MATCH REPORT SAT 12 SEPTEMBER 2026 

FA VASE 

HAVERHILL ROVERS 2 LETCHWORTH GC EAGLES 1 

The Eagles put in an excellent performance against their opponents from the Eastern Counties league in a game which swung from end to end, but after taking the lead half way inside the second half they conceded two late goals in quick succession to lose the game. 

Haverhill were first to threaten goal when a corner to the far post was headed on, and a shot was blazed high over the Eagles goal. At the other end the ball was played down the centre of the field and chased towards the home goal, but the keeper dashed out of his penalty area to clear the danger. Then a freekick was charged down by the Haverhill defensive wall and a follow up low shot from 25 yards was too close to the keeper, who was able to fall on the ball at the foot of his post. The keeper did well to parry a shot from inside his penalty area before the ball was cleared by his defence. 

As half time approached another slick Eagles attack created space for a cross into the Haverhill penalty area and a shot which was blocked by defenders for a corner. That was sent high to the far post and another shot deflected wide of goal by a defender. The final corner was headed wide of goal. 

Mid way into the second half Haverhill should have scored when a cross into Eagles penalty area was headed just over the cross bar from near the penalty spot. Play swung to the other end and Eagles scored a minute later. A long ball was chased into the Haverhill half and Olly Kemp found the bottom corner of e net with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area. 

This produced a reaction from Haverhill and a long throw into Eagles crowded goal area produced a mad scramble   with shots charged down by defenders before the ball is finally cleared from danger. Eagles keeper Jordan Hudson then had to be alert to save a header from inside the penalty area which took a deflection off a defender towards the bottom corner of the net. 

Pressure on the Eagles goal increased. A header was sent straight at Hudson standing on his goal line but 5 minutes later Haverhill did equalise with a low shot from well outside the penalty area which found the bottom corner of the net. 5 minutes later Haverhill got the winning goal with a cross into the Eagles penalty area and header towards the top corner of the net which Hudson got a hand to but could not push wide of goal. 

Eagles rallied and Haverhill were forced to desperately defend but a header in the final minutes of the game from the edge of the goal area went wide and the home side emerged as winners.