Goals at the start of each half were enough for Stansfeld to win at Halls AFC in the Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup.

Although in different divisions, it was the second time that the two clubs have met in cup competitions this season and the Premier Division visitors avenged their defeat at home to the Division One club earlier in the season.

Just thirty-nine seconds were showing on the electronic scoreboard when Stansfeld went ahead. Macey Malyon lost his marker from a low corner and he slotted it home with a crisp side-foot volley.

Sam Bayford looked for an immediate response with a shot that was deflected wide then brilliant skills by Noah Hamelberg created an opening for Ben Martin but he blasted well over.

Frankie Maciocia had a shot well saved by Halls’ goalkeeper Josh Atkinson before Hamelberg and Martin again combined well before the latter’s shot was saved brilliantly by Cemal Osman. Malyon was twice denied by Atkinson, the second of which was a brilliant tip round the post then the visitors’ Khemani Aiyanyo shot over from twenty-five yards.

In the latter stages of the first half, Halls enjoyed the better of the exchanges and Muraino Banjoko was twice off target before Bayford was unable to keep his free kick down.

Four minutes after the restart, Stansfeld doubled their lead. Christian Ibitoye headed on a long pass forward and sent Aiyanyo away and the attacking midfielder made no mistake with a clinical finish.

Nathan Asiedu headed over from a Stansfeld corner then substitute Jimmy Shepherd fired over. At the other end, Joe Freeman came close with a shot that was cleared off the line before Banjoko’s trickery created a chance for Martin and his effort drew a brilliant save from Osman.

Hamelberg shot well over for the hosts then Asiedu met a deep free kick but headed over. Jack Calvert couldn’t keep his shot down for Stansfeld after a free kick was knocked out to him before Halls’ veteran striker Ryan Golding came close with a shot that was cleared off the line.

That was as close as the hosts came to getting back into the game and Stansfeld had late chances to add a third when Aiyanyo sliced a shot wide when well placed before Calvert had a shot deflected just past the post.

Both teams are back in league action on Saturday. Halls travel to Banstead Athletic and Stansfeld are on the road with a tough challenge at Whitstable United. 

Halls AFC: Atkinson; Horwick, Asiedu, Freeman, Adofo (Golding 77); Dadds, Bayford (Manning 80); Martin (Amusan 88), Hamelberg, Banjoko; Doyle.

Subs not used: Wilson, Ramsey.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow card: Bayford (35 foul), Doyle (62 foul), Horwick (70 foul), Manning (84 foul)

Stansfeld: Osman, McCormack, Jeffrey, Teddy Green, Tom Green (Kempton 72); Maciocia (Shepherd 62), English; Aiyanyo, Malyon (Calvert 62), Ibitoye (Andrews 62); Plant.

Sub not used: Pine-Coffin.

Goalscorer: Malyon (1), Aiyanyo (49)

Yellow cards: Tom Green (43 foul), Teddy Green (63 foul), Jeffrey (68 foul)

Referee: Thomas Sansom

Assistants: Kenechukwu Aghasili and Daniel Geary

Attendance: 137