Pete Mathews grabbed a late equaliser in an impressive performance by the U18s in what was a highly entertaining match for the neutral.

The Robins, off the back of defeat last week versus Eynesbury Rovers looked to take it to the home side early as Ben Taylor-Bunting fired wide early on.
Rovers soon looked to counter, with their midfield playing the ball through the channels, but Ollie Beck and Filip Davies did brilliantly to close out the forward, before Jacob Heffer did superb to deny his man when through on goal.
In a back and forth attack, it was the Robins who came closest first, as Mathews was played in by Ollie Easton, Mathews lifting the ball at goal, but the keeper did magnificently to tip over.
From the resulting corner, Davies's bullet header then struck the post.

At the other end, the Haverhill attack again worked well inside and almost grabbed the lead, if not for the reaction tip over from Robins keeper Conor Brant, who leapt away to his right to tip over from under his bar. Mac Thorpe and Leo Waters did well to then open the game up as Thorpe found Mathews in behind and then Waters tracked back well to win the ball before Rovers could break.

There was still time for Lewis Fox to have a shot blocked by the Haverhill keeper, who then did well to punch clear and then smother a Sam Mappledoram effort from a corner.

HT: Haverhill Rovers U18s 0 - 0 Ely City U18s

Second half was just as open as the first, with both defences on top, James Seamark - introduced at the break - was played in early behind, his drive into the area saw him pull a cross into the box, but Mathews couldn't get on the end of the pass and Taylor-Bunting's follow up was blocked. The Robins were starting to gain control of the game, Waters and Easton again found Seamark and then sub Billy Walsh, who out ran his marker but his shot on goal was just over the bar.

The home side did take the lead, slightly against the run of play - as their persistence in attack saw them win a corner from a Beck interception. The corner was met unchallenged and volleyed home. That didn't sink the reds, as they responded well. Thorpe played in Taylor-Bunting and then Mappledoram struck across the face. As the clock ticked down - Hayden Thistlewhaite was introduced and as the Robins again took control, they pressed the home side back. And with 8 minutes to go, they got their deserved equaliser. Excellent inter play between Thistlewhaite and then Heffer, saw the ball back inside via Walsh - his clever ball inside saw Mathews slid through and he was one on one in the box - drew the keeper and slotted home!

There was still time for the Robins to almost get a winner, as Seamark shot wide, Walsh was tripped as he tried to get his shot away and Mathews was hauled back when on goal but could only poke his effort at the Keeper as he fell.

The whistle went and a draw was what the Robins had to settle with. Although the last quarter of the game, they dominated and pushed into injury time in search for that goal that would have taken all the points.

FT: Haverhill Rovers U18s 1 - 1 Ely City U18s

Team: Brant, J. Heffer, Beck, Davies, Mappledoram, Waters, Mackenzie, Easton, Fox, Mathews, Taylor-Bunting.
Subs; Walsh, H. Thistlewhaite, Seamark, Howe.

POTM; Mackenzie Thorpe