Haverhill started brightly and hit the woodwork after 5 minutes, Lee Sharp chasing a ball into the corner, cutting in from the left and skimming his shot off the crossbar from a narrow angle. Just 5 minutes later a Ben Cowling header came thumping back off the crossbar as Haverhill continued to apply early pressure.

Melford came into the game more after the 20 minute stage and created several good chances of their own, forcing some excellent saves from Tom Edwards in the Haverhill goal, and also crashing a superb strike off the Haverhill crossbar from fully 25 yards.

The game quickly developed into a feisty affair, tackles flying in, typical of a local derby, James Catten and Lee Hurkett being particularly tough in the tackles.

As the first half looked destined to end 0-0 Haverhill pushed forward, Cowling making a superb run down the right hand side and cutting into the area, only to be scythed down in the box to win a penalty for Haverhill, Ryan Kent making no mistake from the spot to put Haverhill 1-0 up.

Just 2 minutes later a free kick was won by Haverhill in the corner of Melford's half; Lee Sharp's inswinging cross was superbly met by Paul Jenkin's powerful header which cannoned back off the woodwork, hit a Melford defender and rolled into the back off the Melford net to make Haverhill 2-0 up at half time.

Haverhill began strongly in the 2nd half and could easily have been 4-0 up before the hour mark, Sharp wasting an easy opportunity as he put wide after a superb through ball from Jamie Challis.

Then, just seconds later, another superb through ball sent Sharp racing through; he was clattered in the box by the advancing Melford 'keeper as he tried to lift the ball over his head and up stepped Kent, but this time his penalty kick cannoned back off the post.

Straight from this Melford went on the break and, after a brilliant goal line clearance by Ryan Holder, they finally got a life line and were back into the game, the resulting corner not being cleared by Haverhill and being hooked in from 12 yards to set up a tense 2nd half finish.

Manager Peter Betts then introduced Harry Halls on the right side of midfield, bringing him on to replace Kent. Halls had an immediate effect, with his fresh legs causing Melford problems out wide. The game became a tense affair after this, becoming increasingly physical and being played at a good pace.

On 70 minutes Haverhill got the 3rd goal they desperately needed, Neil Hammond finding himself unmarked in the box; his header coming back to him off the Melford cross bar and he rolled home the rebound from 3 yards.

Long Melford continued to apply pressure but the Haverhill defence of Hurkett, Holder, Hammond and Catten stood firm and dealt with everything that was thrown at them, along with Brad Deeks, who seemed to cover every blade of grass in the middle of the park.

Cody Frazier and Phil Hammond were then introduced for Sharp and Holder for the last 15 minutes. Melford looked rather dejected and should have fell further behind 5 minutes before the end, Cowling latching on to Jenkin's flick on and firing into the bottom corner from 20 yards. The Melford assistant, however, raised his flag for offside, even though Jenkin was clearly a yard behind Melford centre half.

All in all Haverhill can be very pleased with the result in what proved to be a tough local derby against a very young, physical and energetic Melford side; this was a good way to prepare for the Suffolk Senior Reserve cup quarter final against Sudbury Reserves at Hamlet Croft this Saturday.

Rovers Reserves: T.Edwards, Catten, Holder(P Hammond), N Hammond, Hurkett, Deeks, Challis, Cowling, Sharp (Frazier), Jenkin, Kent (Halls). Sub not used: D Edwards