A pulsating local derby in blustery conditions on Tuesday ended all square to preserve unbeaten Ridgeons League starts for both teams.
Halstead had the wind at their backs as they dominated the first half, but the second period was more even as the wind eased.
Halstead forced several early corners against a strangely subdued home side, and Luke Whitwell made a smart save before C
hris Bryan had a free kick charged down.
Bradley Barber was just wide for Hadleigh, but Halstead were sharper, with Whitwell saving well from Wayne Saunders and Steve Daly. Then a shot from John Pollard was deflected inches over for a corner.
Hadleigh survived a goalmouth scramble in the 37th minute before Dean Tournay-Godfrey nodded wide at the other end.
As the interval approached, Craig Newman fired into the side-netting for the visitors. Right on the interval Stuart Crawford was happy to concede a corner to keep Steve Jay's side level at the break.
In the second half Daly was just wide for Halstead before visiting keeper Paul Wood saved Barber's low shot.
As the second half progressed, Hadleigh livened up considerably. Tournay-Godfrey lobbed against the bar as Hadleigh at last threatened.
Hadleigh took the lead after 54 minutes when a superb move paved the way for Craig Payne to fire past Wood.
Halstead hit straight back, with Whitwell making a great save from Daly and holding a shot from Andy Joslin.
The equaliser came after 74 minutes with Bryan robbing Jake Kingston before setting up Newman to score with a great strike from 18 yards.
Whitwell smothered a Dave Barefield shot before Barefield was off-target with an overhead kick. In stoppage time Tournay-Godfrey's shot was just too high.
Hadleigh Utd: Whitwell; L Smith, Oakes (Woods 82), Kingston (Fleming 84), Crawford (Knott 81), Porter, Laws, Barber, Payne, Tournay-Godfrey, George.
Halstead Town: Wood; Artun (Passfield 62), Rowell, Falla, Devaux, Pollard, Saunders, Daly (Harper 81), Bryant, Joslin (Barefield 60), Newman. Subs (not used): Pollard, Crumpton.
l Halstead's Mike Lyness, carried off after five minutes of Saturday's game, has suffered cruciate ligament damage. Erdun Artun damaged his medial ligaments on Tuesday.
The full article contains 364 words and appears in Suffolk Free Press newspaper.
