Whitton fall to Downham sucker punch

Jewson League Division One

Downham Town 2 Whitton Utd 1

WHITTON ventured through snow showers deep into the Fens in search of valuable points to improve their league position.

They were second best for most of the first half and trailed through an astute piece of work by striker Hawes. He allowed the ball to run past him and he lifted his shot over stranded visiting keeper Dunnett.

Dunnett made two further saves at critical times.

Confidence then grew and Swann was found by T Layton to crash his shot off the bar, Hurd's angled drive was a whisker too high. In the final minute Swann brushed aside a defender and side-stepped the home keeper to role his shot into the empty net.

Looking to build on this goal, Whitton held the early territorial advantage but lacked the final ball.

Swann and Hilton were denied and Whitton fell to the sucker punch with Downham scoring on 59 minutes, Williams heading in a deep cross to seal the hosts' win.

Hadleigh 0 Somersham Town 3

BASIC errors at both ends of the field proved costly to Hadleigh in a match in which Louis Newman's team missed several excellent scoring chances.

Kay fired Somersham in front after 27 minutes but it was Hadleigh who had the greater share of the play.

They continued to look capable of saving the game but with five minutes remaining Hartley increased Somersham's lead and then a slip by Bradford enabled Kay to score a simple third just before the end.

Halstead Town 3 Wisbech Res 2

TWO-goal Grant Strong paved the way for a much-improved performance by Halstead that brought them three points to keep them in the race for a top half of the table position.

Again missed chances cost them a comfortable margin and it was left for Lynton Evason to grab the winner late in the game. It was the first time Halstead supporters had seen their side score more than once at home in a match since October.

Halstead grabbed the lead after just five minutes, a long, low cross from Evason finding Strong at the far post to head home. With just over an hour gone Wisbech got back on terms when the tricky Damied Nelson made ground on the right to find the wily Jackie Gallagher, who outwitted John Harding to fire home.

Halstead retook the lead within two minutes, John Chinnery being fouled on the edge of the box, and Strong stepping up to hit the target with a fierce drive.

Wisbech sub Lyle Hillier ran through unchallenged to lob keeper Lloyd Pentney to make it 2-2,but Halstead maintained their attacking ideas and it was left to Evason to outstrip the defence to grab the winner with 12 minutes left.

Norwich United 1 Haverhill Rovers 1

THE home side took the lead after 17 minutes, Nicholls poking the ball home after a goalmouth scramble despite Haverhill goalkeeper Walton's best efforts.

Haverhill equalised in the 33rd minute, a ball through by Cogger being missed by two Norwich defenders and Suddery rounding the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the net.

Haverhill's Cowling was denied by a good save from Woodcock in the 51st minute and an effort by Brandt five minutes later was disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Brightlingsea United 3 Thetford 1

TWO goals in three minutes just before the break turned this game on its head.

Thetford had taken the lead in the 12th minute with an own goal, but Brightlingsea drew level through Chatters on 42 minutes, and he then turned provider to allow Allen to put them ahead before half-time. The only goal of a hard-fought second period was a solo effort from Chatters.

Cornard United 4 Warboys 2

DARREN Bethell scored a hat-trick to earn victory against a Warboys side reduced to 10 men by Savage's first-half dismissal. Sparkes was Cornard's other scorer, with the Warboys' goals coming from Jim Davis and Julian Youngs.

Needham Market 0 Cambridge City Reserves 2

AFTER Needham had forced the early pace and gone close from a corner, the visitors took the lead when Gutzmore headed home from close range.

Hann then shot home after a defensive mistake to put City Reserves further in front, and despite making three substitutions high-flying Needham could not recover.

Downham Town 2 Whitton Utd 1

WHITTON ventured through snow showers deep into the Fens in search of valuable points to improve their league position.

They were second best for most of the first half and trailed through an astute piece of work by striker Hawes. He allowed the ball to run past him and he lifted his shot over stranded visiting keeper Dunnett.

Dunnett made two further saves at critical times.

Confidence then grew and Swann was found by T Layton to crash his shot off the bar, Hurd's angled drive was a whisker too high. In the final minute Swann brushed aside a defender and side-stepped the home keeper to role his shot into the empty net.

Looking to build on this goal, Whitton held the early territorial advantage but lacked the final ball.

Swann and Hilton were denied and Whitton fell to the sucker punch with Downham scoring on 59 minutes, Williams heading in a deep cross to seal the hosts' win.

Hadleigh 0 Somersham Town 3

BASIC errors at both ends of the field proved costly to Hadleigh in a match in which Louis Newman's team missed several excellent scoring chances.

Kay fired Somersham in front after 27 minutes but it was Hadleigh who had the greater share of the play.

They continued to look capable of saving the game but with five minutes remaining Hartley increased Somersham's lead and then a slip by Bradford enabled Kay to score a simple third just before the end.