Manager Jody Brown sprang a surprise with the return of two former Rosemary Lane favourites, Terry Rayner and Danny Rochester, the first setting up the opener and the latter getting on the scoresheet.

It was a glorious afternoon for this top-table battle, and Halstead took full advantage with an early goal, Rayner finding Steve Daly, who in turn put Turner away to round Aaron Rutter and beat keeper Lee Hulyer inside the far post and only eight minutes gone.

Newmarket hit back strongly, forcing several corners, during which time Lee Salmons blazed over from a cross by Lee Thurlbourne, but although under pressure for long periods Halstead dealt with all the home side had to offer.

Then two goals in the last seven minutes of the half had the crowd buzzing, Halstead going two up when Chris Bryan set up Rochester for a tap-in, while hosts were appealing for offside, Ricky Cornish getting a yellow card for his trouble.

Newmarket cut the arrears two minutes before the interval when Thurlbourne was picked out by Miles and slotted home past Paul Wood.

Almost from the restart Bryan broke away only to rattle the bar with only the keeper to beat, which was followed by a lot of Newmarket pressure. But Halstead stood firm, despite some good work by the tricky Thurlbourne and nippy Paul Shaw, who was later booked for a foul on Wood.

Midway through the half Halstead won a penalty when Rowell was brought down by Salmons and Turner duly sent the keeper the wrong way. He might have had another soon after but failed to connect cleanly when Daly nodded a John Pollard free kick into his path.

Newmarket brought on their subs in an effort to repair the damage, and it was not until the 76th minute before Halstead forced their only corner, with ten to the hosts.

Halstead's defence that won the day, their display including a splendid tip-over save by Wood to deny Gammon as Newmarket kept pressing to the end.

Halstead Town: Wood; T Rayner, Rowell, Dennis, Devaux, Pollard, Newman (Barefield 88), Daly, Bryan, Turner, Rochester (Joslin 68). Subs (not used): Emerson, C Rayner, Crumpen.

l Halstead Reserves bowed out of the Essex Premier Cup at the first time of asking at Southminster. The Essex Olympian League side ran out 2-0 winners.