Brantham Athletic 3 Haverhill Rovers 2
It was a case of three shots and three goals for Brantham Athletic as another slow start away from home in the Thurlow Nunn League condemned Haverhill Rovers to defeat on Saturday (January 12).
The title-chasing hosts were two goals to the good within ten minutes.
First Josh Mayhew got behind the defence and finished low and confidently across goalkeeper Elliott Anderson on four minutes.
The second goal came via a small sidefoot chip forward from Lee Grimwood, Mayhew getting the wrong side of defender Perry Moody and, with Anderson in no man’s land, he lifted the ball over him and into the net.
There was hope for the away side after a quarter of an hour when they pulled a goal back.
Marc Abbott’s free-kick from a little under 25 yards and right of goal curled into the near top corner, leaving goalkeeper Ryan Bedingfield rooted to the spot.
If it was a slow start to the first half for Haverhill, it was a good one to the second.
Luck finally went their way three minutes into the second period when they made the score 2-2.
Callum Harrison’s low cross was deflected and the attempted clearance by a defender span off Dan Cornwell, over Bedingfield and in from just 10 yards out.
With both defences creaking under pressure, it was Brantham that dealt what was the final blow in the 58th minute.
Adam Bloss passed the ball forward to Sean Gunn, who had just enough space to turn and apply a good 15-yard finish that left Anderson with no chance of a save.
Rovers went closest to equalising when Cornwell’s lob hit the face of the bar with Bedingfield well beaten on 77 minutes, but it wasn’t to be.
Rovers are eighth in the Premier Division with 33 points from 20 matches.
That leaves them 14 points behind current table-toppers Walsham-le-Willows with three games in hand.
Haverhill host fifth-placed Dereham Town on Saturday (January 19) hoping to close the nine-point gap to their hosts having played the same number of games.
For all the latest sport see Thursday’s (January 17) Echo.
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Weather for Haverhill
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North
