Despite this fine victory, disappointing news trickled through that Whitton had clinched the third promotion place. Manager Jody Brown can look back on a magnificent away record of 13 wins from 18 games, which proved to be not quite enough to move into the senior flight.

Halstead were without top scorer Chris Bryan, Danny Rowell and defender Mark Emerson, while injuries sidelined Andy Joslin, Paul Abrahams, Ross Barton and assistant manager John Pollard.

But they opened well with three early corners which kept Stowamarket pushed back deep in defence, then when the visitors went in front after 18 minutes they never looked back.

Dean Pleasance brought down Danny Rochester and Tom Austin's free kick was duly dispatched with a firm header by skipper Steve Daly at the far post.

Within seconds both Rochester and Lou Harper went close, the latter clipping the bar, while by contrast Stowmarket's only real effort on goal came from defender Jamie Sharpe who fired into the side-netting.

Some of the exchanges were on the tough side and five minutes before the break Ward saw red after downing Austin, and seconds later Lockward was booked for a challenge on Wayne Saunders.

Halstead struck again immediately after the break when Phil Battell and young Perry Sandsford combined to free Rochester, who in turn found Harper to beat two defenders and drive past keeper Ross Charters.

From here on it was virtually one-way traffic as the visitors piled on the pressure but were guilty of some poor finishing.

Depleted Stowmarket simply could not deal with the Halstead attacks, but at least kept them out until the 78th minute when Daly crashed home the third after a neat Sandsford lay-off.

The compliment was returned the final minute when Daly nodded a cross back to give Sandsford his first senior goal.

This completed the scoring and took Halstead to a century of goals for the season.

Halstead Town: Rutherford; Battell, Austin, Falla, Passfield, Saunders, Cooper (Rayner 79), Daly, Sandsford, Harper (Webber 85 ), Rochester.