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Coggeshall Town put in an excellent performance on the road in the local derby at Halstead Town coming away with a 8 – 0 victory to keep on top of the Thurlow Nunn League. After a late morning inspection, the game got the go ahead after the recent cold spell had left the home team’s pitch frozen the two weeks previous.

The match kicked off with a crowd of over 200 in attendance anticipating a close encounter after the stalemate on Boxing Day between the two teams. It was Coggeshall who came out the blocks best and were straight on the front foot taking the game to the home team. The game was only 5 minutes old when “The Town” took the lead. After some neat build-up play Josce Syrett delivered a cross into the box which was cleared out to George Cocklin who was 25 yards from goal, Cocklin steadied himself and smashed a shot in which hit the bar and rebounded into the net off the keeper to give Coggeshall the lead. The early goal stunned Halstead into life and Matt Walker had to save well twice to keep the home team from getting back into the game. Halstead had to come forward now to try and get into the game, but while trying to pull a goal back they left themselves open at the back and Jamie Shaw broke through their defence to score with a excellent left foot finish for his second. It was a great start for Coggeshall who were 2 up within the first ten minutes. Minutes later Coggeshall forced a corner which Cocklin delivered into the danger area, Jamie Shaw rose highest to head home at the near post to put the visitors further ahead. Shaw completed his hat-trick after 30 mins after a Halstead defender conceded a penalty which he slotted home nicely from the spot to give “The Town” a 4 goal lead. Halstead looked shell shocked as Coggeshall looked like scoring every time they went forward with Shaw and Nnamdi Nwachuku looking very dangerous. It was Nwachuku who got on the score sheet next after a great lay off from Shaw just inside the box left Nwachuku the chance to finish just inside the post to make the score 5-0. It stayed like that until the half time break and in fairness, it was only what Coggeshall deserved as some of their forward play had been tremendous to watch.

The away team got off to a great start to the second half after Nwachuku scored his second after a superb solo run beating two defenders to cut inside and finish with a great shot giving the Halstead keeper no chance. Although 6 goals down Halstead had their best spell of the game after that and Josh Dalziel and Liam Thomas at the heart of “The Town” defence had to defend well on a number of occasions to keep Halstead from nicking a goal back. On 70 mins a long ball forward from Dalziel was chased down by Shaw who held the ball up well and played a pass into Tyrone Scarlett who danced through a couple of challenges to score with a great finish with his left foot. On 80 mins Nwachuku completed his hat-trick after a good run and cross from Danny Scott left Nwachuku to finish well at the far post to wrap the scoring up at 8-0.

 

As the final whistle went the travelling Coggeshall fans celebrated a great away win after they had witnessed some top draw goals throughout the 90 mins and would have went home very happy.

Hat-tricks from Jamie Shaw and Nnamdi Nwachuku will get the headlines but it was again a real team effort from start to finish, with every player playing their part in a great result and another important 3 points.The team are in midweek action this coming Tuesday at West Street when Premier Division Newmarket Town are the visitors in the League Challenge Cup quarter final.