Halstead Town manager Mark Benterman wasn’t sure to be delighted or disappointed with his team’s 1-1 draw at Swaffham Town in Thurlow Nunn League division one.

The Humbugs travelled with no less than 14 first-team players either injured or unavailable and included four new faces in their line-up to face a side sitting fourth in the table.

So he was pleased to see his patched-up team take the lead with a goal by Ryan Swallows in the first half, but frustrated for the hosts to equalise deep into stoppage-time at the end of the game.

Benterman said: “Had someone offered to me the morning before the game that we’d go to Swaffham with 14 first-team players missing through injury or unavailability and get a 1-1 draw, I’d have taken their hand off.

“But to play the way we did and then concede a goal in stoppage-time like we did, it did feel like a bit of a disappointment.

“However, I have to applaud the fantastic way the guys played.