Stanway's Michael Church makes a stunning save to deny Paul Shaw (9)
photo courtesy of Paul Tebbutt

A controversial penalty kick awarded to Stanway deep into added time at the end of this match saw them take all three points from a game they dominated for the opening half and almost lost in the second.

The hosts had trouble shoring up their defence early on and almost went behind when Jermaine Harewood's corner has met by the head of away captain Ross Crouch, the ball coming off the back of one of his team mates, on to the outside of the post and behind the goal.

Haverhill fed the ball to Ryan Kent down the right wing as they looked to get in to the game but his crosses ended up being cleared as Stanway looked to influential striker Ray Turner to create space for himself in their ventures forward.

Turner used his strength to make space for himself before putting his shot across goal and wide of the far upright in the best of Stanway's other efforts in the opening 45 minutes.

The hosts' sole first half reply came two minutes into added time, Kent's effort tamely going wide of the mark.

The team talk in the home dressing room at half time spurred on the side and they reacted in the second half to make this a much more even contest, although goalkeeper Jamie Smith was on hand to parry a volley by unmarked away substitute Rob Thorne after Ben Newson had switched the play.

Haverhill's main chance of the match feel after 78 minutes following the introduction of James Catten, Jamie Thurlbourne moving to left midfield and putting in a cross to find Paul Shaw in acres of space; his first time shot, however, was amazingly saved by goalkeeper Michael Church as neither side could believe their luck but for opposite reasons.

With the game looking to end goal less Stanway found their deserved winner four minutes into injury time at the end of the game; Sam Newson came in along the left bye line and, under pressure from Catten, he went to ground despite Catten raising his hands in the air and not seeming to put in a challenge. The referee pointed to the spot and Turner stepped up to net the penalty kick past the helpless Smith.

ROVERS : Jamie Smith, Paul Abbott, Jamie Thurlbourne, Gareth Thomas, Marc Abbott, Joe Harvey, Ryan Kent, Marcus Hunt, Paul Shaw, Sam Green, Cody Frazier.
Subs - Lee Hallas (for Paul Shaw, 80), Paul Jenkin, Jamie Challis, James Catten (for Cody Frazier, 76), Neil Green.
Goals - None.
Bookings - Joe Harvey (44, foul), Gareth Thomas (71, kicking the ball away), James Catten (90+3, unsporting behaviour).
Red cards - None.

STANWAY : Michael Church, Tim Dennis, Martin Curtis, Al Drennon, Mark Gainsford, Ross Crouch, Ben Newson, Ed Kirby, Ray Turner, Sam Newson, Jermaine Harewood.
Subs - Rob Thorne (for Jermaine Harewood, 60), Ben Barnsley, Ross Norfolk, Rob Bate.
Goals - Ray Turner (90+4, penalty).
Bookings - Ray Turner (42, foul), Tim Dennis (69, foul), Al Drennon (90+4, unsporting behaviour).
Red cards - None.