Waltham Forest 3
Witham Town 1
(Ryman Div One North)

THE Stags collected a welcome three points after two consecutive draws and a game called off, but it was no walkover against a resiliant Witham side on Tuesday, writes Andrzej Perkins.

Waltham Forest flew to a fourth minute lead as Shawn Evans played a pinpoint cross to Nathan Smith and he shrugged off his defender, storming in to shoot under Stuart Crumpen.

Witham used long balls, utilising their tall attackers with crosses from the wing, as they sought to get back in the game.

The tactic paid off just before the break as, with the rain pouring down, Adam Holmes put in a speculative ball from the right.

Smith slipped on the wet pitch as he went to clear and turned the ball into his own net with keeper Jason Willis unable to stop the goal.

Witham came out on the front foot for the opening minutes of the second half, but on the counter-attack, Andy Thomas broke through the offside trap.

His first shot was well-saved by Crumpen but he made no mistakes with the rebound to put the Stags back in the lead.

Forest sealed the points after 90 minutes when Andy Thomas broke away into the Witham penalty area to win a foul.

The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Crumpen, being last man, was lucky to stay on the pitch.

Thomas slotted home from the spot.

After the game, goalkeeper Willis was offered a two-week trial at Conference side Rushden & Diamonds.

On Saturday, Waltham Forest's game against Enfield was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Lying 11th in the league, they travel to Maldon Town this weekend and AFC Hornchurch on Tuesday.