| WROXHAM | 1-2 | HAVERHILL ROVERS |
A somewhat surprising loss for Wroxham saw them slip out of second place as Haverhill ended their four game losing streak.
The away side took the lead after 3 minutes with their first attack of the match, Marc Abbott putting in a free kick from the left and Paul Shaw heading the ball in at the near left post past stranded goalkeeper Andy Jackson in Shaw's first start for 17 months due to a back injury.
This lead was cancelled out in the 56th minute when Danny White was played in right of goal and calmly placed the ball wide of goalkeeper Jamie Smith and into the bottom left corner of the net.
What proved to be the winning goal came 8 minutes later, Abbott putting in a good corner that was headed into the air at the near post by home defender Gavin Pauling, Andy Key back heading into his own bottom right corner under pressure from Marcus Hunt.
Wroxham had chances to equalise for the second time, Smith getting down well to save Gary Gilmore's 77th minute penalty kick at his own feet and home substitute Paul Cook heading on the cross bar in added time at the end of the match.
ROVERS : Jamie Smith, Paul Abbott, Jamie Thurlbourne, Gareth Thomas, Louie Farrington, Joe Harvey, Marc Abbott, Marcus Hunt, Paul Shaw, Sam Green, Tom Shearer.
Subs - Ryan Kent (for Marc Abbott, 78).
Goals - Paul Shaw (3), Andy Key (64, o.g.).
Bookings - Jamie Thurlbourne (43, foul), Joe Harvey (90+3, foul).
Red cards - None.
WROXHAM : Andy Jackson, Gavin Pauling, Ben Furlong, Leighton Miller, Josh Carus, Andy Key, Danny White, Gavin Lemmon, Steve Harley, Lee Gilman, Gary Gilmore.
Subs - Graham Challen, Alex Notman (for Josh Carus, 85), Danny Self, Matthew Eves (for Steve Harley, 46), Paul Cook (for Andy Key, 69).
Goals - Danny White (56).
Bookings - Lee Gilman (59, foul), Andy Key (65, persistent infringement).
Red cards - None.
| HAVERHILL ROVERS RESERVES | 2-1 | WIVENHOE TOWN RESERVES |
Haverhill are now just 2 points away from the bringing the first league title back to Hamlet Croft since the 1982-83 season following Saturday's scrappy 2-1 victory over Wivenhoe Town Reserves.
Before the game both sides impeccably paid their respects with a minute's silence and Haverhill sported black armbands in memory of the late Keith Willis, head groundsman at Hamlet Croft.
The game started as a frantic affair with neither side being able to get a foothold on the game, both sides being restricted to long range efforts and, with Haverhill unable to get their usual flowing football going, it looked as though it would be the visitors who would score first; however, Wivenhoe spurned their chances and the game was 0-0 at half time.
Haverhill started the second half slightly brighter than they ended the first but again they were never really a threat in front of goal, and it was Wivenhoe who took the lead on 70 minutes, a free kick on the corner of the 18 yard box curled towards the far post and deceiving the Haverhill back line as well as goalkeeper Tom Edwards as it found its way directly into the bottom corner.
Haverhill knew what was at stake and manager Peter Betts made an inspired triple substitution, bringing on Harry Halls, Lee Hallas and Neil Green for Chris Claydon, Cody Frazier and James Catten while reverting to a 3-5-2 formation and pushing Sharp into a more familiar centre forward roll alongside Jenkin.
With 85 minutes on the clock the equaliser came, a deep corner from Sharp found an unmarked Halls at the far post and the substitute's header ricocheted off fellow sub Neil Green and found its way into the bottom corner. Then, with just seconds to spare, the winner came, a great ball down the left wing from Lee Hurkett found Sharp, who ran at the Wivenhoe defence and squared the ball into the box only to see his cross handled by a Wivenhoe defender; up stepped Neil Hammond, who comfortably slotted the ball home to give Haverhill the 3 points which they barely deserved.
Now Haverhill go into their biggest game of the season at Hamlet Croft on Saturday at 3pm with a tough game against Witham Town Reserves, knowing a win will secure the title. A large crowd will be hoped for to give some well deserved local support. Free admission will be on offer for the game.