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).