STANWAY ROVERS boss Angelo Harrop described his side’s narrow defeat against Felixstowe & Walton as “sickening”.

The Hawthorns side suffered an early blow after seeing goalkeeper Dan Heath red-carded inside 20 minutes.

With no shot-stopper on the bench, defender Jack Cawley had to fill in between the posts.

Despite their numerical disadvantage and having an outfield player in goal, Stanway controlled much of the game - only to concede a late goal from long range.

“It was so sickening and very hard to take,” said Harrop.

“Dan did come out and I’d say it was a free-kick.

“But the foul was out wide and there were a couple of defenders back covering, so it’s not like their player was through on goal.

“It was a real blow so early in the game, but we went on to control the match after that, despite only having ten men.

“It was another great performance and the least we deserved was a point.

“I wouldn’t even say we frustrated Felixstowe.

“That makes it sound like we were on the back foot, but we did more attacking than them.”

Goalkeeping coach Dave Childs would normally have been on the bench but was not at game as he is recovering from an operation.

Stanway’s next Thurlow Nunn League premier division assignment is a trip to Haverhill Rovers, on Saturday.

“It’s been a good start but we need a bit of luck,” said Harrop.

“We haven’t had that in two of our last four games - the FA Cup defeat against Staines and now this one against Felixstowe.

“We know we’re a very strong outfit, but it’s always disappointing to drop points against the teams around us in the table.”