HAVERHILL ROVERS 1 STANWAY ROVERS 1

Two goals at the end of a relatively uneventful first half were the only ones in this contest, although both sides could have netted at least once more in the second.

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THURLOW NUNN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

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Rafal Wozniak twice went close for the hosts, his lob after a misplaced kick by goalkeeper Andrew Plummer going just wide after 10 minutes and his header after Kelvin Enaro’s cross being palmed away by Plummer in the 37th minute, before Stanway led themselves after 41 minutes, home ‘keeper Charlie Turner clawing a shot from outside of the area away from goal with a great save, only for Toby Blanche to beat a static defence to the rebound.

A minute into added time, and with just enough time to kick off afterwards, the score was level, Enaro’s powerful run taking him past defenders on the right wing and his last ditch cross from near the bye line at full speed found Jordan Palmer at the back post, whose controlled first time volley went into the ground and the centre of goal past two defenders with Plummer out of the picture.

Haverhill thought they’d scored again on 65 minutes, Marc Abbott’s deep free kick being controlled and put in at the back right post by Cameron Watson, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Stanway substitute Jordan Barrett dragged a shot wide when unmarked on 76 minutes, the crowd gasping when Luke Haines found the net with a 25 yard free kick on 79 minutes, but it found the roof of the net rather than the top right corner as it had appeared.

The home side were cursing their luck on 82 minutes when substitute Lawrence Healey ran down the right from just inside his half before putting in a low shot, the ball somehow coming off Plummer’s foot, into the chest of defender Connor McLaughlin and onto the bar.

Palmer also found himself astounded that he didn’t net his second on 88 minutes when he latched on to sub Rory Jebb’s flick, but his low 12 yard shot took a cruel bounce just before it was hit and the ball went wide of the left post.

ROVERS : Turner, Boddey (Geoghegan, 89), Fox, Milne, Holmes, Watson, Enaro (Healey, 73), Abbott, Wozniak (Jebb, 55), Palmer, Haines. Sub not used – Halls.

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Steven Esdale