STANWAY ROVERS had an impressive victory in the premier division of the Thurlow Nunn League as they beat leaders Norwich United at the Hawthorns.

A Jordan Palmer penalty and a strike by Karl Duguid sealed the points for Stanway as they ended Norwich's run of 12 premier division and league cup wins.

See Monday's Gazette for pictures and full reaction to Rovers' win.

There wasn’t such good news for other north Essex sides in the premier division, though.

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC’S up and down form continued with a 4-2 defeat at Whitton United.

Shaun Webb and Michael Shaikly were on target for Brantham, but they came up short and also saw Lee Townrow sent off.

There was also a defeat for WIVENHOE TOWN, who stayed in the bottom three as they lost 2-0 to second-placed Godmanchester Rovers.

Scott Yearling made an immediate impact for HALSTEAD TOWN as they ended derby day with a win in division one of the Thurlow Nunn League.

The striker had signed from Ryman League division one north side Brightlingsea Regent only the day before and was quickly on target in Halstead’s 2-0 win against Long Melford at Rosemary Lane.

The Humbugs had been beaten 4-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, but goals from Yearling and Jordan Hutchings bagged the bragging rights against their local rivals this time.

There was also a division one victory for BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES as boss Mark Sansom presided over a win in his last home game in charge.

Sansom is stepping down as manager to take up a post on the Iron’s board that will tie him to the club’s first-team on match days, but his players gave him a 3-1 win against Debenham LC in his penultimate game at the helm.

Braintree’s win ended a run of five games without a victory.