Great Yarmouth Town 6, Halstead Town 0HALSTEAD Town endured their own Halloween horror story as Yarmouth proved too tricky for the visitors and treated the Wellesley fans to a riot of goals.

Great Yarmouth Town 6, Halstead Town 0

HALSTEAD Town endured their own Halloween horror story as Yarmouth proved too tricky for the visitors and treated the Wellesley fans to a riot of goals.

A brace each for Roach and man of the match Woodcock, a superb goal from Bartley and a first senior goal for Bell humiliated the visitors whom Paul Tong had described in his programme notes as his “tip for the top”!

Halstead had been expected to be tough opponents and before the game the Yarmouth boss had said he would have settled for a point, but after this whizz-bang performance in firework season he said: “We've been creating chances without really finishing teams off this season but everything we did just came off! I've been saying that some team somewhere will cop it when we all get on form together but I never thought it would be Halstead. They're a good side but today was just our day.”

Tong's criticisms following the Stowmarket win must have hit home as Yarmouth produced an irresistible performance throughout the team which included Gareth Palmer restored to the defence with Marcus Saunders still sidelined through his hamstring injury.

Halstead, who beat the Bloaters 7-1 last season and missed out on promotion by a single point after only drawing at the Wellesley in the final match, were put to the sword by Woodcock whose pace and guile down the left constantly cut through a weak defence. Woodcock said: “It was never an easy game but they had no answer to our hard work and team spirit. After last week at Stowmarket, all the lads did it for the gaffer.”

Roach, Woodcock, Bartley and Norman all had good chances before Yarmouth deservedly went ahead after 20 minutes of the siege. Norman fed Woodcock and his finish was as cool as you like across the 'keeper.

Goal number two came after 35 minutes: Savage supplied the telling pass on the left which Woodcock took on to finish with an unstoppable shot to the far corner.

This time, at 2-0 Yarmouth did not stop playing and a third followed just before half-time. A Bartley pass over the defence found Woodcock steaming in; his hot-shot was only partially saved and Roach stuck his head in to put away the loose ball from two yards.

If Halstead had any thoughts of a comeback after half-time they were obliterated within six minutes.

The visitors brought their three substitutes on immediately, but 20 seconds after the break, Bartley made it four: taking a Woodcock pass in midfield, Bartley ran on and on and finished with aplomb past a helpless Walker. Woodcock then took another fierce shot, Walker fumbled and Norman racing in blast past the post but it did not matter as four minutes later Roach made it 5-0 when he headed in a Savage centre.

Halstead were spurred into some kind of response and had a deal of the play, winning many corners, but found the home defence impregnable. “When we were under pressure we still had Hilton, Palmer and Roberts defending like Trojans,” declared a delighted Tong who brought on his substitutes to keep up the pressure on Halstead with injections of fresh pace, and Fernando Vide had a part in the final goal in added time; after some typical trickery, he was fouled 25 yards out and Bell strode up to take the kick, sending a left-footer directly past Walker for his debut first team goal - he'll hardly score a better one!

“Our success today is testimony to work behind the scenes of all at the club,” said Tong. “The youth are progressing and getting opportunities: Jo Bell came on and showed his ability on the ball with a great finish, Dominic Smith was magnificent and Jake Reed although he's gone through a difficult patch will still end up second top scorer but he's gone out there and done a job. Adam Sewell as well was awesome. Gavin Norman has come in to keep everyone on their toes and also did well. The lads gave nothing less than 100 per cent all round. It must be all the work we do on the training ground!”

Yarmouth:- M Hilton, A Sewell, O Savage, C Roberts (F Vide 70), G Palmer, D Smith, L Bartley, M Magee, S Roach (J Reed 61), G Norman, S Woodcock (J Bell 70).

Referee: Michael Gadd (Colchester).

Attendance: 56.