’t want too many changes because the boys who performed so well deserve full credit.”

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