Rusty of the Rovers

Ressies Win first Leg in Chell Trophy

2008-09-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

Haverhill Rovers reserves will take a 1 goal advantage into the second leg of their Chell trophy first round tie with Needham Market following a closely fought 2-1 victory at the Croft on Saturday. An even first half saw few good chances until on the half hour when Tom Kirk latched onto a Stuart Lillie cross from the right to fire the hosts ahead. Lillie had a chance to increase the lead 4 minutes later but he was denied by the woodwork and the score remained 1-0 at half time. In the second half Rovers attempted to press home their advantage, and Jack Jones, Dan Edwards and Neil Green all went close. Tom Edwards in the Rovers goal was also required to make a couple of important saves before in the 92nd minute Ben Cowling latched onto a loose ball and struck a fine half volley to make the score 2-0. Before thoughts of the second round had entered the heads of the Rovers team, Needham found their way back into the tie when Gary Brown-Wark fired a last minute free kick through a defensive wall and past Edwards to leave the tie delicately poised.

FIzzeeo Therapissed on the latest Youth Game

2008-09-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

RIDGEONS YOUTH LEAGUE U 18’s – Division South

Haverhill Rovers 2 Braintree Town 2

Last week at the Croft, both sets of spectators and supporters were treated to a really entertaining and competitive game between two well drilled sides. The match included all the good aspects of our National game and was a credit to the both Clubs.

Having said this, the match started in disastrous mode for Rovers, when after just five minutes, a seemingly harmless through ball from a Braintree clearance was not cleared with any conviction by the luckless Rovers keeper who presented an on rushing Braintree forward with an empty net which he gleefully and gratefully accepted. This signalled a ‘wake up call’ for the home side and they pressed forward in numbers for the equaliser sometimes showing their naivety and getting caught on the break on a couple of occasions. Jack Jones went close with a header from a Scott Bishop cross and then Aaron Bowmer got in the action with a crisp shot on target which was well saved by the busier Braintree keeper. Right on half time Jamie Wilding picked out Aaron Bowmer who laid the ball in the path of Callum Harrison and he lashed it home from 25yards for the deserved equaliser.

Luke Stockings came on for Terry Bee and the game gathered even more momentum. On 56 minutes a tremendous downfield clearance from Sam Dickinson found Jack Jones well inside the visitors half and he surged forward strongly and smashed the ball goal wards only for his effort to be well blocked by the onrushing keeper but he couldn’t hold it and Callum Harrison was on hand once again to net the rebound for his second of the match. Just ten minutes later it was the visitors who equalised this time when a concentration lapse and subsequent goalmouth scrimmage saw the ball bundled into the net from close range.

The final twenty five minutes was mostly end to end stuff but Rovers looked the more likely winners and Jones who never stopped running throughout was unlucky with an on target ferocious volley that the defender knew nothing about as it cannoned off him to safety. Callum Harrison then hit the base of the post to deny him his hat trick and another Jones cross found Bowmer who cleared the cross bar from six yards when scoring looked the easier option before he had another brilliant effort saved late on. Although Rovers had the most possession and chances the draw was probably a fair reflection on the overall game.

It's all gone quite at the Croft

2008-09-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

September is still with us and now it looks like a relegation battle is all we have to look forward to! Dumped out of the Vase by a very poor Melford team who rarely looked like scoring apart from when we contrived to let them in. So much possession in the first twenty minutes and yet nothing to show for it, and then, when it appeared the gods were smiling on us, a missed penalty!

I am sure there are some positives out there, but at the moment I can't see them. The team lacks creativity and Cuttsy desperately needs someone up with him.

On other matters, best wishes go to Lee Hirkett after his unfortunate injury in the match last week. Hope to see you back at the Croft soon Lee.

So home to Wisbech this week who came from 2-0 down to beat Walsham in the Vase 4-2. Steve Taylor on his return to the Croft - Let's hope for a shake up and something for the Haverhill faithful to cheer about.

Crawley Wraps it up - Rovers Ressies 4 Clacton 0

2008-08-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

A quick fire double from substitute Matt Crawley secured a victory for a Rovers team that failed to convert a number of chances in a match they dominated. Ahead after 5 minutes from a Ryan Kent goal, Rovers pressed for the majority of the first half without increasing their lead. Indeed had it not been for a fine save by Tom Edwards from a James Catten deflection, the first half would have ended level. A quarter of an hour into the second half Neil Hammond on his return from injury was required to clear a shot from Clacton's Gareth Gibbons which was headed goalwards, and this finally seemed to rouse Rovers. Nine minutes later Tom Kirk smashed a corner from Harry Halls into the ground and then up and up and into and top corner of the Clacton goal which doubled the lead, and the match was effectively over when Crawley collected a loose ball in the Clacton penalty area and finished calmly with 15 minutes left in the game. There was still time for Ross Elkins to hit the post with a header before Crawley wrapped up all the points, collecting a shot from Jon Tabrar, swivelling inside the six yard box and driving the ball into the Clacton net.

F A Cup continues

2008-08-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

I am sure no-one else but me cares, but Leiston beat March Town 3-1 today to progress to the next round of the FA cup - I'll try to follow their progress as the competition develops

Rovers 2 Harwich 0

2008-08-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

Following the change in management earlier in the week Rovers first team broke their duck in the Ridgeons league with a fine display of committed football and a comprehensive 2-0 defeat of Harwich and Parkeston.

With Gareth Thomas back at the centre of defence and Joe Harvey reinstated in his marauding central midfield role Rovers always dominated the Harwich team and goals from Tom Shearer and Craig Cutts gave them the victory.

Well played lads a fine performance, but share a thought for the poor sod from Harwich who travelled all the way down to come on as sub with 2 minutes left- Bet he went home having a real good night out!

Can we thank the FA for appointing a referee who had to travel from out of Mongolia and thus cost Rovers a fortune in travelling expenses...

Can we also thank the FA for scheduling such a sensible match in midweek for all the local fans!! how difficult is it - midweek matches = local derbies - CRC, Newmarket = big crowd = more money. -

Maybe I should get a job at the FA!

Rovers Youth Win First Game of Season

2008-08-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Report by proud parent Brian Jones -

Just to let you know that I attended last nights first League fixture of the Youth Team U 18’s at Witham Town and we ran out winners 3-2

We went into a half time lead through a fine narrow angled effort from Ryan Smithson after he had taken on and beaten his full back. Callum Harrison doubled our advantage with a a clever lob over the advancing keeper and Jack Jones scored the third, an absolute cracker from the edge of the box having beaten his marker following a great 30 yard cross field ball from Jermaine Onley. At this point it should be mentioned that their keeper had an absolute blinder and we could have had at least seven but for his heroics.

We were cruising at this point against good opposition and a bit of apathy led to a lapse in concentration and the hosts pulled one back. Moments later and two minutes from time our keeper accidentally brought down their striker in the box and being last man was unluckily sent off, they scored with the resultant penalty – things got a bit nervy for the last two minutes but Rovers ran out worthy winners.

Our team was - S. Dickinson, J.Howard, J.Onley, D.Atherton, S.Bishop, J.Wilding, R.Smithson, M.Taylor, A.Bowmer,C.Harrison, J.Jones – subs W.Purkiss,D.Gritten,S.Ervine

Rovers Ressies 4 Maldon Ressies 2

2008-08-25T11:27:00.001-07:00

A Ross Elkins hat-trick helped Rovers reserves to a fine 4-2 win in their first league match of the season at home to Maldon on Saturday. In a match that Rovers dominated, early chances for Matt Crawley, Ben Cowling and Harry Halls were all spurned before Rovers went behind to the first maldon attack of the game.
Rovers fought back and gained a deserved equaliser in the 38th minute when Ben Cowling was brought down in the penalty area, and Elkins slotted home the first of his two penalties.
Early into the second half Harry Halls gave Rovers the lead with a fine shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Maldon equalised in the 59th minute. Elkins gave Rovers the lead for the second time when he finished a cross from Stuart Lilley in the 76th minute, and when Matt Crawley was fouled in the penalty area with 10 minutes to go, Elkins completed his hat-trick and wrapped up the points for the Rovers.

Czech Mate

2008-08-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

I thought Larry had problems until I watched the England team tonight. Larry - you must be laughing at the problems Capello has. A goalkeeper who doesn't know where his area ends, a midfielder on £150,000 a week for Chelsea who was totally anonymous for the whole game, a fallen superstar who couldn't pass wind let alone the defender in front of him , and the former great white hope up front, who spent the whole game playing left midfield when he was supposed to be playing the second striker.

Time to search out plan B (if we ever had a plan A)

Cup dream over for another year!

2008-08-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

Well, the Olympics haven't yet finished, the cricket season is in full swing, the Premiership is only 1 week old, and the Rovers are out of the F A Cup!. After a last minute reprieve at the Croft on Saturday when Captain Harvey saved our bacon, Rovers travelled to March last night and crashed out of the competition.

The two young March strikers Pepper and Brand always caused Rovers problems at the back with their pace, and we didn't ever seem to create enough clear cut chances to threaten.

Stokesy was unlucky to hit the post from a quick free kick late in the 65th minute, but by then the game was up.

A disappointing performance, and things aren't going to get any easier with Saturdays visit to Kirkley.

Price Rises in the Tea Hut

2008-08-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

News reaches me that the prices in the tea hut will be rising substantially this year. According to my calculations, tea prices are to rise 40% from this week... and next will be the beer!

Watch out for the row of flasks adorning the top row of the stands very soon!

Medical Update

2008-08-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

Lee Sharp will be undergoing the knife on Thursday this week to repair his injured knee ligaments. I am sure all readers will wish him a speedy recovery.

Friday 15th August Haverhill Rovers Reserves 5 Mildenhall Reserves 1

2008-08-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Rovers reserves continued to impress with a clinical display of attacking football at the Croft on Friday evening.

Jack Jones opened the scoring after 23 minutes following a fine run and cross from Ben Cowling, although Mildenhall equalised just 2 minutes later, and at half time the scores were level.

Ryan Kent's appearance on the right wing saw Rovers increase their attacking options in the second half, and his cross set up Ross Elkins to break the deadlock in the 54th minute.

Harry Halls fired home from the edge of the box to make it 3-1 a minute later, before a fine passing move between Matt Crawley and Mark Alder saw Kent finish with an exquisite chip into the top left corner of the goal.

The game ended on a high as manager Ben Cowling rolled back the years, outpacing the Mildenhall defence and crashing home a fine shot to make the final score 5-1.

Tuesday 12th August Haverhill 1 Mildenhall 4

2008-08-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

An early candidate for goal of the season scored by Craig Cutts was all Rovers had to show in a match which they offered little and were comprehensively outplayed by a strong Mildenhall team.

With Joe Harvey playing in an unfamilar central defensive role, the midfield struggled to shut down their sharp opponents led by the impressive strike duo of Robbie Harris and Owen Painter.

John Sands opened the scoring after 7 minutes from a Spriggs cross, only for Cutts to equalise with a stunning left footed lob over the oncoming Mildenhall 'keeper Marshall 8 minutes later.

Painter gave the lead back to Mildenhall after 20 minutes when he stole in between Gareth Thomas and Joe Harvey to fire past Ed Cambell.

The match could have changed 4 minutes into the second half when Jenkin found himself 1 on 1 with the 'Hall 'keeper only to fire over, but 5 minutes later Painter scored from the edge of the 6 yd box after Marc Abbott had cleared off the line to make the score 3-1.

The scoring was completed in the 63rd minute when Spriggs slid in at the far post to make the score 4-1.

Rovers have had a tough start to the season, Mildenhall looked a very good side, and few would be surprised to see them in the top 3 of the division come May.

Friday 25th July Haverhill Reserves 5 Haughley Town 0

2008-08-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Haverhill Rovers reserves continued their fine pre-season form on Friday night with a 5-0 victory against Haughley Town. A confident Rovers team took the lead after 31 minutes when Sam Holmes met a Harry Halls corner with a powerful header that left the opposition goalkeeper stranded. Paul Hunt added a second 6 minutes later, lashing a loose ball home from inside the penalty area
The second half saw more of the same, with Hunt doubling his tally in the 51st minute following a fine run. Substitute Jack Jones took the total to four with the goal of the night, a dipping left foot half volley from all of 25 yards, and Luke Stocking completed the scoring in the final minute, heading a cross onto a Haughley defender before it crossed the line. All in all an excellent performance from an exciting Haverhill team.

Friday 1st August 2008 Haverhill Rovers Reserves 1 Thetford Athletic 0

2008-08-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Haverhill Rovers reserves continued their unbeaten pre-season with a 1-0 win at home to Thetford Athletic at the Croft on Friday evening. In an entertaining clash in which both sides attempted to play a passing style Rovers started well. Jack Jones forced the Thetford goalkeeper into an early save in the 7th minute, and this was followed by attempts from Sam Holmes and Ben Cowling which both scraped the woodwork. Neil Green forced another save from the Thetford goalkeeper in the 35th minute, but despite the pressure, the scores remained level at half time.
Rovers continued in the ascendency in the second half, and Matt Crawley finally broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when he latched onto a fine pass from Harry Halls, and lobbed the oncoming goalkeeper. Thetford briefly threatened a fightback, and centre back James Catten was required to head off the line when goalkeeper Tom Edwards was left stranded by a Thetford attack. However this was the final opportunity that Thetford created and the match eneded with a 1-0 victory for the home side.