HAVEN have suffered another setback in their battle to beat the drop.

A a second-half capitulation in a 48-16 defeat against Sheffield Eagles saw James Coyle’s side move a step closer to League One.

The visitors belied the form-guide in the first-half, and stunned the hosts with two tries in the opening 16 minutes. Anthony Walker scythed his way through the Sheffield defence before his pass on the inside was finished by Liam Carberry, and Louis Jouffret kicked the extras.

Coyle’s strugglers took further advantage of a slow start by the Eagles, with Steve Fox starting and finishing a raid down the left for Haven’s second score. Jouffret pushed his conversion attempt wide.

The first signs of Haven unravelling started when Ryan Duffy was lost to injury on 24 minutes, whilst Ugo Perez was also forced off temporarily after a blow to the face.

Right on the half-time hooter Haven re-took the lead after a brilliant spinning offload to Grant Gore saw the half-back dive over under the sticks, allowing Jouffret a simple conversion.

But that was as good as it got.

Just past the hour mark Sheffield skipper Steve Thorpe took advantage ofgenerous defending for another easy run-in, while Aston again kicked the extras to rub more salt into Haven wounds.

The closest Haven came to some points in the second half came when Ted Chapelhow was held on the line by some spirited Sheffield defence, when he looked odds on for a try.

It's a result that makes next weekend's west Cumbria derby against Workington Town an even more critical fixture.