Takeley impress in friendly clash

Takeley 3 Hertford Heath 0

Takeley put in an impressive second half performance to defeat Hertfordshire County Premier Division side Hertford Heath on Saturday in a pre-season friendly.

Manager Don Watters was delighted with his side.

"We have been playing well in patches but on Saturday we were strong all game," he said.

"We battled in the first half against a good side and in the second half our fitness showed and we pushed on.

"Daryl Lynch played up front on his return from injury and looked good and we looked a better side with him up there.

"He's a bit raw but has been scoring goals in local leagues and will be a good asset to us.

"It was a very good all round performance. We looked solid at the back and it was only a matter of time before we scored going forward."

The visitors had the best of the first half at Station Road and went close when Dan Perry fired a cracking drive from 25 yards against the upright. However, Takeley defended well and the teams went in level at half-time.

Takeley upped the pressure in the second half and in the 70th minute Josh Colson saw his effort cannon off the post.

Five minutes later, the hosts were ahead when Danny Wardle beat two Heath defenders and the goalkeeper to walk the ball into the net.

The final quarter of an hour belonged to the Station Road team and they doubled their lead after 85 minutes when James Whitbread latched onto Jon Tann's cross and beat the Heath goalkeeper.

Takeley drove forward from the kick-off and Tann took an opportune drive from Whitbread's pass that skimmed the bar. Takeley wrapped the game up in the last minute when Whitbread grabbed his second.