Manager Ollie Drake reckons he got the ‘perfect reaction’ from his Godmanchester Rovers players last Saturday.

Second-half goals from Ben Yeomans and Jack Chandler earned a 2-0 success at Haverhill Rovers in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division.

It was a pleasing result gained thanks to an impressive performance from Drake’s men as they immediately returned to winning ways after seeing a nine-match unbeaten run ended by a loss to Great Yarmouth in their previous outing.

“Three points and a clean sheet were exactly what we wanted,” said Drake. “We were very good value for the win and it was terrific to see us bounce back so quickly from the defeat at Yarmouth.

“We know we didn’t hit the necessary standards there, but it was a perfect reaction at Haverhill. The boys stood tall on a day when we had some key players missing.

“Hopefully this result can be the start of another good run. We’ve worked hard to get ourselves into a strong league position and now the challenge is to ensure we continue picking up results to stay there.”

Rovers were indebted to goalkeeper Phil Peachey for some smart saves during the first half as Haverhill applied plenty of pressure.

A Godmanchester side already without three key men – captain Micky Hyem and Austen Diaper are both injured, while Simon Unwin was away – weren’t helped by the loss of midfielder Ross Munro to an ankle problem before the break.

But they were much the better side in the second period. Yeomans broke the deadlock midway through it before creating a clincher in stoppage time for leading scorer Jack Chandler.

Another smart stop from Peachey then denied Haverhill a last-gasp consolation and ensured a fifth clean sheet in Godmanchester’s last seven games.

They sit fifth in the Premier Division standings and will be hopeful of another victory when entertaining lowly Ipswich Wanderers at the David Wilson Homes Ground this Saturday, 3pm.

“It’s a game we should win - simple as that,” added Drake. “But we know we have to go out and perform. We can’t afford to be complacent just because we are playing a team who are struggling at the bottom of the table.”

Before then, Rovers will make another attempt to play a Hinchingbrooke Cup first-round tie at Wisbech St Mary tomorrow night (Wednesday).

Centre-back Sam Coe has departed after falling out of favour in recent weeks.