Saturday's visitors to Spa Road, Canterbury, were not the strongest of opposition although they play in the Kent League as do Deal Town, who won the FA Vase last season.

Yet Witham are not at full strength with key players on holiday, but must be credited with the way they took their goals throughout the game.

Gareth Lincoln opened the scoring with an easy tap in after a good run and cross by Ben Woolnough, and Jamie Gold made it 2-0 with a penalty.

Chris Bassett scored a hat trick in five minutes, the first goal coming after a bad clearance by the visitors defence.

Bassett then headed home a free kick, before netting his third goal with a low shot.

Gold netted Town's sixth goal from an acute angle.

Despite the scoreline, there were chances at the other end, and Ben West hit the crossbar, and home goalkeeper Micky Norton made a good save from the same player soon after.

Witham went back on the offdensive, and Gerry Hawes made it 7-0 after a good build up just before half-time.

Canterbury pulled a goal back soon after the break when West ran the ball in after Norton had misjudged a high cross.

However, more goals came for Witham when Lincoln headed in a rasping shot by Gold from the edge of the penalty area, and substitute Nigel Hewes completed the rout.

Witham complete their pre-season friendlies tomorrow (Saturday) when they host Braintree Town (kick-off 3pm).

The Witham Town youth teams started their pre-season friendlies at the weekend and both got off to a good start.

The Under 16s beat Ongar 4-2, and Witham manager David Hill said: "it was a good opportunity to evaluate the new team under match situations, and we have some new players to look at in our next game which should be a sterner test as we are away to Danbury."

The Under 18s, meanwhile, thrashed Heybridge Swifts 5-0.

Despite the result, Town manager Gary Elson refused to get carried away, and said "the team was mainly made up of new players and they all performed well.

''We currently have 11 players away on holiday so we can be pleased with our performance as well as the result."

Director of youth football Tony Johnson was more upbeat, saying "the new structure of the club is slowly paying dividends, three of last years Under 18s have been signed to the first team, two of whom are still eligible to play for the Under 18's, plus one other player is a regular for the reserves and challenging for a first team place''.

"This has only been possible due to the backing of Chairman Ron Macey and the willingness of first team manager Robbie Harding to give youth team players a chance if we let him know that we believe they are good enough''.

Both youth teams have more friendlies, they being: (Sunday, August 13) Witham U18 v Southend United (k.o. 10.30am); (Sunday, August 20) Witham U16 v tbc (k.o. 10.30am); (Wednesday, August 23) Witham 16 v Leyton Orient (k.o. 6pm); Witham U18 v Leyton Orient (k.o. 8pm); (Sunday, August 27) Witham U18 v Sudbury AFC (k.o. 10.30am).

The youth team managers and Tony Johnson hope to see further progress in the forthcoming friendlies, and the club alsoinvite more younger fans to the youth team matches.

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