(report from Bryan Jones)

Following the unfortunate abandoned end to the reverse fixture earlier in the season, during which the Haverhill lads were in the ascendancy and leading comfortably by two goals to nil, Rovers lost this competitive and hard fought return match to a truly tremendous strike late in the game when it looked to be a draw all the way.

Two very late withdrawals by Myles Holder and Lewis Brown left manager and coach "Scouse" Munro well and truly in the mire, taking just one loyal sub in Zak Taylor to east Essex on the night and knowing this would be a hard task against a well drilled Wivenhoe squad.

New 'keeper Doug Beck had an outstanding match between the sticks and could not be faulted throughout. although he did have an early heart stopping moment when it looked like the ball had squirmed under his body and might go over the line, but he managed to claw it back in the nick of time.

The match ebbed and flowed throughout but Rovers were a little unlucky not to go in leading at the break when Ryan Smithson, Luke Stockings Callum Harrison and Jack Jones all had good chances either saved or just off target.

The home side came out for the second half fired up and were unlucky not to grab a couple of early goals, but woeful finishing combined with great defensive play and alert keeping thwarted their efforts, and it was Rovers who then counter attacked strongly with Jones forcing a great save by the home 'keeper down by his near post from a header that looked destined for the net.

Despite all the late pressure from Rovers they were always likely to be caught on the break, and so it was when a lightning run from the right from the Wivenhoe winger saw him cut in and lash his shot goalwards with only the 'keeper to beat; 'keeper Beck made an outstanding save but was only able to parry the thunderbolt out to the edge of the penalty area, where the unmarked centre forward smashed an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net for the winner.