Same old, same old

Watching Haverhill Rovers draw against Histon Reserves last Saturday (March 12) was almost like being back at Hamlet Croft last season. It was not so much that they dropped two points against the Glassworld Stadium outfit - who, let's not forget, fielded several first XI players as their Blue Square Premier League side took a weekend rest from their own relegation battle - but more in the manner of which Rovers contrived to get one point when three should have been guaranteed long before the 90 minute mark. Just like last season, chances were not finished, defending was sometimes sloppy, and it all culminated in gifting the basement club a stoppage time equaliser to take a point back from the New Croft.

Too many times at Hamlet Croft I endured watching Rovers surrender 1-0 wins into 1-1 draws, or fail to turn a 0-0 draw into a win and even make it a 1-0 defeat, but this season's arrivals seemed to have put an end to those ways, starting with Dalton O'Brien's emphatic debut in Rovers' 4-0 win over UCL Premier Division side Northampton Spencer in the FA Vase. However, recent performances - the freak 5-3 win over Histon Reserves in the quarter finals of the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup not withstanding - Rovers have struggled to find the back of the net, particularly from open play.

Owen Paynter's arrival looked set to boost the squad and remedy that problem, but in truth they have looked at a loss as to how best to utilise the hitman with Dalton O'Brien. Manager Peter Betts adopts a universal 4-5-1 approach to every game, which leaves Paynter isolated and often inefective and O'Brien stuck on the wing and leaving space when getting into his best positions centrally. They may control the midfield in many games, but they are left somewhat toothless in the final third as there is not enough support in the goalscoring areas. Their lack of goalscoring prowess was underlined further in Tuesday's (March 15) 0-0 draw at Felixstowe and Walton United. Marc Abbott may be a strong creative force in midfield, but they still need an injection of pace into the side.

Rovers seem to have struggled in two particular types of fixtures in this Ridgeons Premier League campaign - against the top of the table opponents, but more worryingly, against bottom of the table opponents. The first is understandable - Betts admits they will never have the financial clout to challenge league leaders Leiston, and Rovers have already been doubled by second placed Dereham Town, and they cannot be expected to beat the very best teams in this division at the moment. That said, they have competed well in these games, losing to unfortunate late goals to Leiston and Dereham at New Croft and at Leiston after extra-time in the FA Vase, and have also beaten Mildenhall and have yet to play Wroxham - that double header is due on March 26 (away) and April 2 (home). First they face their third game against Leiston, who they travel to on Saturday (March 19).

However, the more worrying trend is Rovers' inability to beat the bottom sides - in five games against bottom three opposition, Rovers have picked up a meagre five points. They may have doubled the likes of Wisbech Town and CRC, but they have failed to beat rock bottom Histon Reserves and contrived to lose at home to Debenham LC. This is where Betts' insistence on always playing 4-5-1 comes into question. It is an understandable tactic to deploy against the top sides - even if it seems to be reaping little reward - but why against the minnows? Rovers are now in a privileged position of being underdogs no more, and are rightly expected to beat bottom half of the table sides. What do these sides think when they arrive at New Croft to see just one striker in the starting XI? They probably see a lack of ambition, and are optimistic of being able to contain the threat and even cause an upset by nicking something on the counter.

The obvious solution that most spectators would like to see more often is 4-4-2 employed, especially against the lower sides, with O'Brien and Paynter looking to forge a partnership up front. When I put this to Betts, he stated that they had tried that formation without success in earlier games - such as at Histon - whereas 4-5-1 had proved effective in the majority of their games. It seems a very defensive approach to take, but it is understandable why he has faith in the system that has propelled them from a basement club to title challengers within the space of two season. However, perhaps the final step to fulfil Betts' ambition of becoming a Ryman club instead of a Ridgeons club may be to release the shackles in some of the games and aim to blow the opposition away before aiming not to concede against them.

Of course, Rovers problems have only been made worse by their current injury woes - Joe Boreham is still out, Stuart Kingham will be out for two-three weeks after he was knocked out against Histon, and wing wizard Neil Cogger is expected to finally return for the trip to Wroxham. Marcus Hunt is due back for the daunting trip to Leiston, as is Greg Strong, while Sam Holmes may also return for that game. It is the worst time of the season for the injury list to pile up, but Betts' fine work is building a strong squad have helped to see them through it, though with an indifferent start to March his fears that this month may prove the undoing of their season may still be realised. Dan Pilcher has returned and put in a good shift against Histon, Ant Fernandez is improving with each game and Jamie Challis has also been putting in numerous man-of-the-match performances lately. However, Joe Harvey is still to break into the first XI, and Liam Paton has been released after an uneventful stay at New Croft.

There is still much to look forward to though - not least the upcoming cup final against Mildenhall at Abbey Stadium in little over three weeks (April 12) - and reason to be optimistic instead of pessimistic. Upcoming trips to in-form Mildenhall - unbeaten in 12 league and cup games, and only on Pancake Day (March 8) ending an eight game winning sequence with a 0-0 draw at Norwich United - and Wroxham may make or break Rovers' season, but if they can show the resilience that sent them on long unbeaten runs earlier in the season then it may make their season, compounding their place in the top four rather than condemning them to sixth or below (which would still mark a vast improvement from pre-season expectations, a testament to the rapid progress they have made under Betts).

Rovers still have 11 games to play, and a favourable end of season run in that will hopefully still see them in the mix after this difficult month. Saturday will provide a tough test, and one that, in likelihood, will put Rovers on a three game winless run. However, they have showed resolve throughout this season after poor results and will hopefully continue to do that to bounce back and finish the month strong. If they can have a successful end to the season, and if Betts can maintain and build on this squad over the summer, then there may be even more successful times to celebrate next season.

My full interview with Betts was published in this week's Haverhill Echo, out today (Thursday, March 17).

Out of their misery

On Saturday (March 12), Haverhill's three year stay in the East Women's League came to and end when they were swept aside 4-1 by relegation rivals Christchurch. The script for their unlikely survival was in place, but being in need of successive wins with results going in their favour, relegation already seemed inevitable. The result marked a premature end to a sorry season for Haverhill, one in which their record reads - played 19, lost 17, drawn one, lost one, goals scored 14, goals allowed 58 - and still with three games to play. That sort of form was never going to see them stay in the league.

From the first game of the season their struggle seemed certain, although a 2-1 home reverse to likely champions Norwich City could be seen as a good result. However, thing quickly deteriorated, as narrow defeats became crushing defeats. Although a 5-3 win over Loddon in November provided some hope that their fortunes may pick up, those were quickly dashed with a comprehensive 3-0 home defeat by then relegation rivals University of East Anglia Women (UEA) - it was results like these that condemned Haverhill, as Saturday was their second defeat by Christchurch after a 4-0 win in November, while UEA doubled them with a 2-0 home win the Saturday before. These results conspired to keep Haverhill at the foot of the table, and cut them increasingly further adrift as their rivals pulled clear.

Captain Tina Bunch remained optimistic throughout her side's deterioration - as recently as a fortnight ago she had hoped they could string the necessary results together. But with each defeat that optimism faded - there may have been a great escape last season, with Bunch providing the last minute winner at Lincoln Roses (who find themselves likely to be relegated from Division Two NW this season), but this season there was no fairytale ending. They were always likely to be relegated at almost the earliest opportunity, and that threat could not inspire them to victory.

Where did it all go wrong for Haverhill? I understand they have not been confident at this level since their arrival, despite cruising up in the 2007-08 season with 19 wins and a draw in the Suffolk Premier League, but at the start of the campaign Bunch told me she expected this to be an easier division that Two NW that they only just stayed in last season, and that the divisional reshuffle had been to Haverhill's benefit. At least last season though they put up a fight, and despite being in the lower reaches for much of the campaign managed a respectable points total to survive - this season they are unlikely to reach double figures. Still, Bunch hopes they can get a few performances in too late so as not to be 'to much of a disgrace' in getting relegated - they look set to go down as the worst team across all four second divisions.

A lack of pace has been identified as a key reason for their shortcomings - one of the reasons Haverhill found themselves overrun by a UEA side often at the wrong end of a hiding from the top teams. This is not something that can be easily remedied in a non-university town, as Bunch said often players will turn 18 and then leave the team to pastures new for their hockey, leaving Haverhill with the veterans. However, the captain is looking to freshen up the team and said there may be a couple of pacey players returning for the next campaign.

As well as pace, a goal threat has been lacking. Bunch and Elaine Ward have been chipping in with a few, while new player Vicky Haylock has also done well, but their dismal scoring record speaks volumes. Short corners were often seen as a speciality for Haverhill and an ideal opportunity for goals, but they were soon failing to capitalise on those too. Debbie Petrucci has done well between the sticks, but there is no use in being solid at the back if you are blunt up front, and it did not take long for the defence to become flakey either. There seemed to be no difference either between their home or away form, as the losses continued on the road and at the leisure centre.

The skipper told me 'it will be interesting to see how we play now', and that the lack of pressure may lead to a more relaxed game, which in itself may yield results. At the very least, Bunch was looking forward to having the opportunity to blood a few youngsters in the hope of the being ready for next year's challenge. The team does need to change and adapt, and hopefully this will settle a few new players before the next campaign.

As for the 'challenge' of next season, it does not seem to be substantial - Bunch said they could at least 'look forward to winning the vast majority of our games and scoring over 100 goals'. For a team that has averaged less than a goal a game, to average five a game must necessitate quite drop in quality. Bunch said: "There is a massive gap between the two leagues that usually results in a yo-yo situation." The trouble is, Haverhill clearly need to improve at this level in order to be competitive should they be promoted again - such a drop in quality can only lead to complacency and an even shorter-stay in the higher echelons of the league after promotion. Bunch said they will try to arrange friendly fixtures with Division Two teams throughout the next campaign, but easily these can be arranged mid season is debatable, as is how many players will turn out if they are in the off-season. Haverhill will need to play some better opposition if they are to stay sharp and hopefully put up a bit more of a fight in the event of their promotion for the 2012-13 campaign.

For now, Haverhill will be left to reflect on this failed campaign with disappointment. They had numerous opportunities to reverse their results and the trickle of poor results became an avalanche, but were unable to attest the slide. Now they have become Haverhill's second sports team to exit their division within a month, they too have the opportunity to regroup and prepare to come back strong in the East Women's Leagues, hopefully at the earliest opportunity, and not just be the cannon-fodder for the rest of the league that they have been this season.

My full interview with Bunch and a match report will be in tomorrow's (Thursday, March 17) Haverhill Echo.