PROUD STANWAY ROVERS boss Angelo Harrop described his side’s dramatic 3-2 victory against fellow high-fliers Godmanchester Rovers as “unreal”.
The Hawthorns side raced into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Jack Cawley and Jamie Shaw.
However, they were left reeling after the sending-off of goalkeeper Nick Punter.
Defender Cawley was forced to fill in between the posts but Stanway defied the odds to take the spoils from a five-goal thriller, thanks to a third goal from TJ Amass.
“It was a great win and what we’re all about – full of passion and spirit,” said Harrop.
“The sending off (for allegedly bringing down one of the Godmanchester strikers) was a shocking decision.
“But to still get the points against such a top side was unreal.
“It was a top-drawer performance.”
It was Stanway’s fourth straight win and they stay fourth in the table, now just two points behind Godmanchester and three behind second-placed Felixstowe & Walton.
Elsewhere in the premier division, BRANTHAM ATHLETIC built on last week’s excellent 3-0 victory against Gorleston with a 1-0 win at Saffron Walden.
The only goal came just before half-time.
FC CLACTON slipped to 12th after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Hadleigh United.
After bowing out of the League Challenge Cup on penalties on Tuesday night, it was another spot-kick that sunk them at Tinkers Lane.
It came just eight minutes from time after a foul on former WIVENHOE TOWN skipper Marley Spindler.
Spindler’s old Dragons team maintained their winning ways at the top of division one, thanks to a 4-2 victory at Debenham LC.
Player assistant-boss Ray Turner put them in front but the hosts were level by half-time.
Adam Hampson restored Wivenhoe’s lead and although Debenham levelled again, Turner grabbed his second to make it 3-2.
Andy Schofield then added a fourth to make the points safe and keep up his side’s unbeaten record, after 13 games.
They have won a dozen of them and have a nine-point lead at the top of the table, with a game in hand.
Ely City are now their nearest challengers, moving into second after a big 5-1 victory at HALSTEAD TOWN.
Mark Benterman’s side had taken the lead through Ricky Spriggs.
The result was a bitter pill to swallow for the Humbugs, who had turned the match into a special club day.
All their youth players and families were invited and a bumper crowd of 426 were in attendance at Rosemary Lane.
BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES beat Diss Town 4-3.
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