KING'S LYNN RESERVES | 1-0 | HAVERHILL ROVERS |
Haverhill will consider themselves extremely unlucky not to come out of this game with at least a point after twice hitting the woodwork and having further chances to get on the score sheet.
The only goal of the game came two minutes into added time at the end of the first half, Kyle Nicholls driving a free kick to the left of goal towards the near top corner and Charlie Defty getting a slight flick off his head to send the ball into the roof of the net and past goalkeeper Ed Campbell.
Ryan Kent headed just wide from a Martin Westcott cross for the away side in the opening period, Westcott himself having a lob smothered by 'keeper Ally McAnally and Sam Holmes, after a deep free kick was headed down by Marcus Hunt, somehow put the ball on to the post, the bar and then behind from almost on the post itself and at full stretch.
Holmes also seemed to have a shot handled on the line, a corner to Haverhill being given in this instance. Substitute Shaun Banham saw his effort go away from goal off the boot of McAnally before his side's final chance came five minutes into injury time at the end of the game, Luke Hughes' header from Louis Harper's cross thudding against the face of the Lynn cross bar.
The hosts were also lucky to finish the game with eleven men when, shortly afterwards, Nicholls kicked Haverhill substitute Joe Harvey on the ground and sub Rory Harper deliberately struck the ball against Harvey moments later, the end result only being a caution for Harper.
ROVERS : Ed Campbell, Gareth Thomas, Luke Hughes, Sam Holmes, Neil Hammond, Stuart Kingham, Louis Harper, Marcus Hunt, Martin Westcott, Richard Heller, Ryan Kent.
Subs : Shaun Banham (for Martin Westcott, 59), Joe Harvey (for Stuart Kingham, 59), Harry Halls (for Ryan Kent, 75).
Goals : None.
Bookings : Neil Hammond (78, foul).
Red cards : None.
LYNN : Ally McAnally, Stephen Harvey, Gary Bush, Joe Setchell, Matthew Gilchrist, Charlie Defty, Luke Fell, Robert Carrick, Gino Livotti, Martin Rudd, Kyle Nicholls.
Subs : Simon Deadman (for Luke Fell, 83), George Watts-Sturrock, Rory Harper (for Martin Rudd, 70), Lee Hyde (for Gino Livotti, 65), Tom Rix.
Goals : Charlie Defty (45+2).
Bookings : Gary Bush (22, foul), Kyle Nicholls (69, foul), Rory Harper (90+6, ungentlemanly conduct).
Red cards : None.
HAVERHILL ROVERS RESERVES | 4-0 | BRANTHAM ATHLETIC RESERVES |
Haverhill continued their attempt to retain the Reserve League South title with a dominant performance at the Croft.
They started strongly but the deadlock was only broken in the 25th minute when player/manager Ben Cowling slotted home following a mazy run.
Ahead at the break by only the odd goal Neil Green doubled the home team's advantage with a fine left footed finish from the edge of the penalty area in the 46th minute.
Craig Cutts increased the lead 11 minutes later and, following the sending off of Athletic's Kevin Howlett for an elbow in the face of Haverhill substitute James Robertson, Paul Hunt completed the scoring in the first minute of injury time, rolling the ball past the Brantham 'keeper after being sent clear by a raking ball from Cody Frazier.