HAVERHILL ROVERS 1 SAFFRON WALDEN TOWN 2
A goal less first half was in contrast to three in the second as Walden edged out Haverhill in this Boxing Day derby.
THURLOW NUNN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
The first half had more of a derby atmosphere than shots on goal with some hefty challenges going in and plenty of noise, the hosts having the best chances when they shot just wide of Walden’s goal on 15 minutes and then came close twice in the 39th minute, first Jonathan Milne’s shot after a cut back by Justin Leavers was put behind by goalkeeper Lee Pacey and then Luke Haines’ resulting corner from the left hit the Walden bar.
Five minutes after the break Haverhill led, some persistence from Leavers ending up with him putting a cross into the danger area, which away defender Perry Moody sliced into the air; the ball fell to Danny Hill in the edge of the area, who found space around his marker before hitting a quick fire shot that was past Pacey before he had time to react.
Walden hit the bar a few minutes later before equalising after 62 minutes when Jamie Salmon managed to bundle the ball into the net following a corner.
With 88 minutes gone the away side found a winner, three tightly contested balls around and in the Haverhill area being won by Walden players and James Crane, who had an impressive game, ended up getting the ball in to the net from close range.
ROVERS : Turner, Boddey, Halls (Bailey, 64), Milne, Holmes, Geoghegan, Hill, Shulver, Jebb, Haines, Leavers. Subs not used – Bradley, Bush, Thompson.
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Steven Esdale
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