UCL Division One Whitworths 4 Eynesbury Rovers 5 RAMPANT Rovers raced into a 3-0 lead as they stunned champions Whitworths at the start of a nine-goal thriller. Dean Shipp s men were massive underdogs going into this game – Eynesbury were without a league

UCL Division One

Whitworths 4 Eynesbury Rovers 5

RAMPANT Rovers raced into a 3-0 lead as they stunned champions Whitworths at the start of a nine-goal thriller.

Dean Shipp's men were massive underdogs going into this game - Eynesbury were without a league win and up against a side unbeaten at home since April 2006.

The visitors competed fiercely from the start and could scarcely believe it when two goals from Pete Collins and a Kris Watters strike put them three up.

However, as in previous games, frailties at the back appeared for the visitors and the home side were able to recover the deficit to 3-2 at the interval.

Shipp, playing in goal, could do little about James Dady and Matt Freeman's efforts - and was forced to adjust his half-time team talk accordingly.

The second half saw the home side exert immense pressure on the Rovers defence but the visitors held firm and it was no surprise when Kirk Kidd nodded the ball home following a corner on 75 minutes.

Shortly after Rovers showed the champions how to hi­t the net again as Watters grabbed his second and number five for the visitors.

Whitworths pulled a goal back in the 87th minute through Ian Symington whose drive went in off the bar.

Dan Spaughton headed the home side's fourth in the sixth minute of added time but Rovers held out for the remaining two minutes to record a remarkable victory against their fourth-placed hosts.

Rovers manager Shipp was understandably elated by the result and paid tribute to his side for their resilience under pressure.

He said: "The centre back pairing of Dan Woodhead and Laurence Revell was outstanding.

"We have already played a lot of the league's top teams and underachieved this season but for the first time the team believed we could go on and get the result we deserved."

* Eynesbury welcome Northampton ON Chenecks to Hall Road on Saturday.