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).

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.

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.

Down and out

And so the sad story of Haverhill Rugby Club's trouble fraught debut campaign in the Greene King IPA Eastern Counties Division One came to a sorry end last week and the club chose to exit the division. Having found just eight players prepared to make the trip to fellow promoted side Harwich and Dovercourt last Saturday (February 12) for a fixture they won comfortable last year, those running the club thought it best to follow Fakenham's example and opt out of the league before being booted out, and the full consequences of that decision are still unclear.

Where will Haverhill Rugby Club be playing next season? According the Eastern Counties (EC) league, it certainly will not be in one of their divisions. Club chair Ian Forton was crystal clear in explaining to me that any team that chooses to end their EC season prematurely - including Fakenham as well - will not be allowed to play in another EC league next season. The official suggestion from them is that Haverhill should look to compete in the Suffolk Merit League, albeit with Haverhill having to shed the glory and play against second XVs where they previously played first VXs, though at least the shorter journeys and easier games may increase the squad numbers for the senior team. The idea would then be that Haverhill can regroup, and if they can prove to the EC that they can fulfil their fixtures and raise a squad, they can compete in the EC leagues again from 2012-13.

However, the club's understanding seems to be different from that of the EC. Chairman Chris Spencer explained that they had received conflicting advice from the EC and the league secretary, with the latter telling them dropping out would be more beneficial than being expelled. Forton told me that expelled clubs would face a four to five year wait to return to the EC leagues whereas clubs that voluntarily left could return after one season in exile, so the point would still hold true. However, the idea coming from the club is that by exiting they had hoped to return to EC Two next year, not spend a year in the wilderness before then. The club certainly would have been expelled had they submitted to another home walk over after failing to field sides at West Norfolk (on September 25) and Woodbridge (on November 13) this season.

Has there been a mix up or misunderstanding? As yet it's unclear. Spencer told me the club are hoping to meet with an EC representative within the week to discuss their position, and only then will the situation be fully understood. However, Forton was quite clear in telling me that the league's position was that Haverhill will not be an EC team next season, so it would be a surprise to see that view contratdicted.

As for the club's immediate future, that certainly appears to be secure, as Spencer was keen to stress to me. "The future holds a speedy return to competitive rugby and a healthy and flourishing rugby club in Haverhill", he said when I spoke to him for this week's Haverhill Echo (our tomorrow, Thursday, February 17). "This is not the death of the club - we have a thriving junior and youth section, and so this is only about the senior section, so it in no way affects the long term future of the club", he added. First XV coach Andy Price certainly seemed to place a long term future hope on developing players, and Spencer also added that there are numerous promising young players coming through the system that will soon be complementing the first XV.

But saying it is 'only about the senior team' somewhat negates the point that any club's flagship team is its senior side - Haverhill does still have a strong youth section, but ultimately everything should be in place to build up to the senior side, which has been a disappointment this season. They opened with a 74-0 thrashing at high flying Southwold, and things have not improved much since. It was the third game of the season when Haverhill first failed to raise a side, and two narrow defeats (6-3 by Holt and 18-14 by Ely) and a comfortable victory (25-6 at Fakenham, which was later expunged). League leaders Stowmarket reached triple figures when they thrashed Haverhill (104-6), and then they again failed to field a team.

Further thrashings followed in January including at Ely (60-5) and Holt (97-0) as Price appealed for players to bolster the team, to little avail, and Haverhill finally exited the league last week, their spirited home defeat by Stowmarket (33-12) transpiring to be their last game in EC One. The outcome perhaps would have been sooner had it not been for the postponed cancelled fixtures in December. Price told me in recent weeks about how he was using inexperience, retired and injured players, and that the aim had turned from surviving into having fun. Some senior players came to the aid of the club, with Paul Bergin saying it was their 'responsibility' to keep the club going for the younger generations, though operating on a shoestring squad was inevitable going to lead to one thing.

Price said the situation 'leaves us where I thought we would be anyway'. He added: "We were living on borrowed time, as when you only have 18 to 20 players available you can't rest people, and you end up playing people when they need to be rested, so when they have a minor injury they play and that compounds the problem. We only needed a few injuries and unavailability for this to happen." The coach said that he knew EC One would be a 'tough challenge', but said it was one he was 'totally confident of meeting'. Now he has been robbed of that opportunity, both to establish Haverhill as an EC One side and to prove himself as a coach at a higher level.

Will Price stay at Haverhill? It's too early to say, but nobody could blame him for leaving. If a coach can ask for anything from a group of players then its likely to be commitment and effort, something that has been lacking so much it has ruined Haverhill's season. The club was optimistic after promotion last year, finishing just behind Harwich in a close fought title race that placed the top two well ahead of the pack in EC Two. The current problems had not surfaced, and Price, who had promised to get the club promoted within three years, had achieved that goal in two. Now the club looks likely to spend a season in limbo, he may well choose to go to a club with a more clearly defined target that is resourced to achieve it, though Spencer said the club would be keen to retain Price.

But then came all the problems of availability, which seems bizarre considering how well the team did last season. It may have been travelling further and longer, harder games, the loss of a winning mentality - only those players that would not make the effort to play will know. Although Price foresaw the imminent exit of the club from the league, he certainly did not see player availability becoming the issue it has. "I thought we'd have two teams and competitions for places, but that has obviously not come to be", he said. Price had previously slammed the commitment of certain players, hoping to get more available and find new players, but it had little impact in aiding the ailing club. He has said developing a first and second XV and bringing through youth prospects will help the club in the long term, but whether he wants to stay and see that come to pass is not yet certain.

Now the club will face a period of reflection and future planning, namely to address where and why everything went wrong this season and how it can be prevented from happening again. Exile from the EC leagues, even for one season, will likely cause frustration and the indignity of being in the merit league, but it will provide the club with exactly what the EC demand - the chance to show they can fulfil their fixtures, have a full strength and committed squad, and be competitive at this level. Haverhill's fate will be confirmed - probably within a week - and the club will be able to start planning long-term to ensure it become the 'healthy, flourishing club' Spencer envisions, while supporters will be hoping Price chooses to be patient and continue his work at Castle Playing Fields.

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.