STANWAY ROVERS kick-started their season with a much-needed 3-0 victory at Haverhill Borough.

Kem Izzet’s side had lost their opening four matches – three in the Thurlow Nunn League and one in the FA Cup – and their frustrations were compounded by Tuesday’s 2-0 derby defeat against FC Clacton.

However, they got their premier division campaign up and running with a timely success in Suffolk on Friday night.

Taylor Bannister, Joe Heron and Lewis Hewitt scored their goals and Izzet’s men will now hope to build on the victory in Tuesday’s home match against Felixstowe and Walton United.

An added bonus for Rovers was a first-debut for 16-year-old youth-team product Mason Lumsley.

There was another eye-catching result on Friday night as early pacesetters COGGESHALL TOWN made it four straight victories, winning 3-0 at BRANTHAM ATHLETIC.

The Imps had also gone into the game on the back of an unbeaten start and buoyed by last weekend’s amazing 7-2 FA Cup romp at Felixstowe and Walton.

After the postponement of Wednesday’s home game against Ipswich Wanderers, WIVENHOE TOWN finally got their premier division campaign underway at home to Wroxham.

However, the Dragons went down 4-0, having been reduced to ten men when it was only 1-0 after a straight red card for Joe McCracken.

The damage might have been worse, had it not been for a second-half penalty save by Ben Gallifant.

FC CLACTON had hoped to build on their midweek success at The Hawthorns but instead slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Ely City.

The only goal of the game came six minutes before half-time.

In division one, HOLLAND FC steamrollered Needham Market Reserves 10-0.

Steve Eaton and Tom Holdstock helped themselves to well-taken hat-tricks and there were also goals for Keelen Sorrell, Joe Martin, Jayden Randell and Lee Braddon.

Holland scored four of their goals in the first half and six in the second.

HALSTEAD TOWN took the lead before being pegged back in their match at Diss Town.

Karl Andrade’s lobbed effort put them in front but the hosts equalised for a share of the spoils from a 1-1 draw.

LITTLE OAKLEY were in action at Debenham LC and lost 5-0.

It was only their second game at step six level and next up they face an all-Essex affair at BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES on Tuesday night.

Braintree will also go into that match on the back of a defeat, having lost 2-0 at Framlingham Town.