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Rovers, who travelled to Leiston yesterday for the semi final of the Division One Cup, banked three points with strikes by Paul Jenkin, Mark Brandt and Neil Green.

“It was a very good performance,” said Rovers boss Paul Goodman, whose side have also reached the Suffolk Senior Cup final.

Neither side came to terms with the conditions in the first half at Hamlet Croft.
Goodman said: “They pushed up fairly quickly and we didn’t cope with it.
“In the second half we kept it on the floor as much as we could. On a bobbly pitch, they played the ball around very well. We deserved it without a doubt.”

Centre-forward Jenkin opened Rovers’ account with a route one effort.

Keeper Dave Walton cleared downfield and Jenkin superbly controlled the ball, beat two opponents and added the finishing touch.

Strike-partner Brandt then got in on the act, doubling the advantage.

Jenkin flicked the ball on for Brandt, who smashed it beyond the hapless Halstead keeper. “In don’t think he even saw it,” said the confident Haverhill manager.

The visitors put the result in doubt when they pulled back a goal, but the hosts were not to be denied.

Green supplied the knockout blow after good work by Lee Sharpe.

He played the ball along the left flank for livewire Jenkin, who found Green. He went on a dribble and lobbed into the net.

Goodman said: “I think we were very strong at the back. The three lads at the back played very well.”

The manager said he expected to have a similar squad for the semi—final, second-leg tie in midweek. It is 1-1 after the first game.