STANWAY ROVERS warmed up for next week’s FA Vase trek to Cornwall with a pulsating victory at Thetford Town.

Angelo Harrop’s side, preparing for next Saturday’s last-16 tie at St Austell, twice fought back from behind before securing a 5-2 success.

After falling behind early on, Ray Turner’s penalty put them on level terms at a snowy Mundford Road.

An unstoppable 25-yard goal gave Thetford the ascendancy again but Joss Neale made it 2-2.

Substitute Adam Hampson put Stanway in front for the first time and then scored again with the help of a deflection to make it 4-2.

Man-of-the-match Jack Smith put the cherry on the cake to score his side’s final goal and help move them up to sixth in the premier division.

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC also celebrated an eye-catching victory in Paul Skingley’s first game as Imps boss.

Trailing to a goal scored just before the interval, they roared back for a 4-1 victory at home to struggling Diss.

Sean Gunn pounced on a half-clearance to make it all-square, after a spell of pressure, and Simon Mann’s well-taken goal put Brantham ahead.

Michael Shaikly made it three and another goal before the end made it even more comfortable.

It was a timely victory for the Imps and, in terms of their quest to climb away from the danger zone, one made all the sweeter by news of the defeats for Thetford, WIVENHOE TOWN and FC CLACTON.

The Dragons succumbed to a 2-0 setback at the hands of high-flying Hadleigh United.

The Suffolk side, last season’s league champions, netted in either half at the Maple Tree Cars Stadium.

Clacton went down 5-1 at home to Ipswich Wanderers, having shipped four in the first 20 minutes.

Aaron Condon had a second-half penalty saved before grabbing his side's consolation goal soon after.

In division one, HALSTEAD TOWN moved to within five points of the top three after a 3-1 victory at basement boys Woodbridge.

Scott Yearling’s fourth-minute goal set them on their way and Dave Morgan’s penalty soon made it 2-0.

Woodbridge pulled one back but Tom Cook’s strike in the second half completed a profitable day for the Humbugs.

They stay ninth in the table but are now just five points behind third-placed Debenham LC.

Elsewhere, BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES were on the wrong end of a 6-2 defeat at King’s Lynn Reserves.