Saturday 5th December 2009

WISBECH TOWN
4-1
HAVERHILL ROVERS


Haverhill lost their third game on the bounce as Wisbech extended their unbeaten run to ten matches thanks to some prolific finishing.

It didn't start well for the travellers when, with only 5 minutes on the watch, they were caught out at the back as Rory Harper brought the ball down amongst protests that he had handled the ball before slotting it wide of goalkeeper Dave Walton and giving the hosts an early lead.

With full backs Danny Shipton and Paul Abbott whipping in some good crosses into the home penalty area, but with through balls from the Wisbech midfield cutting through the Haverhill defence, the next goal could have easily gone to either side; the score remained the same, however, until the 43rd minute when Harper netted his, and his team's, second goal of the day, a shot by substitute Jason Pease going high into the air, Walton and Harper jumping up for the ball and the ball slipping out of Walton's grasp and on to Harper's back, Stuart Kingham's efforts to clear the ball only succeeding in putting it into the roof of his own net.

An almost instant reply for Haverhill saw them go into the break 2-1 down, Abbott's excellent ball giving Martin Westcott the chance to poke the ball over goalkeeper Alex Street and high into the left side of the net from the edge of the box.

Westcott put the ball wide after being given a golden opportunity to level for his side following Harry Halls' cross and it was costly as Wisbech broke and regained their two goal advantage on the hour mark, man of the match Billy Smith putting in a cross from the right and, with Walton and Abbott leaving the ball for each other, the unchallenged Scott Cubberley rising to head the ball in off the inside of the upright.

This deflated the away side and the final nail in the coffin came six minutes later, Smith seemingly pushing Marc Abbott to the ground before squaring the ball for Cubberley to score his second as he placed the ball low and wide of Walton and into the far bottom left corner.

The game also saw both sides reduced to ten men and both managers being sent from the dugouts; the incident started with Wisbech substitute Kevin White punching away captain Marcus Hunt on the ground and, as the players rushed in, Kingham pushed White in the chest and both managers made their way towards the brawl that ensued. Once the dust had died down White and Kingham were both sent off for violent conduct and managers Gary Setchell (Wisbech) and Peter Betts (Haverhill) were asked to leave their dugouts after entering the field of play.

ROVERS : Dave Walton, Paul Abbott, Danny Shipton, Stuart Wardley, Sam Holmes, Stuart Kingham, Marc Abbott, Marcus Hunt, Martin Westcott, Jamie Challis, Harry Halls.
Subs : Brad Hickman (for Sam Holmes, 77), Anthony Fernandez (for Marc Abbott, 77).
Goals : Martin Westcott (44).
Bookings : Stuart Wardley (56, unsporting behaviour), Marcus Hunt (81, unsporting behaviour).
Red cards : Stuart Kingham (73, violent conduct).

WISBECH : Alex Street, Billy Smith, Jordan Yong, Paul Cousins, Anthony Reeve, Stuart King, Stuart Cobb, Charlie Defty, Scott Cubberley, Rory Harper, Lewis Thompson.
Subs : Kevin White (for Rory Harper, 67), Jason Pease (for Jordan Yong, 34), Darren Edey.
Goals : Rory Harper (5, 43), Scott Cubberley (60, 66).
Bookings : Charlie Defty (31, unsporting behaviour).
Red cards : Kevin White (72, violent conduct).