Haverhill lost two games on the trot for the first time in almost five months, and their first game in eight without a goal, with this result against a Soham side that once again looked good going forward, first half goals from Andrew Furnell (who was later sent off) and Darren Jimson seeing the host side complete "the double" this season over their opponents after their 3-1 away win in September.
An early warning shot from Soham, Furnell half volleying over the bar from 35 yards with just 9 seconds on the watch, was followed up with a good save by away goalkeeper Arron Benstead as he used his feet to deny Michael Simpson after Paul Jones had put him through. Haverhill also had a good shout for a penalty kick after Scott Carter seemed to have pulled Nick Impey down in the area.
The opening goal came after 9 minutes following a low ball in from the left of the area, Furnell sliding in ahead of the Haverhill defence and putting the ball past a full stretch Benstead as he scampered across goal in an attempt to deny him.
As the travellers started to lose possession in the final third Jimson saw his shot on the turn from the edge of the area deflected just past the woodwork, Adam Ben-Saud, Jamie Thurlbourne and Nick Impey all coming close to finding an equaliser for Haverhill as the former brought a good reflex save out of goalkeeper Lea Jordan with a 25 yard drive and a Thurlbourne free kick from the same distance being parried at the near post, Impey only being able to slice his close range effort into the air, all within the opening 21 minutes of the match.
Another good save from Benstead kept the score line down after a Colin Vowden slip allowed Jimson to put Simpson into a one-on-one with the shot stopper, the lead eventually being doubled in the 41st minute after Simpson found the path to goal clear, his volley being too close to Benstead and the ball coming off him and to relative safety, Jimson volleying the ball back in from the edge of the area and the 'keeper, already off balance from his first save, could only punch the ball onto the underside of his own cross bar and over the goal line for Soham's second.
The second half was made an interesting one when Soham were reduced to ten men, Marcus Hunt getting in some solid, but fair, challenges for the away side and Furnell being red carded for serious foul play in a challenge on Dan Pilcher.
This numerical change did not alter the scope of the game tremendously, both sides having chances to change the game, away substitute Richard Heller skying his effort after a square ball from Joe Harvey and another Thurlbourne set piece almost catching out Jordan at his near post; Thurlbourne's later through ball also came close to setting up Impey for his first goal in five matches, only for his touch over Jordan to also go just wide of the mark.
A volley from home substitute Peter Hinde was deflected into Carter's path, his shot only finding the side netting, Jones' cross finding a completely free Charles Libam moments later, the prolific marksman not finding his spot this time with his wide header.
The final chance of the game came from a corner by Thurlbourne, Hunt's header almost giving his side a consolation until it was headed off the Soham goal line.
ROVERS : Arron Benstead, Dan Pilcher, Jamie Thurlbourne, Wayne Goddard, Colin Vowden, Joe Harvey, Marc Abbott, Marcus Hunt, Nick Impey, Martin Westcott, Adam Ben-Saud.
Subs - Louie Farrington (for Joe Harvey, 88), Gareth Thomas, Richard Heller (for Wayne Goddard, 60).
Goals - None.
Bookings - Colin Vowden (37, foul).
Red cards - None.
SOHAM : Lea Jordan, Simon Flanz, Martin Bromwich, Martin McNeil, Stuart Williams, Michael Simpson, Charles Libam, Scott Carter, Andrew Furnell, Darren Jimson, Paul Jones.
Subs - Peter Hinde (for Darren Jimson, 66), Callum Kearns (for Paul Jones, 77), Andrew Coleman (for Scott Carter, 88), Jason Lynch, Adam Clements.
Goals - Andrew Furnell (9), Darren Jimson (41).
Bookings - None.
Red cards - Andrew Furnell (57, serious foul play).
| HAVERHILL ROVERS RESERVES | 3-1 | WITHAM TOWN RESERVES |
It was a case of deja vu for Haverhill on Saturday afternoon with a second cup quarter final in as many weeks and. again. Haverhill were 1-0 up within the first 5 minutes, a great low cross by Paul Jenkin from the left was being met by Lee Sharp, who scored from close range. After Haverhill took the lead it was backs against the wall for them for long periods of the first half, but a combination of last ditch defending and some good goalkeeping from Tom Edwards kept Haverhill's lead intact.
As Witham pushed for an equaliser and became frustrated tempers started to flare; the game was in danger of boiling over and the referee was in danger of losing control.
Haverhill could have extended their lead on half an hour, Sharp putting his effort wide after another good cross from the left. Just minutes later a loose pass from Brad Deeks in the middle of the park led to a Witham attack and, from the resulting corner, they equalised, an unmarked midfielder looping his header over Edwards in the Haverhill goal to make the score 1-1 at half time.
Haverhill went on to dominate the second half with Witham very rarely threatening and the lead was restored on the hour mark, a great through ball by Ben Cowling put Sharp through and his attempted lob over the goalkeeper bounced towards goal and Paul Jenkin was there to slot home at the far post.
Witham kept trying to find a way back into the game, but to no avail, and the result was in no danger when, with 5 minutes remaining, Jenkin got his second of the game and Haverhill's 3rd after some good work by Cody Frazier.
Haverhill will go on to face either Wroxham Reserves or Soham Town Rangers Reserves in the semi final.
TEAM : T Edwards, Holder, P Abbott, N Hammond, Hurkett, Kent (Catten), Deeks, Cowling, Frazier, Sharp (Shaw), Jenkin (P Hammond). Subs not used - Halls, Green.