Hadleigh boss Steve Holder had the look of contented man as his side took another three points, kept a clean sheet and overtook high-flying Lakenheath to move up to fourth in the table.

Liam Wales' well taken seventh minute goal was enough to shoot down Lakenheath, who missed a penalty and had striker Shaun Avis dismissed for a head butt on the Hadleigh scorer.

Wales was later to follow Avis with an early departure after his determination in his defensive part of game earned him a second yellow.

By then though there was only one winner, and Holder was delighted that his new look side leapfrogged Lakenheath into fourth fourth place of the Eastern Counties Premier Division.

"People enjoy watching our football," said Holder. "I like us to play football, it is no good just hoofing the ball up and hoping.

Nick Punter saves again (©NubNews)

"We are a completely different team than last season. We play good attacking football and can keep clean sheets.

"We are playing well and there is so much competition for places."

Happy Holder pointed to front man Ryan Taylor, who was the attack's fulcrum by holding the ball up well, allowing the midfield to link up and spread the ball wide to launch attack after attack.

"He holds the ball up really well, he plays that number nine position superbly," said Holder.

Liam Wales, whose brother harry came on as a second half substitute, played a big part, not only by taking his early goal will after good work from Jack Baker and Taylor, and could have added to his tally when he beat the keeper but his shot went wide, after yet anther defence splitting pass by Baker.

Hadleigh conceded a soft penalty for hand ball but Avis skied his spot kick before getting sent off for his head butt, which provoked a melee in front of the dug outs just before half-time.

That led to the visitors to defend even deeper and Holder admitted: "It is always difficult to play against 10 men there was pressure on on and they played no football whatsoever, so it makes no odds if you are playing with 11 against 12, they just get the keeper to launch it long.

"I went to watch Lakenheath recently against Thetford and they did the same there so we set up a bit deeper to counter that.

"It was a bonus when Avis got sent off as he is their biggest threat.

"We should have had another goal in the first half and go in 2-0 up but I said at half-time if we keep a clean sheet we get the three points."

Lloyd Clarke another man of the match performance, Holder won the league with the full back at Stowmarket and has proved an excellent acquisition.

Meanwhile, Nick Punter made a couple of decent saves from rare Lakenheath attacks and will be pleased to keep another home clean sheet again.