LOWESTOFT TOWN | 1-1 | HAVERHILL ROVERS |
In one of the biggest upsets in a while a strong defensive display from Haverhill saw them actually leading the team at the opposite end of the table for almost half an hour before a cruel goal in injury time denied them their first away win of the season.
The hosts would have taken the lead in the first half but for several missed opportunities, Jamie Godbold wasting most of the chances and away goalkeeper Ed Campbell being found in good form as he denied Alastair McKenna and Russell Stock with a double save before Godbold crashed the ball wide of the far right post near the end of the half.
The Haverhill goal came with 65 minutes gone following a counter attack, lone striker Shaun Banham squaring the ball to Louis Harper, who kept himself composed before putting the ball wide of goalkeeper Andrew Reynolds under pressure and sending the travelling supporters wild.
Unfortunately their defence could not hold out for the full length of the match and, after Neil Plaskett had earlier headed on to the post from a corner, the equaliser came a minute into added time at the end of the match as McKenna headed the ball back across goal for substitute Jamie Stokeld to stab the ball home.
ROVERS : Ed Campbell, Stuart Kingham, Luke Hughes, Sam Holmes, Neil Hammond, Ross Elkins, Harry Halls, Marcus Hunt, Andy Hughes, Shaun Banham, Louis Harper.
Subs : Jamie Challis (for Andy Hughes, 61).
Goals : Louis Harper (65).
Bookings : Neil Hammond (29, foul), Marcus Hunt (90+2, foul).
Red cards : None.
LOWESTOFT : Andrew Reynolds, Neil Plaskett, Matthew Potter, Richard Woodrow, Damian Hilton, Darren Cockrill, Jamie Godbold, Ross King, Russell Stock, Alastair McKenna, Bradley Hough.
Subs : Reece Hunn (for Bradley Hough, 57), Marcus Saunders, Jamie Stokeld (for Matthew Potter, 73).
Goals : Jamie Stokeld (90+1).
Bookings : None.
Red cards : None.
HAVERHILL ROVERS RESERVES | 2-4 | BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES |
A spirited second half comeback by Haverhill failed to overturn a 4-0 half time deficit, all of which was created in a hectic 17 minute spell before the break.
William Finch had put the visitors ahead after 26 minutes with a shot from an acute angle and the lead was doubled 10 minutes later when Lee Callam headed home a corner.
The lead was increased 5 minutes later when Rovers centre back Kyle Jaggar ended up crashing the ball into his own net when trying to clear a ball off the line and Finch added a second two minutes later after former Rover Jack Jones' shot was well blocked by goalkeeper Michael Harrington.
The first half ended in controversy when Callam was sent off after a horrendous tackle on Haverhill player manager Ben Cowling, which he then followed with an altercation with Cody Frazier.
With a one man advantage Haverhill took control after the break, being driven on with the impressive James Robertson in the centre of midfield.
Frazier scored from the edge of the box to reduce the deficit after 51 minutes and, two minutes later, a Simon Newnes cross was finished by Cowling.
Further chances fell to Craig Cutts and Cowling but Braintree held firm and continued to look dangerous on the break, although the pacy Jones was well marshalled by James Catten in the Haverhill defence.