88: Sat 30 November 2019, 3pm, Ruby Homes Bloomfields 3G Arena, Thurlow Nunn League First Division North, Needham Market Reserves v Downham Town
Match report on club website
YOUNG MARKETMEN DRAW WITH LEAGUE LEADERS
BY DREW KENDALL
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Evan Collard, Callum Page and an own goal on target for Needham, as the home side came from 1-0 down to lead 3-1 midway through the second half
Needham Market Reserves pick up a hard fought point in an entertaining game that could've seen either team pick up three points as tenth took on top on the Bloomfields 3G pitch.
The Young Marketmen move up a couple of places with that point, having came from an early goal down to lead 3-1 towards the end of the second half, though Downham showed a response worthy of league leaders by levelling up proceedings late on in an even encounter.
It was the visitors who had the first chance in less than a minute, Bird trying his luck at goal on the left edge of the box, although his shot was blocked. Evan Collard then had the young Marketmen's first chance, the midfielder's low free-kick 20-yards out on the lefr went just wide of the bottom near corner on 3 minutes, followed by a Priddle 18-yard shot on the left going straight into Elsdon's chest at the other end a minute later. The Downham striker went for goal again in the seventh minute, Priddle on the left-hand byline in the box shot low bust just wide of the bottom far corner. Needham meanwhile went close twice in the tenth minute, Jamahl Godward was fed on the edge of the box after neat passing play from the hosts, Godward's shot on the turn was deflected just passed the bottom right corner. The resulting corner in forced McAnally into a great stop, Jose Santa won the header well close to goal to aim powerfully at goal but the keeper was able to tip just over his crossbar. Downham broke the deadlock fourteen minutes in, Priddle was found on the left close to goal to finish into the roof of the net, 0-1 Downham Town. Needham responded well though just a minute after, a great crossfield ball from Tom Fitzgerald found Jamahl Godward through on the left wing to cut into the left-hand side in the box to shoot towards the far post but saw the shot blocked. Callum Page then had a good chance to draw Needham level on 17 minutes, the forward was through on the left wing to get through to the left byline in the box, where his low shot at goal was gathered by McAnally at his near post. At the other end, Watts-Sturrock almost added to his side's lead on 20 minutes as the 20-yard free-kick on the left was curled just over the top near corner. Priddle then had appeals for a penalty waved away a minute later, whilst Bloodworth's shot on the left edge of the box went just wide of the bottom far corner on 22 minutes.
Needham then defended well to restrict Downham to just the one goal, Calvert's low shot in the box was blocked well by the home defence on 27 minutes, followed soon after by Watts-Sturrock's left edge of the box half-volley being blocked. Downham then went close on 29 minutes, the corner on the right was headed up into the air by a man at the far post finding Calvert in the centre with his bacl to goal to shoot a great volley over his own head towards goal striking the top of the crossbar on its way over. Two minutes later, great goalkeeping from Elsdon denied Downham an attempt on target as a free-kick from distance on the left was swung dangerously to the far post close to goal forcing Elsdon off his line well to punch behind his post. Good play from the visitors then saw Downham work the ball around well eleven minutes before the break to find space to shoot, as Calvert's shot on the edge of the box went just wide of the bottom right corner. Callum Page then tried his luck again on 37 minutes, Page's 20-yard free-kick on the left went low but went just wide of the bottom near corner. Tom Fitzgerald then went agonisingly close to drawing his side level on 39 minutes, Fitzgerald was fed 25-yards out on the left to cut in slightly closer to the edge of the box to curl a great strike towards the top far corner, dipping onto the face of the bar and back into play. Santa then had a low shot blocked on the right 20-yards out on 43 minutes, before Needham did draw level two into first half stoppage time. A fantastic low cross in from Jamahl Godward on the right wing was on a plate for Jose Santa in the centre six-yards out, though Bird got there first at the near post who slid in and could only turn into his own bottom near corner, 1-1. The half then drew to a close, with both teams going in level which was arguably a fair reflection of the opening forty-five minutes.
HALF TIME: Needham Market Reserves 1-1 Downham Town
The second half began with Downham going close a minute after the restart, a dangerous free-kick in on the right wing found Bird in space on the left byline to whip a low dangerous ball across with nobody around to get a touch. Watts-Sturrock's free-kick on the right edge of the box was parried away by Elsdon three minutes later, whilst the away side soon after lashed a volley on the left wide off the bottom far corner, though a free-kick was awarded to the hosts anyway. Downham were then denied by a good block from Shane Wardley from a shot outside the box on 53 minutes, prior to the hosts going close themselves a minute later. Godward was found on the left wing to cut into the left edge of the box to send a great strike towards goal which took a deflection sending it dipping just wide of the top far corner a minute later, as the low corner in fell to Callum Page on the edge of the box whose low shot was blocked. Downham's Fenn meanwhile got through on the left close to goal only to see his shot cleared on 55 minutes, whilst Jamahl Godward delivered in two equisite crosses dangerously into the box in the space of a minute. The first saw Godward's right wing free-kick perfectly lofted for a head to dire t towards goal though nobody was quite able to, with the second also on the right wing just evaded the head of Jose Santa a yard out at the far post.
Needham then turned the game around on 61 minutes, great play from Jose Santa who was fed racing through on the left wing saw the winger cut back to Evan Collard who in turn teed up Callum Page on the right edge of the box to cut in towards the centre outside the area , where the latter curled a beauty which dipped into the bottom left corner, 2-1 Needham. Needham went close to adding to their advantage a minute later, Jose Santa again racing through on the left wing to this time cut into the left edge of the area to strike towards the top far corner, dipping just over the crossbar. At the other end, Watts-Sturrock shot low on the left edge of the box but straight at Elsdon who gathered low at his near post on 71 minutes. Three minutes later though, Downham struck powerfully at goal on the right edge of the box but straight at Elsdon who gathered low at his near post well. Downham continued to probe, Bloodworth's low shot on the left edge of the box was deflected just wide of the bottom far corner on 76 minutes. The resulting corner in however saw a shot blocked, before putting an attempt wide of the bottom left corner. Needham extended their lead with 13 minutes to go, Evan Collard was found through in the box as McAnally came off his line well to save the shot, as the rebound saw Collard lob a great shot over the keeper into the top left corner of the open net, 3-1 Needham. In response, Dougal curled a long range shot on the left at goal but dipped just over the bar on 80 minutes, with the away side pulling a goal back in the following minute. Dougal's great strike was matched by Elsdon's diving save to claw away onto a bar though Frohawk running in tucked home the rebound into the bottom right corner, 3-2. Needham were soon forced to clear off their goal-line on 82 minutes, a Downham low shot on the right-hand side in the penalty area at the otherwise unguarded goal was cleared vitally off the line low at the near post, before Downham shot low and just wide off the bottom far corner, from the right edge of the box on 84 minutes. Three minutes later Jose Santa went narrowly close to restoring Needham's two goal lead, the lightning fast forward was again foubd racing through, this time on the right to beat his defender- nutmegging him in the progress as he gut into the same side in the box where his close range fantastic curling strike towards the far corner was crucially palmed behind the post by McAnally. With 90 minutes up, Downham grabbed a point as Frohawk curled a free-kick on the left edge of the box low into the bottom near corner, 3-3. Both sides then had a half-chance each to win the game, Page's shot on the edge of the box was blocked two minutes into stoppage time, before Bloodworth's close range strike on the left went just wide of the bottom near corner a minute later. The full-time whistle soon followed as both sides shared the spoils in an entertaining game of football.
FULL TIME: Needham Market Reserves 3-3 Downham Town
Needham:-
1 Owen Elsdon
2 Taylor Sumpter
3 Miguel Guedes
4 Macauley Bell
5 Jes Nevard
6 Shane Wardley (capt)
7 Evan Collard
8 Tom Fitzgerald
9 Callum Page
10 Jose Santa
11 Jamahl Godward
Subs:
12 Noah Collard
14 Ben Harris
15 Kai Fletcher
16 Konnor Fletcher
17 Colin Elemide
Downham:-
1 Duncan McAnally
2 Jake Berry
3 Alex Oughton
4 Jack Gould
5 Pat Yates
6 Simon Bird (capt)
7 Ben Fenn
8 George Watts-Sturrock
9 Robbie Priddle
10 Matt Calvert
11 Isaac Bloodworth
Subs
12 Jack Frohawk
14 Jon Sykes
15 James Dougal
16 Luke Plumb
Booked: Elsdon (48'), Yates (58'), N.Collard (85').
Sin binned: Wardley (90'+1').
Goals: Bird (45'+2'og), Page (61'), E.Collard (77'); Priddle (14'), Frohawk (81', 90').
The Young Marketmen move up a couple of places with that point, having came from an early goal down to lead 3-1 towards the end of the second half, though Downham showed a response worthy of league leaders by levelling up proceedings late on in an even encounter.
It was the visitors who had the first chance in less than a minute, Bird trying his luck at goal on the left edge of the box, although his shot was blocked. Evan Collard then had the young Marketmen's first chance, the midfielder's low free-kick 20-yards out on the lefr went just wide of the bottom near corner on 3 minutes, followed by a Priddle 18-yard shot on the left going straight into Elsdon's chest at the other end a minute later. The Downham striker went for goal again in the seventh minute, Priddle on the left-hand byline in the box shot low bust just wide of the bottom far corner. Needham meanwhile went close twice in the tenth minute, Jamahl Godward was fed on the edge of the box after neat passing play from the hosts, Godward's shot on the turn was deflected just passed the bottom right corner. The resulting corner in forced McAnally into a great stop, Jose Santa won the header well close to goal to aim powerfully at goal but the keeper was able to tip just over his crossbar. Downham broke the deadlock fourteen minutes in, Priddle was found on the left close to goal to finish into the roof of the net, 0-1 Downham Town. Needham responded well though just a minute after, a great crossfield ball from Tom Fitzgerald found Jamahl Godward through on the left wing to cut into the left-hand side in the box to shoot towards the far post but saw the shot blocked. Callum Page then had a good chance to draw Needham level on 17 minutes, the forward was through on the left wing to get through to the left byline in the box, where his low shot at goal was gathered by McAnally at his near post. At the other end, Watts-Sturrock almost added to his side's lead on 20 minutes as the 20-yard free-kick on the left was curled just over the top near corner. Priddle then had appeals for a penalty waved away a minute later, whilst Bloodworth's shot on the left edge of the box went just wide of the bottom far corner on 22 minutes.
Needham then defended well to restrict Downham to just the one goal, Calvert's low shot in the box was blocked well by the home defence on 27 minutes, followed soon after by Watts-Sturrock's left edge of the box half-volley being blocked. Downham then went close on 29 minutes, the corner on the right was headed up into the air by a man at the far post finding Calvert in the centre with his bacl to goal to shoot a great volley over his own head towards goal striking the top of the crossbar on its way over. Two minutes later, great goalkeeping from Elsdon denied Downham an attempt on target as a free-kick from distance on the left was swung dangerously to the far post close to goal forcing Elsdon off his line well to punch behind his post. Good play from the visitors then saw Downham work the ball around well eleven minutes before the break to find space to shoot, as Calvert's shot on the edge of the box went just wide of the bottom right corner. Callum Page then tried his luck again on 37 minutes, Page's 20-yard free-kick on the left went low but went just wide of the bottom near corner. Tom Fitzgerald then went agonisingly close to drawing his side level on 39 minutes, Fitzgerald was fed 25-yards out on the left to cut in slightly closer to the edge of the box to curl a great strike towards the top far corner, dipping onto the face of the bar and back into play. Santa then had a low shot blocked on the right 20-yards out on 43 minutes, before Needham did draw level two into first half stoppage time. A fantastic low cross in from Jamahl Godward on the right wing was on a plate for Jose Santa in the centre six-yards out, though Bird got there first at the near post who slid in and could only turn into his own bottom near corner, 1-1. The half then drew to a close, with both teams going in level which was arguably a fair reflection of the opening forty-five minutes.
HALF TIME: Needham Market Reserves 1-1 Downham Town
The second half began with Downham going close a minute after the restart, a dangerous free-kick in on the right wing found Bird in space on the left byline to whip a low dangerous ball across with nobody around to get a touch. Watts-Sturrock's free-kick on the right edge of the box was parried away by Elsdon three minutes later, whilst the away side soon after lashed a volley on the left wide off the bottom far corner, though a free-kick was awarded to the hosts anyway. Downham were then denied by a good block from Shane Wardley from a shot outside the box on 53 minutes, prior to the hosts going close themselves a minute later. Godward was found on the left wing to cut into the left edge of the box to send a great strike towards goal which took a deflection sending it dipping just wide of the top far corner a minute later, as the low corner in fell to Callum Page on the edge of the box whose low shot was blocked. Downham's Fenn meanwhile got through on the left close to goal only to see his shot cleared on 55 minutes, whilst Jamahl Godward delivered in two equisite crosses dangerously into the box in the space of a minute. The first saw Godward's right wing free-kick perfectly lofted for a head to dire t towards goal though nobody was quite able to, with the second also on the right wing just evaded the head of Jose Santa a yard out at the far post.
Needham then turned the game around on 61 minutes, great play from Jose Santa who was fed racing through on the left wing saw the winger cut back to Evan Collard who in turn teed up Callum Page on the right edge of the box to cut in towards the centre outside the area , where the latter curled a beauty which dipped into the bottom left corner, 2-1 Needham. Needham went close to adding to their advantage a minute later, Jose Santa again racing through on the left wing to this time cut into the left edge of the area to strike towards the top far corner, dipping just over the crossbar. At the other end, Watts-Sturrock shot low on the left edge of the box but straight at Elsdon who gathered low at his near post on 71 minutes. Three minutes later though, Downham struck powerfully at goal on the right edge of the box but straight at Elsdon who gathered low at his near post well. Downham continued to probe, Bloodworth's low shot on the left edge of the box was deflected just wide of the bottom far corner on 76 minutes. The resulting corner in however saw a shot blocked, before putting an attempt wide of the bottom left corner. Needham extended their lead with 13 minutes to go, Evan Collard was found through in the box as McAnally came off his line well to save the shot, as the rebound saw Collard lob a great shot over the keeper into the top left corner of the open net, 3-1 Needham. In response, Dougal curled a long range shot on the left at goal but dipped just over the bar on 80 minutes, with the away side pulling a goal back in the following minute. Dougal's great strike was matched by Elsdon's diving save to claw away onto a bar though Frohawk running in tucked home the rebound into the bottom right corner, 3-2. Needham were soon forced to clear off their goal-line on 82 minutes, a Downham low shot on the right-hand side in the penalty area at the otherwise unguarded goal was cleared vitally off the line low at the near post, before Downham shot low and just wide off the bottom far corner, from the right edge of the box on 84 minutes. Three minutes later Jose Santa went narrowly close to restoring Needham's two goal lead, the lightning fast forward was again foubd racing through, this time on the right to beat his defender- nutmegging him in the progress as he gut into the same side in the box where his close range fantastic curling strike towards the far corner was crucially palmed behind the post by McAnally. With 90 minutes up, Downham grabbed a point as Frohawk curled a free-kick on the left edge of the box low into the bottom near corner, 3-3. Both sides then had a half-chance each to win the game, Page's shot on the edge of the box was blocked two minutes into stoppage time, before Bloodworth's close range strike on the left went just wide of the bottom near corner a minute later. The full-time whistle soon followed as both sides shared the spoils in an entertaining game of football.
FULL TIME: Needham Market Reserves 3-3 Downham Town
Needham:-
1 Owen Elsdon
2 Taylor Sumpter
3 Miguel Guedes
4 Macauley Bell
5 Jes Nevard
6 Shane Wardley (capt)
7 Evan Collard
8 Tom Fitzgerald
9 Callum Page
10 Jose Santa
11 Jamahl Godward
Subs:
12 Noah Collard
14 Ben Harris
15 Kai Fletcher
16 Konnor Fletcher
17 Colin Elemide
Downham:-
1 Duncan McAnally
2 Jake Berry
3 Alex Oughton
4 Jack Gould
5 Pat Yates
6 Simon Bird (capt)
7 Ben Fenn
8 George Watts-Sturrock
9 Robbie Priddle
10 Matt Calvert
11 Isaac Bloodworth
Subs
12 Jack Frohawk
14 Jon Sykes
15 James Dougal
16 Luke Plumb
Booked: Elsdon (48'), Yates (58'), N.Collard (85').
Sin binned: Wardley (90'+1').
Goals: Bird (45'+2'og), Page (61'), E.Collard (77'); Priddle (14'), Frohawk (81', 90').
