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Battling Haverhill booked their place in the Suffolk Senior Cup final at Portman Road in April with a late winner against Leiston.

Rovers let a 2 – 0 lead slip before winning 3 – 2 and manager Paul Goodman said: “It was absolutely fantastic.”

“Their character stood out for me. We got 2 – 0 up and let in a sloppy goal just before half-time and had a few chances, but they got back into it.

You think most teams would push the panic buttons but we did not.”

Paul Jenkin gave Haverhill the lead after five minutes when he headed game Paul miles cross.

The lead was doubled on 36 minutes when a Neil Cogger pass from the right found its way into the net after Ben Cowling challenged the Leiston keeper.

Leiston pulled one back in first-half stoppage time when a Danny Spurling cross was headed in by Trevor Chenery one of three brother son the pitch.

They drew level on the 64th minute when Spurling crossed for Carl Chenery to head home.

The Reds had the chance to restore their lead midway through the second half when Jenkin was bought down in the area. He picked himself up to take the spot kick but his strike was saved by the keeper.

Leiston were reduced to ten men on 82 minutes when Stuart Dineen was sent off for two yellow cards, and Haverhill got their winner with four minutes left when a Neil Hammond free-kick was not cleared and Mark Brandt bundled the ball home.

Goodman said: “We did very well – we knew a little bit about them – and we feel that we are good enough to win games.”

After watching this lot you never feel that they are going to give up. They just seem to take anything that is thrown at them.

The manager added: “Mark deserved his goal – he worked really hard for it.”

The last time Haverhill made it to the final was five years ago when they beat Ipswich Wanderers 4 – 1. Current coach Derek Richardson was manager of the side.