Rovers enjoy an Ely good start to the season

Twelve goals in three games is not something you would expect to hear said about Haverhill Rovers, but their recent thumpings to bounce back from their opening day defeat in Gorleston stand as a testament to both the mentality of the side and the attacking talent that manager Peter Betts has finally added to what was previously a solid but blunt side. Last season and the one before it, games were, all too often, painful to watch as Rovers would either toil to get a goal or struggle to defend a slender lead that should have been much more. Last season they enjoyed a strong midfield, albeit lacking in pace and width, and one of the strongest defences in the league. However, their problems were evident upfront as Dalton O'Brien always looked better at holding the ball up rather than putting it in the net and Peter Betts' favoured 4-5-1 approach was never set up to suit Owen Paynter. The lack of attacking quality was never more evident than when they crashed to a 2-0 defeat in the final of the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup at Cambridge United's Abbey Stadium, John Sands pouncing twice in quick succession to illustrate the difference in class.

Now though it would appear that Rovers have successfully addressed their attacking deficiencies. Scott Lodge and Dan Cornwell are both fine additions to the side and have been firing home goals for fun lately, but what is perhaps more exciting is that Rovers' goals are coming not just from these two, but from other players as well. Betts has already spoken about his high expectations, and how he thinks they can bag between 15 to 20 goals each at Ridgeons Premier League level, and looking at last season's poor goal scoring form that could propel them significantly up the table and solve their striking woes.

However, it is perhaps up front where the biggest problems also remain, as a cursory glance at the substitute's bench reveals a lack of alternatives should the pair be unfit or unavailable. Betts has already said he will not play 4-4-2 with both each game, and going 4-5-1 he does have a variety of option to go 'in the hole' or supporting striker role, but there are no other out-and-out centre-forwards at the New Croft. Owen Paynter has signed for Mildenhall Town, Callum Harrison has gone to Long Melford, Dalton O'Brien has had to return home to St Neots for personal reasons and Craig Cutts, who never managed to consistently perform at this level anyway, has dropped down to step seven and the Kershaw Premier League. So while the front two may be fit and firing together at the moment, it is a worry who should replace them should injury take its toll later in the campaign.

On a more positive note though, the goals are coming in from across the park now. The midfield is looking ever stronger, despite their being few additions of note - rather it is strengthened by improvements of players already at the club. Harry Halls has been a revelation, both in terms of pace and finishing - he put Rovers ahead with an audacious finish in the 3-0 thumping of Walsham-le-Willows in their first home game of the season, and he again found the net in the 5-1 rout of Ely City and was instrumental in setting up the final strike as well. Another player that has improved immensely over the close-season is Joe Harvey - I saw little of him that impressed me last season, but Betts always insisted that he is a brilliant midfield player since he re-joined. Now he is starting to achieve that expectation, with a good goal haul pre-season and some strong performances so far 'in the hole', almost playing as a striker at time, and will no doubt continue scoring throughout the season.

Jamie Challis is looking strong in the holding role. Another player who I found unimpressive since following Rovers, he still fails to be spectacular but is becoming increasingly able and impressive in his position, but tackles in and setting up play again with short passes. It is a testament to his improvement that he is keeping last season's quintessential midfield bruiser Stuart Kingham out of the starting XI, but following an unimpressive performance from him Betts has no excuse to break up a side on a hat-trick of victories with the two New Croft wins surrounding the 4-1 FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round win over Stowmarket Town.

Another player that has been struggling to force his way into the starting XI again is Marc Abbott - he blew hot and cold last season, showing moments of brilliance but also games of obscurity, and his form dipped towards the end of the campaign from the high standards he had set himself. He was needlessly sent off in pre-season to condemn Rovers to their second 2-0 defeat by Needham Market in as many years, and has not featured often since. He will have to be performing at his best consistently - and Betts has said that on his day he is among the best in the division - to return to the starting XI. Louis Harper will also have to seize the opportunities presented for himself to try and become a regular starter, and with a long season ahead opportunities are sure to arrive. The variety of options now provide Betts with a nice selection problem to have.

One new arrival in the centre of the park that has impressed is Jack Wilkinson. Now Betts has decided, in my opinion wisely, to play the 19-year-old at left-wing and Greg Strong at left-back, the side looks to have a new found pace and thrust out wide that has been lacking since Dan Emmanuel's brief stay at New Croft. Wilkinson is pushing forward, and also showed a calmness to finish against Ely last Tuesday (August 23). Midfield certainly looks a strong prospect at the moment, especially considering both Jack Higgs and Joe Boreham are due to return to action soon to provide further competition for places. It is questionable whether Neil Cogger will ever fully return, especially to his prime, but he would provide a further welcome boost, and the current squad strength would reduce the burden on how often he would play.

At the back, the side still looks as strong as ever, especially if the defensive line-up can remain uninterrupted. Dan Pilcher is the only notable player to have departed, though Rovers seem more than capable of covering that loss. Wilkinson is capable of filling in at left-back, though Strong continues to hold down that place with consistently good performances both defending and attacking. On the other side of the pitch, Paul Abbott continues to put in strong performances following his elevation to captain. He was knocked out in Rovers' rout of Ely, but the emergence of Ryan Geohagen, who looks equally capable as full-back and centre-half, and even when pushed further up the pitch, is another plus for Rovers.

In the middle of defence, Stuart Wardley and Marcus Hunt continue to show composure and forge a strong partnership. Hunt, who won Echo player of the season last year, has not dipped since choosing to relinquish the captaincy, though was perhaps a bit rash in conceding a penalty against Ely. Both also showed their finishing skills with a goal apiece in that game, and can be relied upon for several goals a season. Last year saw their partnership secure one of the best defensive records in the division until the late-season collapse following injuries disrupting the side, and if they can stay together again they look set to continue that.

Wardley, the fans' player of the season, has affirmed his commitment to Rovers by spurning the advances of AFC Sudbury and instead choosing to stay on a smaller pay packet at the New Croft. He has spoken of his involvement in the side, how he enjoys Betts' style of football (a testament to what the manager is trying to build) and said that it would take 'a very good offer' to get him to leave Rovers. Defence then looks equally well covered, especially considering Sam Holmes is set to return soon.

The only other area of concern is between the sticks. Alex Archer looks a very capable goalkeeper, and showed nerve to save Ely's penalty, and hopefully he will remain at the club throughout the season with Jamie Greygoose deputising, though the latter is the necessary choice for FA Cup matches due to Rovers' loan agreement with Peterborough United. Liam Cutts, who looked increasingly capable as Matt Morrison was frozen out of the side, has left, along with Morrison, while Joe Harrington barley had chance to impress during his short stint, but has clearly got potential to be trialled by Ipswich Town.

Still, this Rovers side is certainly the strongest looking I have seen in my time here. Betts has spoken about the need for consistency now after Ely 'set the standard' for the tempo they should be playing at. Kirkley and Pakefield will set a sterner test on Saturday (August 27), as will a trip to CRC the following Wednesday (August 31) with Cambridge United's first XI not in action mid-week. However, the focus now is on Brantham Athletic on September 3, home to last year's Ridgeons Premier top scorer Ollie Mann, with victory against them bringing an FA Cup First Round Qualifying game against either one of UCL Premier Division sides King's Lynn Town or Soham Town Rangers. If Rovers can maintain their blistering start to the season with goals galore and few conceded, then there is no reason why they cannot maintain that sort of form and aim for a top four finish - perhaps even promotion? The challenge will come in maintaining that throughout the campaign as injuries and suspensions take their toll, but Betts certainly has a stronger and deeper squad to handle those pressures than he did last season.

My full interviews with Betts and Wardley are in today's (Thursday, August 25) Echo.

A disappointingly fitting climax to the season

It was ultimately a disappointing end to the season, but a fitting one nonetheless as, much like the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup final defeat that preceded it, Haverhill Rovers' inadequacies from an entire season were summed up in 90 minutes. Saturday's 1-1 draw against FC Clacton at New Croft started slowly, with neither side asserting themselves, but soon Rovers found their stride and even took the lead through a stand-out Callum Harrison. However, it seemed with inevitability that the visitors drew level - unfortunately following an error from Stuart Wardley, the likes of which seem to be becoming increasingly common - and from then on it seemed unlikely that Rovers would win. They made the chances, they tried and toiled and pressed, but they lacked the finishing prowess that has separated them from the heights of the Ridgeons Premier League this season.

Looking back on how the entire season has unfolded, Rovers can be quite pleased with their progress. Two seasons has transformed them from a basement team to a lower half team to a top half team. The frustration lies in that the start of the season showed so much promise and what they are capable of - they completed the league double over fourth placed Wisbech Town before October - but all their good work has seemingly fallen apart over the last few weeks, fading from a seven game winning run and an 11 game unbeaten run to a nine game winless run. The poor form to end the season was exactly what manager Peter Betts had feared before the run-in. Compared to pre-season under-expectation of merely avoiding relegation, an eighth placed finish is quite an achievement, but compared to having climbed up to third and applied for promotion, it is not. Achievements never seem as sweet when you know there could have been more.

It would seem that the reasons for Rovers' failure to progress, or at least maintain a level of consistency, relates largely to squad depth and a failure to score. Injuries have taken their toll in the closing stages of the campaign, but even manager Peter Betts admitted he is not looking to use that as an excuse. Stuart Kingham has been conspicuous by his absence, and proof of just how much this Rovers' team centres around him. When fit he has been the defensive linchpin, shielding captain Marcus Hunt and Wardley who frequently enjoyed clean sheets and one of the lowest 'goals against' records in the division, but without him Rovers have looked uncomfortable with nobody else well suited to that role. Hunt does not look comfortable when thrust forward, as he excels at tackling and breaking up play rather than passing and setting up play.

For all his strong performances Sam Holmes has not looked likely to form a partnership to exclude either Hunt or Wardley. Wardley has still been strong as the back, despite the more frequently occurring gaffes, although often frustrates by proving one of Rovers' best passers and finishers - he ends the campaign as third highest scorer with seven goals, behind Hunt with eight and striker Dalton O'Brien with ten, and not of all of these are from the penalty spot, where he is oft reliable save for the unusual recent miss at Kirkley and Pakefield that saw Marc Abbott assume spot kick duties in the 4-3 win at Hadleigh United that followed. However, Betts did not criticise Wardley for his increasingly erroneous performances, but instead was left to rue the lack of experienced cover available at centre half. "If we had cover he would play less games - in the first half of the season he was the best centre half in the league, but in the second his legs got the better of him and he's been playing with injuries", he said. If Rovers could rotate more and play him less - he has made 40 appearances this term - then perhaps he could remain such a commanding figure that Betts trusts to stop the most fearsome forwards throughout the course of a season. His presence at the back ensures he cannot be pushed forward, even though it is often his raking passes that set up the best chances, and Rovers now have the forward options so as not to resort to sticking him up front in the closing stages of games. No doubt he will continue to command a first XI place, and his input was noticed by being awarded the supporters' first XI player of the season.

Wardley's back four companions have also looked assured throughout most of the season - Greg Strong has been impressive in his debut season, while Paul Abbott continues to impress down the right an amaze me by failing to score from some of the chances he sets up. In the centre of the park, a deputy for Kingham is clearly needed - I thought that was Joe Boreham's purpose, but he carries more of an urge to get forward and be involved in play, and is also just a teenager and still learning his game, despite an impressive first season. Dan Pilcher has been solid since his return, though has struggled to present a case for regular first XI inclusion. Between the sticks, both Matt Morrison and Liam Cutts have endured their blunders, but both have generally looked reliable with the latter and able deputy to ensure Morrison's performances do not dip.

In the middle of the park, many of last year's problems remain with consistency and a lack of goals. Marc Abbott has held down a regular first XI spot and rightly so, but he has failed to reach the high standards he set for himself. A goal return of three is unremarkable, and after his early season performances, which led to Betts labelling him 'one of the league's best', he has stuttered, though his manager attributes this to exhaustion and injury. Jamie Challis has impressed since being relegated to the fringes of the squad, responding to that setback with a number of man-of-the-match performances to force his way into first XI contention, but he too lacks the attacking vision and prowess to fire Rovers to more goals. Joe Harvey re-arrived full of promise but has failed to impress, with a particularly disappointing performance in the cup final, but there is still time for him to improve.

Though Rovers' goal scoring concerns may initially appear to be more to do with their strikers, Betts insists it has as much to do with their wingers. O'Brien has a respectable ten goal return from his first season, but is still a long way away from being a 20-goals-a-season man. Betts said: "You could have Alan Shearer up front, but without the service he won't score. Dalton got lots when [Neil] Cogger and [Dan] Emmanuel were playing, so we need more strength in wide areas." Indeed, Cogger and Emmanuel sum up Rovers' lack of depth and pace, as with those two Rovers always looked likely to score, and Betts even labelled the squad his 'strongest' with their inclusion. Louis Harper has moments of quality on the wing but lacks pace and consistency, and while Jack Higgs has had an excellent debut season, thrust into the first XI following injuries, he lacks experience and consistency, and Ryan Kent has struggled to make a first XI impact following his dramatic late goal to christen New Croft with a win in Rovers' first competitive game there. Emmanuel is now confirmed to be at AFC Sudbury for next season after signing a one year contract, and it is questionable whether Cogger will be able to play regular football again following his injury woes. Betts has said he has summer replacements lined up to come to New Croft, and has insisted that these are first XI and not squad players, so hopefully these problems will have been addressed for next season.

Although the ammunition has been lacking for Rovers' frontmen, the strikers themselves have not been clinical. Owen Paynter looked like an inspired signing at first, though he has been hampered by injuries and made minimal impact. I was surprised that Betts seemed keen to maintain him in his future plans, saying: "The way we play has not suited his game. There's no doubting that he's a good player, it's just not been happening these last few months, but you don't finish as one of the top scorers in the division each season if you're not a good player." However good Paynter maybe, he seems to favour playing with a strike partner, while Betts' oft criticised insistence on a blanket 4-5-1 approach to games may deny him that opportunity. Perhaps the manager will be more flexible this year in presenting two forwards to opposition they can expect to beat?

O'Brien has enjoyed a good season, and though a respectable ten goal return leaves him some way off being a 20-goals-a-season man Betts believes he may become that with more ammunition from the wings. He has certainly looked capable up front, with experience beyond his years and strong beyond his stature. He has given Rovers more of a cutting edge up front, even if he is not as prolific as other team's forwards. A positive from Rovers' recent poor run of form has been the emergence of Callum Harrison, who I first noticed when Rovers dismantled CRC at New Croft before going on to complete the league double over the side that thrashed them home and away last season. He has looked formidable up front, and is one of a number of players Betts has praised as he forces his way into the first XI, the award of supporters' reserve XI player of the season acknowledging his progress.

Despite the improvements up front from last season, Rovers are still lacking a striker that will get past the 20 goal mark. Brantham Athletic's Ollie Mann contributed two goals to his ridiculous season total of 41 goals from 35 games when they beat Rovers 3-0 to avenge their earlier 3-1 defeat at New Croft, and if he is scoring that many for a side that finished five places and 14 points behind Rovers, imagine how many more points and places he could have secured for Betts' side? Mildenhall Town's John Sands showed what a difference a top class forward makes when he single-handedly won the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup for his otherwise inferior side on a cold night at Abbey Stadium, and his goals tally of 31 strikes from 37 games has propelled Mildenhall to fifth. These are the players that Rovers need, but with money scarce it is difficult to see how they will attract them. Betts even expressed his reluctance to 'do a Leiston' and spent 'stupid money' even if he had the opportunity.

A quick glance at the table reveals Rovers' have a goal difference of three, and their goals for record is a paltry 50 - only two sides have lower (Newmarket Town on 45 and Wivenhoe Town on 48 - both of whom Rovers have doubled) and one the same (second from bottom Histon Reserves), and all three of those are in the bottom four. Only their defensive record has maintained a respectable goal difference, and even that somewhat unravelled with the thumpings at Leiston and Mildenhall. Their scoring record, and the fact that their centre halves and second and third highest scorers, is a damning indictment of what the club lacks. This lack of goals has often concerned Betts, who must now find a frontman to turn their dominance into points. Betts insists he will move to address these issues in the close season with 'four or five' additions to the side before the pre-season schedule gets underway.

After a lengthy campaign that offered greatness but delivered mediocrity, Rovers can still look back with a degree of satisfaction. They are now firmly established as top ten side, and now venture into most games as favourites instead of underdogs. They still lack the firepower to propel them further up the table and the defensive cover to build up from, but if Betts can address these issues in the close season then the 2011-12 campaign may deliver what fans were given a taste of before Christmas and will now come to expect.

Dream disappears in sinking Sands

They dominated the game for 60 minutes, but in the end Haverhill Rovers' hopes of ending their four year trophy drought were dashed in 60 seconds. That's the difference a top striker makes - Rovers may have lavished possession and felt comfortable enough on a chilly Tuesday night (April 12) at Cambridge United's Abbey Stadium, but all of their dominance was unrewarded, and instead it was their wastefulness that was punished. Rovers were the better team, but they were not the winning team and football teams win by scoring goals, not setting the tempo or controlling possession or anything else, and so when the whistle blew it was Mildenhall Town who lifted the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup while Rovers were left on the pitch as the dejected losers.

It was a difficult and frustrating night for Rovers and it is hard to think what they could have done differently with hindsight given their resources. The whole team did well the set the pace of the game and control things from early on, but a few half chances that the attacking trio of Dalton O'Brien, Owen Paynter and Marc Abbott failed to capitalise on was an ominous sign of things to come. Defensively the team was solid, and their opponents certainly did not look like a team that had thumped Rovers 6-0 three weeks earlier. Joe Boreham did an excellent job deputising for the injured Stuart Kingham, who was not as sorely missed as he has been in recent weeks, although the teenager does have more tendencies to surge forward as well as shielding the back four. It was a relief to see manager Peter Betts resist the urge to put captain Marcus Hunt in that role, preferring instead to retain him in his preferred role alongside Stuart Wardley at centre half, and the two always make an imposing obstacle, their primary weakness a lack of pace that can leave to the team being countered against sometimes.

It was this weakness that saw Rovers fall behind. Mildenhall's super-striker John Sands - who had not been too influential up until the hour mark - got through and was hauled down by Wardley outside the box, who was perhaps fortunate to only see yellow. Another blunder, this time from Matt Morrison between the sticks, saw the goalkeeper wrong footed as Sands' unimpressive free kick glided to the side of the wall and into the centre of the goal. I had barely had a chance to scribble down what had happened when, within a minute, left-back James Paterson - who had been Mildenhall's sharpest player with a piledriver over the bar in the opening half - weaved down the left and crossed into the middle for Sands to head home his second. Haverhill Rovers 0, Mildenhall Town 2. All that good work had been for nothing - it almost appeared that Mildenhall had not had to bother, that they just chose their moment to strike and then won at will.

Rovers continued to push but failed to make any real headway. Paul Abbott surged forward down the right and Greg Strong down the left, but all too often by the time the full backs had got their head up to release the ball the space was closed down and the chance lost. Sitting in the stands it was frustrating to watch, but at this level it would be unrealistic to expect players to be able to play with their heads up and the ball at their feet. Abbott and O'Brien had half chances, but never made any real headway. Joe Harvey was a disappointment, and it was no surprise to see him hauled off to be replaced by the energetic Callum Harrison. Owen Paynter was replaced by Craig Cutts, and for all the struggles of the Hundon striker to establish himself at New Croft, he actually set up the best chance of the night, chipping Josh Pope for Higgs to shoot at open goal, only to see his shot hit the head of a Mildenhall defender on the line. The unlikely save summed up Rovers' frustrations on the night, and as the stoppage time minutes ticked away, so did Betts' hopes of having his good work this season rewarded.

When I spoke to Betts the following morning, it was clear the frustration was not so much with the final loss, but as much as it was losing to a team that was effectively second best. Rovers had been on a poor run of form in the Ridgeons Premier League, winless in nine and being doubled by Stanway Rovers and stuttering to a goalless draw against Wroxham. Their form had picked up in doing the league double over Newmarket Town with a second string XI, but they still seemed to have lost form at a pivotal moment of the season. Rovers' ambitions had risen from surviving to unsuccessfully applying for promotion and saying finishing outside of the top four would be a 'disappointment' to accepting a top six finish would be an achievement.

In the preceding weeks the injuries had piled up for Rovers with Neil Cogger and Kingham still missing, along with other players like cricket captain Adam Dellar, who had seen an increasing amount of first XI opportunities, but nevertheless this was a game Rovers were confident of winning. Ultimately, Mildenhall won on the night not because of a better XI, but because of a better one - Sands. A glance at their form from before he joined in the season speaks volumes - after an opening day win they endured an eight game winless run before winning 19 or 29 since, turning them from relegation candidates into pace setters near the top of the table. He has scored 30 goals in 34 games, narrowly eclipsed by Brantham Athletic's Ollie Mann on a reverse of 34 goals from 30 games, though his strikes have only propelled Brantham up to 16th in the table. Rovers will have the chance to tame him and do the double over Brantham when they head there on Saturday (April 16, 3pm kick off).

How Rovers could use such a striker. A cursory glance down the top scorers of the Ridgeons Premier League chart reveals that Rovers do not even get a mention. Wisbech Town are the only other top six side to not feature a striker on the top 12 leader board, while champions Leiston have two in Michael Brothers (17 goals) and Gareth Heath (16 goals). Second placed Wroxham have benefited from Damian Hilton's 16 strikes, while third placed Dereham Town have had ten more from Danny Beaumont and of course Mildenhall have Sands. That is what it takes to compete at the top of the division, and that is what Rovers are lacking.

O'Brien has done a fine job this season, and with ten strikes from 29 games finally gives Rovers someone that will reach double figures, though the fact that centre halves Hunt and Wardley are joint second top scorers with seven apiece is ominous, as is Cutts and Harrison coming after with four each. Dan Emmanuel pops up next after his brief stint, with three goals in five showing Rovers the class they are missing. Clearly what Rovers are missing is a 20-goals-a-season-man, but as with any level of football, from the Ridgeons Premier League to the Barclays Premier League, they are rare and expensive. While O'Brien and Paynter will no doubt provide numerous goals - and hopefully the latter will remain next season - they will not be cutting the imposing figure that Sands did on Tuesday. Despite having a strong contingent of Haverhill born-and-bred players and a young squad, Betts has already said the town is 'not great at producing 6ft 2in forwards', and he will have to shop elsewhere. Given the club's financial position, it is difficult to see where they can acquire such a player when competing against the league's heavyweights.

Their lack of firepower is evident in the league table, where you have to scroll down to Felixstowe and Walton United in 17th to find any team with as low a goals scored ratio (52). Only the bottom four teams in the division have a worse scoring record than Rovers. It is their defensive record (conceded 44) that has seen them climb up to sixth, even if it took a pounding with the thrashings at Mildenhall and Leiston. However, games are won by outscoring the opposition, not by stopping them from scoring (although obviously this is a merit). It echoes back to the troubles of the 2009-10 season in which Rovers would draw or lose games at Hamlet Croft after dominant spells due to a lack of bite up front, leaving them to finish mid-table with the potential to be much higher.

Now Rovers have just five league games remaining, starting at Brantham on Saturday. The players will no doubt remain motivated despite the cup final heartache, and can hopefully finish on a high. Betts talked to me about 'progressing' the club - something he has no doubt done since reviving them from a basement club to a top six side - but now he needs to take the next step, and the obvious hole in his side is a top, top striker. Mildenhall proved what a difference that can make when they lifted the cup that looked like it was heading back to New Croft for an hour on Tuesday, and now Rovers need to find their own Sands to keep competing at the top of the league and lift their first trophy since the 2007 3-1 triumph over Saffron Walden in the final of the Ridgeons Division One Knock-Out Cup. If Rovers could find someone to provide them with those extra goals, and if they submit their promotion application on time next season, then perhaps Betts' ambition of seeing Rovers departing the Ridgeons League for the Ryman League may be realised sooner than anyone expects.

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).

Que Sera Sera

Well they may not have reached Wembley, but Haverhill Rovers will still have the chance to lift a trophy at Abbey Stadium for the first time in several years. The fact that captain Marcus Hunt can no longer assume he will be on the pitch to kiss the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup (should Rovers defeat Mildenhall Town in the final of course) further shows just how far the squad have come in terms of developing depth. Rovers were far from their fluid best as they eased to a 2-0 victory over March Town United at New Croft on Tuesday (February 22), but they certainly had enough to beat their Ridgeons Division One opponents in what seemed like a training game.

The first surprise for me on Tuesday was to see Hunt in the reserves with Sam Holmes joining Stuart Wardley at centre half. When I spoke to manager Peter Betts yesterday (Wednesday, February 23) morning, he explained that Hunt had missed two of the last three games, and as Holmes had been playing well in his absence, he would keep the shirt. 'Nobody is guaranteed a place in this team, not even the captain', he said. Despite his absence, coupled with the loss of players including Joe Harvey, Neil Cogger and Joe Boreham, it was a comfortable enough night for Rovers.

From early on in Tuesday's game the visitors did what was expected - made themselves hard to break down, got stuck in and tried to counter against Rovers. The hosts had to be patients, but there was little doubt they would fail to make the break through, despite some frustrating moments such as Dalton O'Brien weaving in and hitting the underside of the crossbar. The striker, who has been a revelation since joining Rovers, soon but Betts' side ahead with a cool finish after Jack Higgs, another fine addition to the team who is proving more of capable of deputising in Cogger's absence and threatening to keep the wing wizard out of the first XI, sent in a measured low cross from the left byline.

Chances were not at a premium but March never serioulsy threatened, their best chance coming when Juliano Gomez de Menezes rounded Michael Morrison only for the ball to get away from him and go out for a goal kick with the score still at 1-0. Owen Paynter, who I was watching for the first time, did do well to make space and chance for others but was not the lethal force in front of goal I was expecting. His flick on that drifted wide of the far post was as good as it got chance-wise, but Betts did say 'he did everything right but score'. His selflessness paid off when he held the ball up in the area to force a foul, with the reliable Wardley on target to fire home past Lee Brooks to seal the win.

The only drawback from Paynter's arrival is that O'Brien has been pushed onto the right wing to accommodate him. It is a tricky dilemma - a player of his quality must start, but O'Brien has been prolific all season. Rovers have been successful throughout this league campaign playing 4-5-1, so switching to 4-4-2 to put both in their preferred positions would be ill conceived, but it still seems unfortunate that O'Brien is now playing right wing while wide players like Louis Harper are benched, while Paynter takes O'Brien's favoured lone striker spot, especially as he looked the more likely to score of the two on Tuesday. No doubt Paynter will come good, and even if he does not regularly find himself on the scoresheet he looks like his play will continue to ensure that his team mates do.

When I spoke to Betts, he said they were just 'two players short' of being able to climb out of the Ridgeons Premier League and join nearby AFC Sudbury in Ryman North League. Who those players are or what positions they would fill he has not said, but judging by the team's latest transfer success I would not be surprised if Betts found and signed them. "This time last year we had 13 or 14 players who could play at this level, and now we have 20", he added, again reinforced by Rovers results with numerous absentees. He also said the upcoming final may attract more sponsorship for Rovers, something he appealed for recently.

With Cogger due to return imminently (within a week), Boreham soon fit again and Harvey getting experience quickly, Rovers will soon boast an even more competitive squad. Added to this was Haverhill Cricket Club captain Adam Dellar making his debut at centre half - the first Haverhill man to play for both Rovers and the cricket team for well over a decade. Betts has only positive things to say about Dellar, who has excelled in the reserves to force his way into the first XI.

I asked Betts if he thought being in a cup final may lead to complacency, but quite the opposite he said it would inspire the team to perform. Each player now knows their performances will contribute to earning themselves a place in the starting XI on cup final day. Rovers should have a full strength squad to face Mildenhall Town by then, who, in fifth place and on the back of five consecutive wins, are one of the form teams of the division. However, much can chance in two months (the final is likely to be midweek in the final week of April - Tuesday 26?), and hopefully there will be a positive change for Rovers.

Rovers have not fared terribly well against the top sides - despite beating Mildenhall already and drawing 0-0 with then league leaders Kirkley and Pakefield in September, Rovers have lost to Dereham and Leiston (twice). However, they have not been comprehensively outplayed, suffering a narrow reverse in all of those games, and confidence must be high heading towards the game.

Before then Rovers travel to now seventh placed Kirkley on Saturday - Betts' insistence that three points are demanded, mainly to compensate for the two dropped at home against Great Yarmouth Town earlier this month, is a sign of just how far Rovers have come. The familiar 'we need to make ourselves hard to play against' is still being recited, but in reality Rovers are going into games like this confident of not just beating their opponents, but outplaying them with a better man-for-man squad. When I spoke to Betts before the game, he said their play 'deserved' a cup final, but that you 'do not always get what you deserve'. Now Rovers have got what they deserve, and hopefully Betts will be right in predicting his players will up their performances as they audition to be in the starting XI for the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup final. If they do, three points at Kirkley this Saturday (February 26) is easily achievable, as is the club's first cup for a long time. Long term, Betts may even realise his ambition of moving Rovers up through the non league structure if his good work at New Croft continues.

All that matters

When Haverhill Rovers' impressive winning run of seven successive league games stuttered to an unceremonious end at FC Clacton last month, it was perhaps not surprising that they did what they do best and get back to winning ways as soon as possible. That 2-0 defeat was followed by a late surge to steal the points of visiting Hadleigh and the completion of an impressive league double over CRC, before crashing to a narrow home defeat by league leaders Leiston. It was a mixed bag of results - not the indomitable winning run, but an impressive points haul given the opponents.

Wivenhoe Town were the latest victims of Rovers' recent upturn in form as they were vanquished 1-0 at New Croft to join an ever increasing list of teams that have taken no points off Rovers this season. It was a scrappy game from the outset, with neither side really taking control, and Rovers struggled to establish themselves in the first half despite having the wind on their backs. I was disappointed to see new striker Owen Paynter not appearing after his injury debut against Leiston, and Dalton O'Brien did not seize the chance to shine, although in fairness his service through the middle from Marc Abbott, and from Jack Higgs and Louis Harper on the wings, was not what he would have expected.

Harper's cross-cum-shot from the half way line was probably the closest Rovers got to breaching Adam Wilding's goal, but Wivenhoe seldom made chances of their own either in what turned into a midfield scrap. Fortunately, one thing manager Peter Betts has shown in this campaign, and something I always trust he will do in games, is to inspire his side into an improved second half showing. Anthony Fernandez' introduction certainly seemed to liven up proceedings, and it was not long before Rovers started to exert their superiority.

When the breakthrough finally did come, it was as scrappy as the game that preceded it. Stuart Wardley, who again was immovable at the back along with captain Marcus Hunt, initially saw his header cleared from Abbott's corner. Wilding's poor clearance though only sent it back to the centre half's head, and as it nodded it goalwards again all sorts of bodies stumbled and tumbled in front of it - at first I thought it was Stuart Kingham's goal, but later confirmed that it was Wardley's. Wivenhoe never showed much intent or ability to penetrate Rovers' defence after that, and the points were secure.

It was a good result in a good weekend of results which saw Rovers' title rivals - nice not to have relegation rivals - drop points to keep Betts' team in third place in the Ridgeons Premier League table. Betts admitted it was not a memorable performance, but also addressed that at half time with the change of shape. “As long as we get the result at 4.45pm on a Saturday afternoon then that’s all we’re worried about”, he told me.

It was, however, a sign of the strength of this Rovers side - not only are they fulfilling the age old cliché of winning while not playing well, but they are also continuing to strengthen and increase the depth of the squad. First Dalton O'Brien relegated Craig Cutts to the substitutes' bench, before Liam Paton's arrival saw him leave the club entirely. Fernandez has returned to the squad and is in and around the first team, while Betts also praised Haverhill's cricket captain Adam Dellar, who has been making his way onto the bench but not yet the pitch in recent games as he looks to fit in at centre half.

What makes this even more impressive is that new striker Paynter has not yet established himself in the side, who along with O'Brien, will surely provide Betts with a selection or formation headache for the remaining 15 fixtures. He should be fit for Saturday's game and getting back into the team. Added to the mix is the re-signing of central midfielder Joe Harvey, a 'box to box' player that was a scholar for Tottenham Hotspurs and Northampton Town. Betts described him as 'one of the best, if not the best central midfielder this club has had'. And don't forget the talismanic Neil Cogger is still to return from injury, and should be back in a few weeks, further strengthening the side.

It will certainly make an impressive line up, a testament to Betts' ability to build his side on a shoestring budget. He recently appealed for town businesses to support the club, and if he were to get that support, along with the club's current success, they could go on to much greater heights. Promotion is not possible in this campaign, but Betts told me a top four finish would be 'like winning the league' with the budget they are on. The team could no doubt push for it next season with this squad intact and firing, and there is still the small matter of potentially finishing the season as winners of the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup as Rovers entertain March Town on February 22 in a semi-final they can be confident of winning.

Before then, however, Rovers next play against Great Yarmouth Town on Saturday (February 12) at New Croft (kick off 3pm). They showed steely character to come from two goals down to nick a point there in October, and Betts described them as a side that 'don't play football'. No matter what physical presence they offer though, Rovers will no doubt have the talent and confidence to continue their fine form and ensure another three points before dinner time on Saturday.

Carry On Winning

After avenging October's league defeat by then basement club Debenham LC with a narrow 1-0 reversal in Debenham - their third successive 1-0 away win - Haverhill Rovers played two matches that stood in marked contrast to each other this week. Marc Abbott was quiet and subdued before running the show, Dalton O'Brien was clinical before being wasteful. Rovers were tight at the back and then careless, quick on the counter and then sluggish. However, the main thing that mattered was the result, and Rovers were able to celebrate two more wins at New Croft that leaves them on a remarkable run of eight successive league and cup wins stretching back to Dereham Town's 3-2 win at New Croft on November 6.

Saturday's 3-1 win against mid table Woodbridge Town, who had been enjoying a recent revival of seven wins from their last ten games after a poor start to their Ridgeons Premier League campaign (just one win and ten defeats in their opening 12 league fixtures) typified how Rovers have been playing lately - calm, controlled and effective. They did not score bags of goals, but they did not need to - what they did show though was that they boast goalscorers across the pitch. Dalton O'Brien, even when he is not scoring, is holding the ball up well allowing his team mates to catch up with play and providing space for others. It was this that allowed Neil Cogger to ease through and fire past Glyn Dixon for the opening goal.

Cogger has been a force for Rovers since his return this season, and his injury was the only thing that marred the match. However, Jack Higgs continued to impress as he was forced to deputise, and the team certainly don't rely on individuals this term. Fortunately for the team Cogger, who is optimistic about his side continuing their current form, should only be out for three or four weeks. O'Brien showed the cutting edge Rovers need up front as he scored a brace, and that was after missing a number of good opportunities and forcing saves - at least Rovers now have the midfielders to provide the chances for O'Brien and to score to supplement his goals this season, reducing the burden on the striker.

Stuart Wardley continues to look strong at the back, and Aaron Churchyard's consolation goal was not because of a defensive error. He did not look as settled though beside Sam Holmes in place of skipper Marcus Hunt, though the two were solid enough this time around and did enough to beat Woodbridge and stifle prolific striker James Hubbard. Louis Harper did well to make chances down the right, though did look shy to cut in and shoot and sometimes indecisive when given time. Rovers played the game to their strengths, not rushing but being patient, passing the ball along the ground and working the opportunities that would give them the goals to win in their increasingly trademark style.

If Saturday's win was typical and relaxed, yesterday's (Tuesday's) win against Histon Reserves was anything but. Many, myself included, expected an easy ride for Rovers against the side they beat 4-0 at Hamlet Croft and would be lacking the Histon first XI players who were busy losing at Darlington as they slide further towards relegation from the Blue Square Premier Division. However, they got quite a shock and were forced to put on a spirited comeback for the crowd that endured the cold to win 5-3.

Everything seemed to be going to plan when Wardley put them ahead from the spot within the first few minutes - though manager Peter Betts admitted to be later that his side 'thought they were in for an easy ride' after going ahead. The equaliser was unavoidable - although the play that led to the corner leading to it seemed to go offside, Eugene Libertucci's finish was sublime and unfortunate for the hosts. However, the two defensive howlers that followed were certainly avoidable.

Wardley was paired again with Holmes as, although Marcus Hunt did start, it was in the holding midfield role usually filled so capably by Stuart Kingham, who was on the bench. Both were at fault as they failed to clear the pass that Libertucci buried to put Histon ahead, and again were caught wanting just three minutes later. It looked like Daniel Wells had fouled Matt Morrison after the two collided, but Rovers' centre halves made the mistake of stopping play before the whistle, which was only blown after Wells had put the ball into the net and given the visitors a commanding lead. Holmes somewhat redeemed himself by firing in the rebound from a corner to halve the deficit, but Histon were then man-marking Rovers so tightly I could not see the hosts finding a way through.

Fortunately, as has been so often this season, Betts found the right half time pep talk to galvanise his side into an improved second half display. Marc Abbott, who failed to establish himself against Woodbridge, put in a commanding display with frequent brilliant passes. The free kick he fired in for the equaliser was slightly fortuitous as a deflection left Paul Herben tumbling the wrong way, but his play throughout the game was superb and left me in little doubt as to who to name Echo man of the match, with Betts also singling him out for praise to me, saying he was 'influential in everything we did going forward'.

Marcus Hunt looked just as comfortable going forward and was well positioned to put his side ahead after O'Brien fumbled Louis Harper's low pass and Harben only cleared it to the feet of the skipper, and it was Marc Abbott who fired home the final goal after a Maradona moment of skipping past two challengers and firing home from just inside the box. It was a relieving end to the night as Histon looked to steal an undeserved equaliser an ensure extra time on a night that was getting colder and colder and everyone wanted to go home.

Harper, who replaced Callum Harrison at the interval, also had an assured display and could have rivalled Abbott for the accolade had he started the game. Abbott's passes often left him in space down the right, and he provided a mix of high and low crosses for O'Brien, who in another game will probably score a hat-trick from these chances. Though not the best finisher, as proved by two spurned chances against Woodbridge, the winger is doing well to make chances for others and will no doubt have numerous assists to his name before the season is up.

It was the sort of second half display that Rovers will need if they are to compete at the high echelons of the league this season - something Betts has every confidence that they can. I have already seen them do this in several games, and Betts clearly has the right words to say at half time and enough players and options to be unpredictable and beat any opponent this division can hand the side. Rovers have now won seven successive league games, and Betts said: "If we can get two more wins from our next two games we will be there or there abouts and above Wroxham."

They are also now through to the semi-finals of the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup, and CRC's win over Cambridge City leaves just them, Mildenhall Town and March Town Utd as Rovers' only other competitors in the tournament - all teams in the same division or lower, giving Rovers a good chance of winning the trophy. The semi final will be on February 22, with the opponents not yet announced.

On Saturday Rovers travel to FC Clacton to face a side on the back of consecutive wins, and a side that has 'picked up and signed some good players' recently, according to Betts. However, Rovers are unstoppable at the moment, even without the talismanic Cogger. With a full squad available, they should be back to a central defensive partnership that leaks less than a goal a game, instead of one that leaks three inside 15 minutes, while thier midfield should be full of goal scoring opportunities for both themselves and O'Brien up front. Winning is a good habit, and one Rovers show no sign of breaking.

Still going Strong

Any fear that Haverhill Rovers' recent remarkable run of results might stall was swiftly quashed on Saturday, despite a first half performance resembling a team that had struggled to score for four games, much less won the last four. Before the game, manager Peter Betts had demanded a win from his team as the only acceptable result, and fortunately their superiority shone through after a dire first half. A local derby was always going to be feisty, and sure enough the handbags were out in the opening exchanges with Marc Abbott in particular fortunate not to get a card for a vengeful tackle. Despite the lack of creativity and midfield war that seemed to drag the game into the mire, Rovers still held a resolute defence that kept the visitors subdued to a few far fetched chances - even more impressive as the central defensive partnership of Marcus Hunt and Stuart Wardley was disrupted, with Sam Holmes coming in as centre back with Hunt pushed forward in place of the suspended Stuart Kingham.

The Ridgeons Premier League tie looked to be heading for a bore draw, even though Rovers made the better chances in the first half with Dalton O'Brien unfortunate with the few chances he spurned. The visitors certainly did not look capable of taking the points - much to my bemusement, one of their centre halves shouted up the pitch that the game was 'there for the taking' to his team mates as the half time whistle approached. It transpired that the game was there for the taking, but unfortunately for the optimistic defender it was for the hosts.

Betts did what he has done several times this season, clearly getting the right message across at the interval for his side to pull their thumbs out and ease to victory. Rovers came out quickly and were focused on the game - gone were the petty squabbles and lack of invention in the final third, replaced with better chances being made, tackles being won and domination being shown. It was not long before Greg Strong, a left back offering Rovers attacking width in addition to defensive certainty, put them ahead with a powerful (Strong, even) finish after seeing his first shot rebound back out to him.

After that the game seemed a formality - Rovers continued to dominate with little threat from Newmarket, although they did seem to struggle in search of a second - which, as past results have proven, is always dangerous. Fortunately Betts made another good call and introduced Callum Harrison, the stand out performer in the demolition of CRC, and he was on hand to bundle in the decisive goal. O'Brien popped up within the minute to combine with Neil Cogger and but the game beyond doubt. None of the goal were particularly aesthetic - in fact, all were rather scrappy - but it does not matter how they go in, as long as they do, and Rovers are having no problems finding the net right now.

One of the main reasons for their good run is their new found attacking potency -Marc Abbott has been in fine form, Craig Cutts is proving a reliable foil and Liam Paton has now further bolstered the ranks. The main plus though is Dalton O'Brien - the young striker, who trialled for Cambridge City, has hit seven league goals in 13 games, and is on course to become a 20 goals a season striker. Betts certainly shared my optimism when I spoke to him about Saturday's win, saying that's why the club signed him. Last season I watched Rovers often fall short due to poor finishing and lack of goals - 1-0 wins became 1-1 draws, potential wins were 0-0 draws or 1-0 defeats. Now it seems they have a well balanced side to banish those demons, and results are certainly a testament to that.

The defensive line has been equally impressive - though mostly unaltered (save for Strong), they are still proving a tough nut to crack with the lowest number of goals conceded to games ratio of any team in the division. Holmes had a man of the match winning game on Saturday, and he is often a peripheral player - Hunt admitted it can be frustrating to see such players unable to break into the first XI, but that in itself is a testament to the strength of the squad that Betts has assembled. They have hit the right mix at the moment and at the right time - even Betts is himself admitting now that he can aim higher than survival, saying that a top six finish is the target and anywhere outside of the top ten would be a disappointment.

Christmas and the New Year will be the trying time when the strength in depth of this squad will be truly tested - there now seems to be cover in most areas, but the increasing fixture congestion will test that. Saturday's proposed trip to Wroxham is off due to the hosts instead playing Cromer Town in their Norfolk Senior Cup Round Four tie - why Norfolk games take precedence over league fixtures is confusing, as Suffolk cup games are held midweek to avoid these issues. It leaves Rovers facing the second placed team in back to back games at the end of March/start of April - in the short term, it leaves them facing another week without a game. At a time when the weather is unpredictable and wreaking havoc on the fixture list anyway, it is frustrating to see a game unneccessarily cancelled. Betts is weary of the team maintaining their momentum in the absence of games, but Saturday showed that Rovers can still turn on the style after being out of action for a fortnight. Hopefully it will be a similar story against Hadleigh on December 27.

Joy of the Rovers

Just when back-to-back defeats were starting to make Rovers' 11 game unbeaten run look like it would be the piniccle of their season, they surpassed that achievement in the space of a fortnight with four successive wins. Last Saturday they played some fantastic football to beat Mildenhall Town - certainly the best I've seen the play for some time - and the 2-1 scoreline in no way reflected their supremacy. And their good run had already started when they crushed CRC 4-0 11 days before.

This was complemented by further impressive victories, as they first triumphed 1-0 at Wivenhoe Town before winning by the same scoreline at Ely City. The four match winning streak has propelled them up to the dizzying heights of third place - just four off meeting manager Peter Betts' self confessed initial aim of the 40 point safety mark. With each win and each impressive performance Rovers move further and further away from looking like a team trying to stay up and more and more like a looking to go up. Though that may still be a little ambitious, the aims already seem to be transforming from top ten to perhaps top six - and captain Marcus Hunt stated that if the former is not achieved, given their current position it would be a 'disappointment'.

What has been good about these victories was the way the team set about achieving them - ironically, the game in which they dominated most they scraped a 2-1 win, yet the game where they barely saw the ball for 45 minutes they eased to a 4-0 win. Mildenhall arrived at New Croft on a good run of their own, having dispatched league leaders Dereham Town and leapfrogging mid table Newmarket Town with a home win in their previous two fixtures. They certainly promised to provide a challenge, yet Rovers started dominating from very early on.

Hunt had soon hit the bar before Stuart Wardley cooly controlled and slotted home, and in the second half the flow of chances continued. The only worry - as Betts said to me - is that more chances were not converted sooner, as they could and should have been three or four goals ahead with plenty of time to spare. Dalton O'Brien looks and increasing threat up front, albeit without a goal in this game, and the players are increasingly confident that with him leading the line then victory is always within their sights. Neil Cogger and Greg Strong are starting to provide a good attacking threat down the left, and are complemented by Marc Abbott's fine form from the centre of the field.

Stuart Kingham continues to excel at being a nuisance to any opponents infront of the back four, while Wardley and Hunt have both been miserly all season. Unfortunately, instead of capitalising on the steady stream of chances, they looked like the Rovers of last season as chances went missing. Cogger was guilty of a couple of glaring misses when he was moved to the centre, and the problem of leading 1-0 surfaced when Mildenhall snatched an undeserved equaliser. Fortunately Hunt stepped up to head home Jack Higgs' long free kick and spare the blushes on a foggy day at New Croft (I was somewhat surprised that the game even went ahead).

Betts said to me after that he was not worried when Mildenhall scored, as he was confident that Rovers would score again. His faith was proved right, and well founded based on the display. He maintains that his team must keep the right attitude and not become complacent, avoiding frustrating results like the defeats at home by basement club Debenham LC and table toppers Dereham. They certainly seem to have the right attitude, and will be rightly confident of continuing their run at third from bottom Felixstowe and Walton United on Saturday.

One of the key factors to the team's success has been the increasing quality in the squad, a testament to Betts' magaerial skill in building such a talented team on a shoestring. He told that 'whereas last season we had 13 quality players, this season we have 18'. Hunt also said this has kept everyone on their toes as nobody can take their place in the first XI for granted. Quality players like Higgs, Joe Boreham, Louis Harper and Sam Holmes are struggling to force their way into the starting XI, while Craig Cutts has been more reliable than I expected as foil for O'Brien and several players from the second XI are developing well.

Nevertheless, this squad size will be tested after Christmas. The games will come thick and fast, and hopefully the players will have remained fast without their waists getting too thick during the festive period. The fact that others are waiting in the wings to step into the first XI should keep everyone fit and hungry for success, and this can only be good for the team's fortunes.

Despite the last three results not being the walloping victories we'd all like to see, it is at least good to see Rovers in the habit of 'grinding out a result'. Last year too many points were dropped as wins became draws and draws became defeats, in part due to poor finishing and in part due to a lack of squad cover. This year has been different though, and the recent results show the side is capable of going to difficult places and nicking a win. Hunt admitted that last year the 1-0 wins at Wivenhoe and Ely 'would have been 0-0 draws or 1-0 losses' (they actually won 2-0 at Wivenhoe but lost 3-2 at Ely).

So things are certainly looking positive for the rest of the season - a remarkable turnaround over the last two years, and Hunt admits now that 'as a team', this squad is better than the one that came so close to reaching the FA Cup First Round Proper three years ago. If the players can remain fit and in form, and if they can keep the correct attitude as Betts desires to overturn teams below them in the table, then top ten may even start to look like under-expectation, let alone avoiding relegation.

To see my interview with Marcus Hunt see this week's Haverhill Echo, out tomorrow (Thursday, November 25).