Grit and determination won the day as Stanway Rovers had a thoroughly deserved win against Leiston in the Ridgeons League premier division.

The visitors left the Hawthorns pitch looking shell-shocked after their 2-0 defeat and this win lifted Stanway back to the top of the table.

It was the hard graft and willingness to give every ounce of energy to the cause by every player that saw the hosts to their eighth win of the season.

Manager Steve Downey said before the game that unavailability and injury had left his squad ‘down to the bare bones’ and he was only able to name a bench of two.

However, the players he had at his disposal did him and the club proud as they harried Leiston from the start and chased hard for every ball.

The fact that the most under-used of Stanway’s players was keeper Michael Church showed just how effective the outfield ones were.

Downey had asked his players to employ a 4-3-3 formation and was pleased with how well it worked.

The foundation for Rovers’ success came from their back four, with Alex Drennan, Kevin Hughes, Martin Curtis and Liam Bailey in outstanding form.

Despite the visitors having far more of the possession, especially before half-time, they controlled the game and left Church largely untroubled.

A goal in the seventh minute didn’t harm Stanway’s cause either. A long ball up field caused confusion in Leiston’s defence and Sam Newson lifted the ball over the keeper to give himself a simple tap-in.

It gave Stanway the breathing space they needed and the visitors became increasingly visibly frustrated as they were restricted to half chances.

Rovers always looked dangerous on the break, but it took until almost the last kick of the game for their second to come.

Newson was felled tamely in the box and he stepped up to fire home from the penalty spot to take his season’s tally to 11.

Downey said: “The lads were terrific, especially our back four and their hard work gave us the platform to play higher up the pitch.

“We competed all over the pitch and rattled Leiston.

“They didn’t like the fact that our three youngsters in the middle, Joe Davis, Arron Clark and Keiron Webb, didn’t give them a moment’s peace.

“None of those three had any Ridgeons League experience before this year and they snapped at them all game.

“You always know you have a chance when the team you are playing start having a go between themselves.

“They have some big names, but my team talk before the game was not to look at them and to think about ourselves and the fact that we must be one of the most successful teams in the region right now.

“We had to go out and show that and I think we did.”