St Ives Town v Needham Market 30.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 64.
Date & KO: Saturday 30 October 2021, 3pm.
Fixture: St Ives Town v Needham Market.
Venue: Westwood Road, St Ives.
Competition: The Buildbase FA Trophy 3rd Round Qualifying.

Goals:

Kevin Horlock Post Match Interview:

Daniel Morphew Post Match Interview:

Needham Market respond perfectly to last Saturday's defeat with a 2-0 FA Trophy win at St Ives Town.

Kevin Horlock made three changes to the home game with Rushall with Colchester United loanee Harvey Sayer making his full Needham debut, joining Dan Morphew and Callum Sturgess who returned to the starting eleven in place of Hans Mpongo, Hugh Cullum (both who were amongst the substitutes) and the suspended Noah Collard. 

Needham were dominant in the first half, and arguably could've been further in front at half time, although some cracking saves throughout from Marcus Garnham preserved their 1-0 lead with Byron Lawrence continuing his fine goalscoring spree, which now stands at five goals in the last four games (scoring all five in the last 3 Saturday fixtures), sealed the Marketmen's spot in the First Round Proper for the third time in the last four seasons.

With just a minute on the clock, Harvey Sayer was denied from breaking the deadlock. The young Colchester loanee found himself free down the left-hand side to shoot low at goal, only to see White equal to his point blank range shot and beat it away. 

And a minute later, Needham had another great chance as Kyle Hammond curled a dangerous free-kick from just outside the box just over the top far corner. 

The Marketmen went agonisingly close to opening the scoring on 14 minutes - after a long ball over the top released Harvey Sayer free in acres of space down the left wing, the left winger drove through brilliantly into the box only to fire his shot just over the crossbar.

The visitors did have the ball in the net after 19 minutes, albeit ruled offside as Callum Sturgess was in an offside position when he was released through one on one with goalkeeper White by Sayer's threaded ball through, the former finished brilliantly into the bottom left-hand corner but the flag was up.

But Needham were in front two minutes later, with a similar run into the box, this time by Luke Ingram saw the forward chest down Kyle Hammond's exquisite long ball over the defence as the former made it a three way tie for the club's season top scorer by firing the ball home into the bottom far corner, 1-0 Needham.

At the other end though, Urijah Gordon-Douglas just ckdnt leap high enough in time to connect with a dangerous cross into space from close range after 26 minutes.

A minute later, a solid save from Man Of The Match Marcus Garnham preserved the Reds' advantage. Dylan Williams drove through past the defence inside the box, but his close range low shot was well smothered by Garnham off his line well. 

And another superb stop denied St Ives from an equaliser on 35 minutes, this time Gordon-Douglas was slipped through past the defence, but like the previous save Garnham was off his line well to beat away the low strike. 

On the stroke of half-time, Needham went centimetres away from doubling their lead, Callum Page picked up Jake Dye's cross just outside the box, the Ipswich Town loanee, and former Needham Academy graduate, then teed up Sayer whose shot went just wide of the bottom far corner. 

The second half saw Needham take their foot off the gas, allowing St Ives to create chances in search of an equaliser.

Michael Richens did go close for the home side four minutes after the restart, though the midfielder's free-kick from just outside the box curled just over the top right-hand corner. 

At the other end, Needham still posed a threat, though they weren't flowing as much as they would've liked - with Jake Dye firing a close range fierce volley into the side-netting from an exquisite Callum Page cross on the hour mark.

Another excellent save from Marcus Garnham however thwarted Nabil Shariff three minutes later, again the hosts' striker was found in space from close range, but again Garnham got down well to bottom right-hand side and palm the strike away. 

Luke Ingram meanwhile saw his towering header go just wide from a great corner from Page on 66 minutes, whilst a terrific double save from Garnham sealed his Man Of The Match status eleven minutes later. 

First Ben Toseland's fierce strike from outside the box was parried up in the air by the Needham stopper, where the follow up fell to Richens from close range albeit denied again by Garnham. The rebound was crossed back in twice, although both teams headed away by both captain Keiran Morphew and Dan Morphew, before Garnham held onto a low shot straight at him on the follow up. 

Needham then wrapped up a perfect result with another screamer from their midfield maestro Byron Lawrence on 84 minutes, with his dipping free-kick from distance into the bottom right-hand corner taking him onto five goals for a season, one way from joining the current three way leaders of the club's 2021-22 top scorers, 2-0 Needham. 

Needham will look to build on the result when they travel to Leiston in a Suffolk Derby on Tuesday. 

St Ives Town:-

1 Paul White

2 Eniola Agemoh-Davies

3 Camron McWilliams (90'+3' Mbola)

4 Ben Toseland

5 Brett Solkhon (c)

6 Edmund Hottor (82' Hicks)

7 Urijah Gordon-Douglas

8 Michael Richens

9 Nabil Shariff

10 Dylan Williams

11 Liam Cross (75' Snelus)

Subs:

12 Fabrice Mbola

13 Ben Heath (GK)

14 Nathan Hicks

15 Jack Snelus

16 Jason Dwumfuo

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham

2 Jake Dye

3 Callum Sturgess

4 Byron Lawrence

5 Keiran Morphew (c)

6 Dan Morphew

7 Ben Fowkes (64' Mpongo)

8 Kyle Hammond

9 Luke Ingram

10 Callum Page (80' Fitzgerald)

11 Harvey Sayer (73' Machaya)

Subs:

12 Hans Mpongo

14 Tom Fitzgerald

15 Emmanuel Machaya

16 Hugh Cullum 

17 Owen Elsdon (GK)

Booked: Hottor (28'), Richens (43'), 

Goals: Ingram (21'), Lawrence (84').

Walsham Le Willows U18 v Bury Town U18 28.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 63.
Date & KO: Thursday 28 October 2021, 7:45pm.
Fixture: Walsham Le Willows Under-18 v Bury Town Under-18.
Venue: Walsham Le Willows Sports Club, Summer Road.
Competition: Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Youth League Cambridge Division.

Jack Turner's brace guides Bury to back to back wins over Walsham.

For the second time in as many weeks, Bury come out on top following an entertaining game of two halves, after wiping out their hosts' 2-0 lead six minutes into the second half. 

Bury Town Under-18s comeback from 2-0 down to beat Walsham Le Willows 4-2 away from home to continue their unbeaten record in the Thurlow Nunn Youth League Cambridge Division. 

However it got off to arguably the worst possible start for the young Blues, with Walsham being awarded a penalty inside the first minute. Jude Keylock stepped up and just beat Wilson for power, firing into the bottom left-hand corner, 1-0 Walsham. 

Whilst the first half was more end to end, Walsham edged the first half with Bury not quite being able to take their chances as much as they would've liked, though Jack Turner's goalwards poke from a dangerous Jack Heider low cross was straight at goalkeeper Isaac Read from point blank range after 18 minutes. 

The home side though doubled their lead three minutes later, after a low shot from inside the box was well saved by Bury goalkeeper Joe Wilson down at his near post, the rebound fell to Ewan Hailstone who duly blasted home into the bottom left-hand corner. 

In response, Ben Haddoch's dangerous free-kick on the edge of the box went narrowly wide of the bottom corner in the 24th minute, whilst the midfielder chested a great ball over the top inside the box before volleying just over the crossbar two minutes later. 

Some excellent determination from Max Willcox meanwhile created a quick break for Angus Mills, as the former's two strong but fair tackles onto the winger released the forward driving onto goal but his low shot was just held by Read. 

Nine minutes before the break, Ben Haddoch then drove through into the box, the midfielder made space to shoot well but could only curl just wide of the top left-hand corner. 

Shortly after, Bury had another good chance to half the deficit, Jack Turner latched onto a great ball past the defence before lashing a fierce strike at goal which Read could only smother as far as Zane Robinson arriving, but the latter's shot was blocked.  

But Bury only needed six second half minutes to restore parity, first George Allison was first to react to a loose ball in the box to rifle home the rebound on the half volley down the bottom middle of the net to make it 2-1 in the hosts' favour. 

Then an exquisite Ben Haddoch corner was on a plate for Max Willcox to run onto and direct a bullet header into the middle of the net from point blank range to get the young Blues back on level terms. 

Bury however did get let off the hook down the other end as Walsham fed Alex Walden in acres of space inside the box but the latter shot just wide of the bottom left-hand corner on 53 minutes. 

Although it was Bury who struck next to take the lead for the first time on the hour mark, Jack Turner arrived on cue to tap home Angus Mills' smash across the face of goal from point blank range, 3-2 Bury. 

Like the home fixture, which Bury won 1-0 it was the Blues who enjoyed more of the second half possession and chances, with the away side going agonisingly close to adding to their lead on 72 minutes, Zane Robinson's dangerous corner into the six yard box was glanced just wide of the far post by Max Willcox from point blank range. 

Five minutes later, Jack Turner picked up his brace with what proved to be the game sealing goal for Bury. A great slide tackle from Bury captain Angus Mills midway through Walsham's half found Jack Turner in acres of space on the edge of the box who duly thumped home into the bottom left-hand corner, 4-2 Bury.

The striker did have a chance to grab his hat-trick as the match entered the 90th minute, after latching onto Ben Haddoch's tackle, Turner weaved into space well to get a powerfum shot off at goal from inside the box, though Read was able to parry it just wide of his right-hand post. 

The win takes Bury's league record for the season up to five wins and a draw ahead of two more away trips to Saffron Walden (next Thursday) and Royston Town (the Thursday after).

Walsham Le Willows:-

1 Isaac Read

2 Jacob Jennings 

3 Dylan Browne

4 Connor Lewis (c)

5 Will Martin-Daplyn

6 Ollie McKenzie-Vince

7 Jude Keylock 

8 George Moore

9 Callum Barett

10 Alex Walden

11 Ewan Hailstone

Subs:

12 Dan Hancock

14 Rory Christian

15 Lennox Browne

16 Jordan Deeley

Bury Town:-

1 Joe Wilson

2 Jack Utting

3 Jack Heider (67' Lacey)

4 George Allison

5 Max Willcox

6 Charlie Smith (88' Jolland)

7 Ben Haddoch

8 Zane Robinson (90'+2' Kersey)

9 Jack Turner (90'+4' Frank)

10 Clinton Frank (88' Mayhew)

11 Angus Mills (c) (90'+2' Gannaway)

Subs:

12 Jack Jolland 

14 Elliot Lacey

15 Max Kersey

16 Jake Mayhew

17 Luke Gannaway

18 Freddie Goodwin

Booked: Turner (58'), Willcox (75').

Goals: Keylock (2'pen), Hailstone (21'); Allison (48'), Willcox (51'), Turner (60', 77').

Needham Market U18 v Woodbridge Town U18 26.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 62.
Date & KO: Tuesday 26 October 2021, 7:45pm.
Fixture: Needham Market Under-18 v Woodbridge Town Under-18.
Venue: Bloomfields.
Competition: Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Youth League Central Division.

Needham Market Under-18s hit their Woodbridge Town counterparts for ten in a ruthless display at Bloomfields. 

And the young Marketmen wasted little time before breaking the deadlock as Archie Simpson flicked home a good cross into the box just 50 seconds after kick off.

With just ten minutes on the clock, Simpson doubled his own and Needham's tally capping a cleverly worked team goal. Louie McDonagh clipped a clever ball through releasing the attacking midfielder one on one with the keeper to expertly finish cleverly past the onrushing stopper into the bottom left-hand corner, 2-0 Needham. 

After Louie McDonagh's good first time volley from Taylor Clark's corner was blocked, Woodbridge halved the deficit in the fifteenth minute as a cross in found the visiting forward free from point blank range to side foot into the bottom near corner. 

Back up the other end though, Dimitri Gayle's fierce shot from 25-yards flew into the well positioned 'keeper's chest at his near post five minutes later, whilst Louie McDonagh's low shot from inside the box was creeping in the bottom corner until goalkeeper Jack Robinson got down well to gather after 25 minutes.

Two minutes later, Taylor Clark went close to restoring his side's two goal advantage - the midfielder however shot just wide of the bottom corner from outside the box. 

But Needham did regain their two goal lead on 32 minutes as Charlie Warren's dangerous low cross in found Brandon Greenleaf free at point blank range to first time finish well into the bottom far corner. 

A good save from goalkeeper Robinson meanwhile denied Needham from adding a fourth goal ten minutes later, doing well to other Dimitri Gayle's powerful strike at a tight angle at his top near corner. 

As the half entered stoppage time, it was 4-1 to the young Marketmen, Charlie Warren's shot was blocked as far Louie McDonagh free on the edge of the box who thumped home his first goal of the night into the bottom left-hand corner, despite a hand to it from Robinson.

The second half was more of the same, with Woodbridge rarely venturing outside of their half. McDonagh started off the flurry of second half chances for Needham in the 52nd minute - the forward's header drawing the fingertips of goalkeeper Robinson to earn his side a corner.

And some excellent play from dangerous left-back Charlie Warren won the home side a penalty four minutes later, the defender showcased great skill as he weaved through the defence down the left hand side, cutting inside the box cleverly before being brought down by Whittaker.

Up stepped Archie Simpson, who sent Robinson the wrong way, smashing home his hat-trick goal into the left-hand corner to make it 5-1. 

After 62 minutes, Needham raced into a 6-1 lead as Archie Exworth free one-on-one with the goalkeeper chipped a clever finish over the latter from close range into the top corner.

A minute later however, the crossbar denied Needham from extending their lead further, having exploited space well to drive onto the edge of the box, Charlie Warren's pile-driver of a shot grazed the top of the crossbar on it's way just over. 

It was soon 7-1 on 69 minutes, forward Louie McDonagh picking up his second goal of the evening with a cool composed finish one-on-one with Robinson into the bottom right-hand corner, having latched onto a great long ball. 

Five minutes later, Dimitri Gayle got in on the act with Needham's eighth goal - firing home brilliantly from outside the box into the bottom right-hand corner. 

In quickfire fashion it was 9-1 to the young Reds in the 77th minute as Seth Chambers finished off Charlie Warren's pacey low ball on a plate from point blank range. 

A good save from Robinson down to his right moments later though denied Needham from making it double figures, whilst an audacious 35-yard curling Needham strike was agonisingly denied by the inside of the right-hand post in quick succession. 

Needham relentlessly looked to make it double figures, nearly doing so in the 82nd minute as Dimitri Gayle curled his strike just wide of the top corner from 25-yards out, whilst Brandon Greenleaf's first time strike was thwarted well by Robinson a minute later. 

Archie Simpson then looked to add to his hat-trick four minutes from time, but could only fire his great strike just over the crossbar.

Just before stoppage time, Needham went close once more, Taylor Clark's set-piece this time found Seth Chambers in space but the striker could only shoot straight at Robinson. 

Two minutes into stoppage time, Clark went close himself, firing low and just wide via the outside of the left-hand post. 

With the very last touch of the game, Needham were awarded a penalty for a foul on Dimitri Gayle deep into added time. The forward took the responsibility himself, beating the keeper for power as his spot-kick went in deflecting off and under the stopper into the middle of the net to bring up double figures.

The result makes it the second time Needham have hit ten goals in a game this season and will look to keep their long unbeaten run going next Thursday when they travel to Whitton United. 

Needham Market:-

1 Ewan Johnson

2 Harry Blackburn (75' Simpson)

3 Charlie Warren

4 Archie Exworth (74' Shepherd)

5 Ben Smith (64' Shelley)

6 Dillon Olias (c)

7 Clayton Osborn (13' Greenleaf)

8 Taylor Clark

9 Louie McDonagh (74' Chambers)

10 Archie Simpson (74' Barker)

11 Dimitri Gayle

Subs:

12 Seth Chambers

14 Brandon Greenleaf 

15 Archie Shelley 

16 Euan Shepherd

17 Eddie Barker

Woodbridge Town:-

1 Jack Robinson

2 Benjamin Syrett

3 Harley Stannard

4 Benjamin Whittaker 

5 Rory Willis (c)

6 Joshua Howlett

7 Korbyn Hall

8 Thomas Whelan

9 Kristian Read

10 Owen Lockwood

11 Joshua Emmerson

Subs:

12 Samuel McGregor

14 Jorge Nunes

15 Alex Fryatt

Booked: Stannard (67'), Simpson (72').

Goals: Simpson (1', 10', 57'pen), Greenleaf (32'), McDonagh (45'+1', 69'), Exworth (62'), Gayle (74', 90'+5'pen), Chambers (77'); Lockwood (15'). 

Moreton Hall Ferals v Barrow 23.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 61.
Date & KO: Sunday 24 October 2021, 10:30am.
Fixture: Moreton Hall Ferals v Barrow.
Venue: Hardwick Heath Pitch 1.
Competition: Premier Logos Bury & District Sunday League Division One. 

Moreton Hall Ferals' 100% start to the 2021-22 Bury Sunday Division One season continued with a 2-0 win at home to Barrow. 

Defending Champions Ferals started the game brightly as Charlie Glover weaves through just outside the box but his low shot was well gathered by goalkeeper Steve Fenner in the ninth minute. The home side went close again a minute later but Glover this time shot just wide of the bottom left-hand corner from just outside the area. 

In a battle of first against second, Barrow were reduced to ten men just prior to the half-hour mark as Will Mayo was dismissed for an off the ball challenge on Harry Whiting-Noakes. 

And had it not been for a double save from goalkeeper Fenner on 37 minutes, Ferals would've taken an arguably deserved lead, first Fenner saved Glover's low dangerous curling free-kick from just outside the box before the stopper denied captain Charlie Larter's follow up shot from point blank range behind for a corner. 

Glover's resulting low set-piece across the face of goal, however, just evaded Ben Newdick as Ferals continued to go close to the opening goal.

Five minutes before the break, the visitors fired their first shot of real note just wide of the top corner, whilst Ferals forced another save from Fenner just prior to the interval. Goalkeeper Aston Fallows' short goal-kick to Craig Defew saw the latter find his central-defensive partner Jack Brame whose long ball was flicked on by Fred Stewart-Hogg, in turn releasing Callum Dove one on one with Fenner. The forward then controlled the ball well before seeing his shot punched away by Fenner off his line as the scoreline remained goalless. 

The second half saw wave after wave of Ferals attacks on the visitors goal, looking to make their man advantage count, with Ben Newdick heading just over from a left wing cross eight minutes after the restart. 

But the breakthrough soon arrived for Ferals just ahead of the hour mark courtesy of a well worked goal, Charlie Glover arriving in perfect time free at the back post to guide home Harry Whiting-Noakes' dangerous squared ball from point blank range, 1-0 Ferals. 

Ferals continued the momentum, looking to secure the three points, although substitute Ryan Twinn's brilliant ball into the six yard box was just ahead of Dove after 64 minutes. 

A minute later though Harry Whiting-Noakes saw his good low strike gathered well by Fenner, whilst the Ferals' midfielder then beat the goalkeeper to a long ball inside the box only to see his dangerous ball across the face of goal cleared partially by the defender - which saw Barrow put bodies on the line to block both of the two resulting shots. 

In agonisingly fashion, Ferals went close to doubling their lead in the 79th minute as Callum Dove found in space, past the defence by a clever long ball, hooked his shot over from point blank range. 

Two minutes later though, Ferals were denied by an offside flag from doubling their lead as Callum Dove was adjudged to be offside as he seemed to get out of the way of Charlie Glover's well taken solo goal, which found the bottom left-hand corner. 

The former though went close himself to increasing his side's lead five minutes from time, but could only shoot just wide of the bottom corner. 

But Ferals did break Barrow's resistance again a minute later with Ryan Twinn capping a great team goal by caressesing a great first time volley into the roof of the net from MOTM Glover's peach of a cross into the six yard box, 2-0. 

Two good saves from Fenner ensured that the scoreline would remain that way, firstly saving Lewis Kemp's dangerously low curling free-kick just as the game entered stoppage time, before denying Glover from adding to his goal and assist - catching his shot from a tight angle well at the near post. 

Next up for Ferals, is an away Halloween trip to Howards.

Ferals:-

1 Aston Fallows

2 Lewis Kemp

5 Craig Defew

27 Jack Brame

88 George Crowe

28 Ben Newdick (60' Twinn)

8 Charlie Larter (c)

33 Harry Whiting-Noakes (86' Peck)

7 Fred Stewart-Hogg (72' J.Whiting-Noakes)

15 Charlie Glover

11 Callum Dove

Subs 

10 Sam Waterson

12 Ryan Twinn

Sam Waterson 

19 Jack Whiting-Noakes

15 Billy Peck

Barrow:-

1 Steve Fenner

5 Ryan Austin

14 Tom Fenner (c)

17 Ehran Steele

2 Mike Defew

6 Ben Gathercole

16 Will Mayo

8 George Austin 

9 Harry Gathercole

7 Ben Tooke

10 Jack Langley

Subs:

3 Josh Pearson

15 Hayden Marsh 

18 Josh Curtis

Booked: B.Gathercole (90'+2').

Sent Off: Mayo (28').

Goals: Glover (59'), Twinn (86').

Needham Market v Rushall Olympic 23.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 60.
Date & KO: Saturday 23 October 2021, 3pm.
Fixture: Needham Market v Rushall Olympic.
Venue: Bloomfields.
Competition: The Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division. 

Post Match Interview: Keiran Morphew.

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Needham Market's 8 league game unbeaten run ends as Rushall Olympic extend their winning run to three straight matches. 

Needham manager Kevin Horlock kept the same starting eleven to the side that recorded back to back wins on Tuesday at home to Biggleswade, with the only change coming on the bench with on loan Colchester United left-back/midfielder Harvey Sayer replacing Jose Santa amongst the substitutes, the latter instead was on the scoresheet in the Reserves 4-0 win at Wisbech. 

Needham created the more chances, but it just wasn't to be their day with the first three of the four early chances falling to the Marketmen. 

Having weaved through dangerously onto the edge of the Rushall box, Ben Fowkes fired just over the crossbar after just five minutes.

Solid defending from Needham captain Keiran Morphew meanwhile saw the centre back block a low shot from The Pics inside the hosts' box, whilst Alex Moore thumped the rebound wide in the 11th minute.

Four minutes later however, an excellent long ball from current Under-18 centre-back Hugh Cullum released Luke Ingram running through past the defence inside the box, the forward's dangerous low ball across though almost found Hans Mpongo running in though the defender did enough to see the ball through to the goalkeeper. 

At the other end, Rushall broke the deadlock after 17 minutes as Tyler Lyttle's free-kick bounced ahead of Garnham, deceiving him as it found the bottom corner. 

The rest of the half saw Needham search for what was a deserved equaliser with Mpongo's flick on from a long ball threading Callum Page through on goal inside the box whose shot was tipped just wide by goalkeeper Thomas Palmer on 33 minutes. 

The woodwork then came to Rushall's aid five minutes later as Callum Page's dangerously exquisite in-direct free-kick inside the box needed heading onto the face off the crossbar by goalscorer Lyttle from point blank range. 

Shortly before first half stoppage time though, Fowkes saw his dangerous low ball into the six yard box cleared as far as Noah Collard but the latter's shot was well blocked. 

And a minute into said stoppage time, Needham drew level, after being found by Keiran Morphew, Byron Lawrence followed up his hat-trick of screamers last Saturday at Hitchin by making it 4 goals in 3 matches by lazering an outrageous strike from distance which flew and dipped past the goalkeeper into the bottom left-hand corner, 1-1. 

But early into the second half, a header off the line from the well placed Luke Ingram prevented Rushall from heading home a dangerous corner from the back post on 49 minutes, whilst the home side thought they should've had a penalty three minutes later. 

Ingram's flick onto half-time substitute and debutant Harvey Sayer almost saw the Colchester United loanee have a quick impact. The latter drove through free inside the box, but before he could get his shot off he went down under the challenge from a defender, only for the appeals to be dismissed by the referee.

Just prior to the hour mark though Rushall restored their lead as Lyttle's free-kick on the edge of the box snuck under Garnham before going in off the post for his second of the afternoon, 2-1 Rushall.

On the hour mark, Moore drove forward towards the edge of the box only to fire just wide of the far post, before Whittal then headed just over onto the roof of the net with 69 minutes on the clock. 

Back up the other end, good play from the Marketmen saw the Reds keep the ball well before finding Byron Lawrence whose fierce strike went narrowly wide of the top corner after 77 minutes. 

Two late saves however from visiting stopper Palmer thwarted Needham from snatching a late equaliser, first denying Jake Dye arriving from 18-yards out who caught his volley perfectly, smashing it towards the bottom corner only to see the aforementioned 'keeper get across well to beat it away at the last second on 86 minutes.

However, just as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time, Needham were reduced to ten men as Noah Collard was shown a second yellow card for a foul in midfield.

But four minutes into stoppage time, Palmer preserved all three points for Rushall with a similarly strong stop to this time deny Luke Ingram's diving free header from Byron Lawrence's cross. 

Needham now hit the road for two away games in a row, against St Ives Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday 30th and Leiston in a Suffolk Derby on Tuesday 2nd November. 

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham (GK)

2 Kyle Hammond

3 Jake Dye

4 Byron Lawrence

5 Keiran Morphew (C)

6 Hugh Cullum (76' D.Morphewl)

7 Luke Ingram

8 Noah Collard

9 Hans Mpongo (HT' Sayer)

10 Callum Page

11 Ben Fowkes (76' Machaya)

Subs:

12 Daniel Morphew

14 Callum Sturgess

15 Harvey Sayer

16 Thomas Fitzgerald

17 Emmanuel Machaya

Rushall Olympic:-

1 Thomas Palmer (GK)

3 Reece Mitchell

4 Thomas Thorley

5 Tyler Lyttle

6 Sam Whittall

7 Callum Coyle

8 Alex Moore

9 Daniel Glover (77' Ofori)

10 Owen Parry (80' Abbey)

11 Richard Batchelor (C)

14 Rackeem Reid (70' Steele)

Subs:

12 Jeremy Abbey

13 Alex Graham (GK)

15 Jay Clement

16 Chetaine Steele

17 Tyrone Ofori

Booked: Parry (32'), Thorley (49'), Collard (52', 90'+1'), Reid (65'), Cullum (72'), 

Sent Off: Collard (90'+1' - 2 yellows).

Goals: Lawrence (45'+1'); Lyttle (17', 59').

NLP Report:

Needham suffer defeat for the first time in eight league outings as Rushall Olympic sit fourth after the days' fixtures after 3 straight wins.

The home side will feel hard done by, though Rushall took their two chances.

Ben Fowkes fired an early shot just over, whilst Ingram's ball into Mpongo just evaded the latter after 15 minutes. 

Two minutes later, The Pics were in front as Lyttle's free-kick bounced past Garnham into the bottom corner.

With just over ten minutes left of the first half, Page's shot was tipped wide by a fine save from Palmer, whilst Lyttle headed a dangerous in direct Page free-kick onto his own crossbar. 

But in first half stoppage time, Needham drew deservedly level as Byron Lawrence lazered home a ferocious strike into the bottom corner.

On another day it could've gone either way as Ingram was well placed to head the visitors header off the goal-line shortly after the restart. 

Under ten second half minutes had been played when Needham saw appeals for a foul on Sayer waved away, whilst Lyttle snuck another low free-kick under Garnham and in off the post to regain the Pics' advantage just prior to the hour mark. 

Moore fired just wide of the far post a minute later, whilst Whittal headed just over the crossbar nine minutes later. 

Goalscorer Lawrence lashed a dangerous strike just wide on 77 minutes, before two late cracking saves preserved Rushall's lead. 

First Palmer beat away Dye's brilliantly taken volley in the 86th minute, before getting across to tip away Ingram's diving bullet header deep in stoppage time as Rushall held on. 

Star Man: Thomas Palmer (Rushall), Byron Lawrence (Needham).

Needham Market v Biggleswade Town 19.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 59.
Date & KO: Tuesday 19 October 2021, 7:45pm.
Fixture: Needham Market v Biggleswade Town.
Venue: Bloomfields.
Competition: The Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division. 

POST MATCH REACTION:-

HANS MPONGO

KEIRAN MORPHEW

KEVIN HORLOCK

Needham Market record back to back comfortable wins with a 3-0 home win over Biggleswade Town.

Manager Kevin Horlock made one change to Saturday's 6-1 win at Hitchin Town as Hans Mpongo made his home and full debut in place of Jose Santa, whilst Daniel Morphew returned to the bench from injury with Horlock opting to continue with Under-18 centre-back Hugh Cullum who has impressed since making his first team debut at Royston.

And the full debutant almost marked it in the dream way just two minutes in, Mpongo was threaded through inside the box, one on one with ex-Ipswich Town Academy goalkeeper Jake Alley but the forward shot narrowly wide of the bottom right-hand corner.

A minute later, Man Of The Match Callum Page threaded Luke Ingram through down the right-hand side, but the forward's shot from point blank range was smothered behind by Alley.

Great play from the Marketmen saw the home side go agonisingly close just nine minutes in, an excellent long crossfield ball from Byron Lawrence found Kyle Hammond down the right wing whose low cross found Mpongo free inside the box, whose shot towards goal fell to Jake Dye but his close range shot was blocked.

Full of confidence after a hat-trick at the weekend, Byron Lawrence nearly added another wonder strike to his ever growing collection on the 10th minute, had Alley not tipped over his dangerous right wing free-kick at his near post, whilst Ben Fowkes saw his low shot at the near post blocked off the like, whilst his close range fierce shot was kept out by Alley a minute later.

Lawrence then fired a ferocious 25-yard free-kick just wide of the bottom right-hand corner on 14 minutes, whilst Ben Fowkes' saw two dangerous balls into the six yard box cleared in quick succession, before his fierce strike on the rebound was deflected behind for a corner two minutes later. 

The Marketmen were dominant in the first half, forcing another save from Alley in the 19th minute - the visiting keeper reacting quickly to dive down to his left to parry away Luke Ingram's diving header from Kyle Hammond's cross into the danger area. 

A minute later the home side were deservedly in front as Man Of The Match Callum Page followed up from Saturday's brace with another excellent goal, arrowing a powerful strike home across the box into the bottom right-hand corner. 

And in quickfire fashion, Needham raced into a two goal lead after 22 minutes, Byron Lawrence's long range low fierce drive was beaten away by Alley down to his left as far as full debutant Hans Mpongo who was on hand from close range to loop the rebound over the goalkeeper and into the net before celebrating with the Needham supporters.

Three minutes later, ex-Marketman Joe Neal saw two strikes denied by the home defence inside the box, after the first was blocked Garnham was on hand to gather his poked near post shot.

Just after the half-hour mark, Luke Ingram tried his luck at goal, only to see his fierce strike from outside the box go over the crossbar, whilst Ben Fowkes' low dangerous ball across the box was just ahead of Mpongo running in two minutes later. 

With 39 minutes on the clock, Callum Page tripled the hosts' lead with his sixth goal of the campaign, making him Needham's top scorer in the league this season, as he arrived perfectly to drive Kyle Hammond's cutback first time cutback home into the bottom right-hand corner. 

Two minutes into first half stoppage time, Needham went close to extending their lead further, Ben Fowkes drove through into the box where he got low shot off at goal from close range - Alley however was equal to it, saving with his feet whilst the rebound fell just behind Mpongo. 

Into the second half, just six minutes were on the clock when Jake Alley thwarted Needham from inflicting further damage, Byron Lawrence threaded Hans Mpongo through one on one with Alley after beating his man, but his low shot was well saved by Alley who had narrowed down the angle well to turn his shot behind at his near post.

The game after that went flat, with Biggleswade having more of the ball but struggled to really test the Marketmen's defence, although had a corner directed goalwards not been cleared off the line crucially by Needham captain Keiran Morphew it would've ruined the hosts' clean sheet on 64 minutes. 

Back up the other end four minutes later, Kyle Hammond almost added the gloss on the scoreline from the hosts' perspective, after bring threaded through past the defence inside the box the versatile defender/midfielder hit a ferocious half volley that flew just over Alley's crossbar. 

Both of Biggleswade's ex-Marketmen had a good chance each, though Joe Neal's low free-kick outside the box was palmed away well by Needham goalkeeper Marcus Garnham down to his left-hand side on 71 minutes, Sam Squire sliced his first time shot from just outside the box wide of the bottom corner three minutes from time. 

Just as five added minutes were about to be announced, Needham went close to adding to their lead, Ben Fowkes was feed through by Luke Ingram who then cut inside well into the penalty area only to fire just wide of the bottom near corner. 

A minute into said stoppage time, Fowkes' low dangerous ball across the penalty area flashed across goal with nobody up with him.

But with virtually the last chance of the evening, Fowkes' dangerous ball across did fall to Callum Page, looking again for a hat-trick but the latter's powerful half-volley went over the crossbar.

A much needed clean sheet for Marcus Garnham and his defence as the Marketmen now look ahead to Saturday's home game with Rushall Olympic, who have won their last two matches against Bromsgrove Sporting (4-1 home on Tuesday) and Biggleswade Town (1-0 last Saturday). 

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham (GK)

2 Kyle Hammond

3 Jake Dye

4 Byron Lawrence

5 Keiran Morphew (C) (82' D.Morphew)

6 Hugh Cullum

7 Hans Mpongo (72' Machaya)

8 Noah Collard (81' Fitzgerald)

9 Luke Ingram

10 Callum Page

11 Ben Fowkes

Subs:

12 Jose Santa De La Paz

14 Daniel Morphew

15 Kyle Hammond

16 Luke Ingram

17 Callum Sturgess

Biggleswade Town:-

1 Jake Alley (GK)

2 Luca Purse

3 Kane Farrell

4 James Peters (C)

5 Matthew Hall

6 Joe Howe

7 Ben Stevens (72' Cardines)

8 Ronan Silva (58' Parker)

9 Joe Neal

10 Sam Squire

11 Daniel Walker (82' Manu)

Subs:

12 David Manu

14 Luca Cardines

15 Magloire Muyembe

16 Robert Parker

Booked: Silva (53'), Collard (57'), Hammond (70'), Machaya (90'+3').

Goals: Page (20', 39'), Mpongo (22').

Match Sponsors Man Of The Match: 7 Callum Page. 

Bury Town U18 v Walsham Le Willows U18 18.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 58.
Date & KO: Monday 18 October 2021, 7:45pm.
Fixture: Bury Town Under-18 v Walsham Le Willows Under-18 
Venue: Denny Bros Ram Meadow Stadium.
Competition: Thurlow Nunn Youth League Cambridge Division.

MAX WILLCOX SCREAMER RECORDS ANOTHER BIG BURY WIN

BY DREW KENDALL

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A 76th minute pile-driver from Willcox moves Bury a point behind leaders Haverhill Rovers with a game in hand.

Bury Town Under-18's unbeaten start to the league season continued with a 1-0 derby win over Walsham Le Willows courtesy of Max Willcox's match winning second half screamer.

In the first half, Bury were forced to withstand pressure on their goal from Walsham, who had more of the ball in the opening forty-five minutes, as Jude Keylock's shot from distance was well held by Joe Wilson in the third minute.

Bury though went close in the eleventh minute as Zane Robinson's low strike from just outside the box was deflected just wide of the bottom near corner. 

The first half saw clear cut chances limited between the two sides, with the game not properly sparking to life until just before the half-hour mark, though Connor Lewis' low shot from distance was well held by goalkeeper Wilson down to his left-hand side. 

Down the other end a minute later though, a quick free-kick from the young Blues saw Charlie Smith shoot from 25-yards, only to see the impressive Walsham 'keeper Jacob Fairweather fly across to his right to palm the low strike behind. From the resulting corner meanwhile, Fairweather off his line missed his punch although the ricoshade of Jack Turner was blocked by a defender, only as far as Clinton Frank but his low shot was deflected just wide for another Bury corner. 

 In an entertaining game of two halves, another strong save from Fairweather denied Bury in the 35th minute, this time Ben Haddoch's free-kick saw the ricoshade off Turner nearly nestle into the bottom near corner had it not been for the visiting shot-stopper getting across well to get fingertips on it and tip the ball wide. 

George Moore meanwhile saw his 20-yard powerful strike go wide of the bottom left-hand corner three minutes later, whilst Jack Turner spun well on the edge of the box - though the striker could only fire just wide of the bottom corner two minutes before the break. 

The second half meanwhile belonged to Bury, with the home side penning Walsham into their own half for much of it, with some determined defending from Walsham keeping some great Bury play at bay until late on.

First, Max Willcox's header across the six yard box was cleared by the hosts, before Clinton Frank thumped a strike just wide of the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the box, a shot that was so ferocious it flew underneath the stand behind the goal and through the gap into the car park, the score remaining at 0-0 after 50 minutes. 

A good save from Fairweather denied Ben Haddoch eleven minutes later, as the creative midfielder's low first time strike just outside the box was well held by the 'keeper.

Jack Turner meanwhile saw his first time shot from a similar position blocked on 64 minutes, whilst the forward then fired just over the crossbar sixty seconds after. 

Then on the 64th minute, a scramble inside the six yard box saw both Ben Haddoch and Jack Jolland have shot blocked off the line as it became clear that the first time to score would most likely prove to be the match-winner. 

And so it proved, but not before Ben Haddoch's free-kick was headed just over the crossbar by Jack Turner in the 70th minute.

Two minutes later, Clinton Frank was then threaded through past the defence inside the box, but the forward's low fierce strike from the right-hand side was blocked behind by the legs of Fairweather. 

Bury went close again 16 minutes from time as Jack Turner controlled Bury Man Of The Match Ben Haddoch's free-kick well just outside the six yard box, the striker then turned well but saw his fierce low shot saved by Fairweather.  

It needed to be a screamer to deny either side a point and it duly was. Max Willcox's stunning strike from 20-yards rocketed into the top right-hand corner to give Bury a 76th minute lead. 

Had it not been for yet another excellent save from Fairweather, Bury could've doubled their lead two minutes in stoppage time. Substitute Luke Gannaway was threaded through on goal by Turner, who beat his defender for pace and held off the defender's pressure to shoot low from close range only to be denied by the visitors' Man Of the Match. 

Bury Town:-

1 Joe Wilson

2 Jack Utting (84' 17 Kersey)

3 Jack Jolland (79' Gannaway)

4 Max Willcox

5 Tom Gee (c) (83' 12)

6 George Allison

7 Ben Haddoch

8 Charlie Smith

9 Zane Robinson

10 Jack Turner

11 Clinton Frank

Subs: 

12 Finley Hay

14 Luke Gannaway 

15 Angus Mills

16 Max Kersey 

Walsham Le Willows:-

1 Jacob Fairweather

2 Jacob Jennings 

3 Dylan Browne

4 Connor Lewis (c)

5 Jude Manning-Smith

6 Ollie McKenzie-Vince

7 Jude Keylock

8 George Moore

9 Callum Barrett

10 Alex Walden

11 Ewan Hailstone

Subs: 

12 Will Martin-Daplyn

14 Rory Christian

15 Lennox Browne

16 Dan Hancock

17 Tom Moore

Booked: Haddoch (58'), L.Browne (70').

Goal: Willcox (76').

Bury Man Of The Match: 7 Ben Haddoch.

Walsham Man Of The Match: 1 Jacob Fairweather.

Attendance: 77.

Moreton Hall Ferals v Holbrook Swan 17.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 57.
Date & KO: Sunday 17 October 2021, 10:30am.
Fixture: Moreton Hall Ferals v Holbrook Swan.
Venue: Hardwick Heath Pitch 1.
Competition: Suffolk Sunday Cup Round 2.

HT: Ferals 4-0 Holbrook Swan.@bennewdick28, @Doveyy11, @Charlie_Glover_ & @dongray_callum (@dongray999 in video) pic.twitter.com/0ug61Y8xs8

— Moreton Hall Ferals (@MHFCFerals) October 17, 2021

Bury Sunday League Division One leaders Ferals advance to the Quarter-Finals of the Suffolk Sunday Cup with a 5-0 win over Ipswich Sunday Division One bottom side Holbrook Swan on a landmark morning at Hardwick Heath. 

Ferals' goalkeeper Aston Fallows marked his 200th, scoring two in that time, Ferals appearance (above) with a clean sheet, albeit also with a sin bin towards the end, whilst full-back George Crowe picked up two assists on his 400th club appearance in which he's scored forty-five goals (below). 

Ferals, who made the Semi-Finals of the county cup last season, forced a great save from the Holbrook goalkeeper after just a minute on the clock. 

George Glover's brilliant left wing cross found Fred Stewart-Hogg free from point blank range but his poke at goal was denied by an unbelievable diving save from the goalkeeper to react instantously to palm it away. 

Another good save from the visiting goalkeeper denied Callum Dove on the seventh minute, after being threaded through by Harry Whiting-Noakes past the defence, the forward's shot was parried away by the shot-stopper. 

Four minutes later, Dove was again thwarted by another strong save by the Holbrook stopper - this time the forward's great header towards the bottom left-hand corner from a pinpoint George Glover cross was slapped behind well by the diving goalkeeper for a corner. 

Ferals however were deservedly in front on 13 minutes, Ben Newdick leapt highest to head George Crowe's corner into the six yard box down into the ground, up into the top left-hand corner, 1-0. 

Crowe meanwhile floated a right wing free-kick from range just wide of the top far corner two minutes later, whilst the left-back's exquisite left wing cross from the byline just evaded Fred Stewart-Hogg free at the back post.

Ferals were by far the better side against a battling Holbrook side and could've added to their lead in the twenty-second minute, Craig Defew flicking Charlie Glover's cross in just wide of the bottom far corner from close range.

Nine minutes later though, Glover was threaded through past the defence inside the box, but the winger's low shot was well smothered by the 'keeper off his line. Ben Newdick then shot just wide from Glover's corner soon after, whilst Harry Whiting-Noakes fired just wide of the bottom corner from just outside the box after 33 minutes. 

The chances kept coming for Ferals as they looked for a deserved second goal, although Callum Dongray couldn't quite head Crowe's dangerous corner into the six yard box underneath the crossbar, heading just over the vacant goal on 35 minutes.

George Crowe was the provider however as Ferals doubled their lead three minutes later, his sumptuous pinpoint cross found Callum Dove free inside the box with the simple task of caressing the ball home first time into the bottom left-hand corner.

In quickfire fashion, Ferals then quickly raced into a four goal lead just before the interval, first Charlie Glover got on the score-sheet with a clever solo goal after 41 minutes. The winger drove through down the left-hand side into the penalty area, where upon reaching the byline Glover produced a Ronaldo chop to create space to shoot to fire low into the net at the near post via a deflection of the Holbrook number 11. 

A minute before half-time Glover picked up himself an assist as his pinpoint corner was headed down and into the ground and into the top corner by Callum Dongray from close range. 

Into the second half, Aston Fallows was called into action for the first real time in the game on 48 minutes, getting across well to his bottom right-hand corner to palm away the Holbrook number 20's low dangerous free-kick.

At the other end, substitute Jake Peasgood's cross marginally evaded fellow half-time substitute Kieran Twinn in space from close range four minutes later, whilst the latter's low shot just outside the box was blocked just ahead off the goal line by the defender in the 54th minute. 

Shortly before the hour mark, Ferals added a fifth goal courtesy of a brilliant finish by Kieran Twinn. The forward was fed by Callum Dove inside the box to ruthlessly fire home empathically into the top left-hand corner. 

Callum Dongray what would've been a stunning second goal of the morning on 71 minutes, Dove teed up the defender in space just coutside the box who smashed a ferocious half volley towards goal, which was rocketing towards the roof of the net had the Holbrook goalkeeper not stretched his hand up to tip it just over for a corner. 

At the other end on 74 minutes, Aston Fallows was forced into another superb save to deny the visitors from scoring from another dangerous free-kick, this time down to his left-hand post to push Holbrook's set-piece from just outside the box behind for a corner, before the visitors then saw an effort bounce just over via the top of the crossbar. 

Dove went close to adding to his and Ferals' goal tally three minutes later, shooting just wide of the bottom corner, whilst the forward was then found by Twinn's cutback on the penalty spot but could only guide his first time shot just over the top corner on 82 minutes. 

Dove then returned the favour to Twinn three minutes later, but Twinn's point blank range header was smothered well by the goalkeeper. 

Eighty-seven minutes were on the clock when Harry Whiting-Noakes' low shot from inside the box needed blocking by the defender on the goal-line.

The last action of the morning meanwhile fell at the other end as Charlie Glover shot just wide of the bottom left-hand corner.

Ferals return to league action next Sunday when they welcome Barrow to Hardwick Heath in a first v 2nd clash with 3 points currently separating the two teams. 

Ferals:

1 Aston Fallows

28 Ben Newdick (HT' Frost-Palmer)

10 Sam Waterson (c) (HT' Allen)

5 Craig Defew (69' Waterson)

88 George Crowe (69' Glover) 

33 Harry Whiting-Noakes (HT' Peasgood)

15 Charlie Glover (HT' Twinn)

21 Casey Underwood (71' Newdick)

20 Callum Dongray

7 Fred Stewart-Hogg (69' Whiting-Noakes)

11 Callum Dove

Subs:

4 Kieran Twinn

12 Dan Allen

9 Jake Peasgood

23 Elliott Frost-Palmer

50 Adrian Crowe

Holbrook

8 (c)

Goals: Newdick (13'), Dove (38'), Glover (41'), Dongray (44'), Twinn (58').

Hitchin Town v Needham Market 16.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 56.
Date & KO: Saturday 16 October 2021, 3pm.
Fixture: Hitchin Town v Needham Market.
Venue: Top Field, Hitchin.
Competition: The Pitching-In Southern League Premier Division Central.

Post Match Reaction:

Byron Lawrence:

Kevin Horlock:

Match Footage:

Needham Market pick up their first league win of the season with a clinical 6-1 away win at Hitchin Town.

The result sees Kevin Horlock's men leapfrog Hitchin and move up to 18th place in the table, following an unbeaten run of 5 league draws. Horlock made two changes to last Saturday's home draw with Redditch as Daniel Morphew was replaced by captain Keiran Morphew and Emmanuel Machaya dropped to the bench for Jose Santa.

The afternoon got off to the perfect start from the Reds' perspective as Man Of The Match Byron Lawrence broke the deadlock in the fifth minute. The midfielder was found by Noah Collard in space outside the box, where he blasted home a powerful drive into the top left-hand corner, 1-0 Needham. 

The goalscorer was then denied in the 24th minute as Lawrence's brilliant curled free-kick towards the top far corner was well held by Charlie Horlock in the Hitchin goall. 

And the Canaries' stopper thwarted the Marketmen once more on the half-hour mark, after Jose Santa dispossessed the defender just outside the home side's box, the forward poked it onto Ben Fowkes who drove through into the box only to his good low shot towards the far corner palmed away by Horlock, though nobody in Red was around to pounce on the loose ball.

But three minutes later, Needham did double their lead courtesy of another well worked goal. Kyle Hammond threaded a great ball over the top perfect for Callum Page running through the defence inside the box to latch onto and sweep past the onrushing Horlock low into the net. 

Another good save from Horlock prevented Needham from adding a third goal in the 40th minute, the stopper this time smothering Luke Ingram's low shot from inside the box behind at his near post. 

However, Hitchin halved the deficit down to one a minute into stoppage time as a cross back in following a corner was headed back across the face of goal by Lewis Barker finding captain Dan Webb free from point blank range to head home.

Needham on the other hand restored their two goal advantage in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time, Byron Lawrence again with a stunning strike for his second of the afternoon - this time firing home a beautiful low free-kick, from the edge of the box, which went through the wall and into the bottom near corner, 3-1 Needham. 

Had it not been for the efforts of goalkeeper Charlie Horlock, it could've been even worse for the home side - with the aforementioned stopper smothering Ben Fowkes' first time shot from close range three minutes after the restart. 

It was 4-1 to the Suffolk side after 64 minutes, courtesy of some clever link up play between two former Academy graduates. Noah Collard threaded a great ball through the defence to Callum Page, who did well to evade the defender's last ditch sliding challenge as he drove on into the box to sidefoot his second goal of the afternoon past Horlock and into the bottom near corner. 

At which point Hitchin were resigned to damage limitation, albeit they were unable to prevent Byron Lawrence from sealing his hat-trick on the 72nd minute. After a foul on Luke Ingram inside the box, the midfielder sent Horlock the wrong way, as he blasted home the spot-kick into the bottom right-hand corner, 5-1 Needham.

Five minutes later, the woodwork denied Ben Fowkes from adding his name to the score-sheet. The forward's beautiful low curling strike from the left wing-edge of the box looked like nestling into the bottom far corner had it not crashed back into play off the inside of the post.

Debutant Hans Mpongo, who had only been on the pitch 6 minutes nearly got in on the act, the Dutch-born forward was threaded through on goal, drawing Horlock off his line only to see his shot go agonisingly just wide of the bottom far corner.

 

But four minutes from full-time, he did pick up an assist as Mpongo threaded Ben Fowkes through free inside the box, who then beared down on goal before cooly placing it past Horlock into the bottom left-hand corner to complete the scoring. 

Needham will look to build on the result on Tuesday when the welcome Biggleswade Town to Bloomfields, which will reunite them with ex-Marketmen trio Sam Squire, Joe Neal and Russell Short. 

Hitchin Town:-

1 Charles Horlock (GK)

2 Lawrie Marsh

3 Alex Brown

4 Ryan Smith (34' Akubuine)

5 Daniel Webb (C)

6 Ciaren Jones

7 Lewis Barker

8 Joshua Coldicott-Stevens (73' Snee)

9 Rio Dasilva

10 Luke Brown

11 Kye Tearle (57' Moloney)

Subs:

12 Daniel Akubuine

14 Henry Snee

15 Malaki Black

16 Matthew Moloney

17 Stanley Georgiou

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham (GK)

2 Kyle Hammond

3 Jake Dye

4 Byron Lawrence

5 Keiran Morphew (C) (74' Sturgess)

6 Hugh Cullum

7 Callum Page

8 Noah Collard

9 Luke Ingram (75' Mpongo)

10 Jose Santa De La Paz (56' Fitzgerald)

11 Ben Fowkes

Subs:

12 Callum Sturgess

14 Thomas Fitzgerald

15 Emmanuel Machaya

16 Hans Mpongo

17 Taylor Clark

Booked: Smith (16'), Brown (45+3'), Fitzgerald (82').

Goals: Webb (45'+3'); Lawrence (5', 45'+4', 72'pen), Page (33', 64'), Fowkes (86').

Ely City U18 v Bury Town U18 14.10.2021

Season: 2021-22. Game: 55.
Date & KO: Thursday 14 October 2021, 7:45pm.
Fixture: Ely City Under-18s v Bury Town Under-18s.
Venue: DENCOM Stadium, The Ellgia Stadium, Ely.
Competition: Thurlow Nunn Youth League Cambridge Division.

LATE GANNAWAY STRIKE SEALS AWAY WIN

BY DREW KENDALL

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An eight goal thriller went the way of the visiting Blues, as goals from Ben Haddoch, Jack Turner (brace), Max Kersey & Luke Gannaway earned Bury 3 points at Ely.

Bury Town continue their unbeaten start to the Thurlow Nunn Youth Cambridge Division season with a 5-3 win in an entertaining contest between the two sides. 

Whilst Ely started both halves brighter, Bury grew into it well with both sides posing a threat even though neither keeper had to make too many saves throughout the night. 

However, all of the eight goals in the game were well taken, with hosts Ely breaking the deadlock in the sixth minute. 

A quick break from the home side found Louis Jenkins, who drove through down the right-hand side who then finished well poking the ball into the top near corner from close range, 1-0 Ely.

The home side then went close five minutes later as Charlie Barham flicked Sam Holden's dangerous long ball just wide of the far post. 

The Blues though drew level in the twelfth minute, courtesy of a brilliant finish from Ben Haddoch, the midfilder was threaded through in space inside the box to duly thump home underneath the diving keeper into the bottom left-hand corner, 1-1. 

But straight after kick off, the home side instantly restored the advantage, Charlie Barham's neat ball round the defence threaded Oliver Hollands through who jinked past his defender before guiding his shot home into the bottom right-hand corner from close range. 

Undeterred by going behind again, Bury forced a great save from Ely goalkeeper Louie Bull in the nineteenth minute. Ben Haddoch's exquisite corner found Clinton Frank three yards out at the far post, the forward neatly flicked it low towards the left-hand corner but Bull was up to the task, quickly diving across well to tip it just wide. 

Ely striker Barham meanwhile would've got a dangerous shot at goal from inside the box had it not been for a great intervention from Tom Gee, the captain diverting the ball behind for a corner just prior to the hour mark, proving crucial as Bury restored parity once more in the 36th minute. 

Great play from the visitors which saw Jack Turner thread Elliott Lacey racing through down the left wing, the left-back's low ball towards the striker was cleared as far as Max Wilcox 25-yards out whose fierce low strike was beaten across his six yard box by Bull, though the defender cleared ahead of the lurking Turner.

The resulting corner then saw a cross pinpoint to Turner in space just outside the box who duly rifled his side level on the volley into the bottom right-hand corner, via the inside of the opposite post.  

Despite the first half especially being end to end, there weren't too many chances for either side, but Ely would've rued one chance they had on the stroke of half time as Barham could only guide Cowie's dangerous low ball into the six yard box over as both sides went into the interval level.

Again, Ely started the second half out off the blocks as Cowie forced a good save from Wilson just 15 seconds after the restart, driving through well inside the box but his close range shot was parried behind well by the Bury shot-stopper. 

The home side had another good chance in the 47th minute, a dangerous corner was tapped back across the face of goal, finding Barham in space from point blank range but the angle was too tight as he could only direct his shot just wide into the side netting.

Bury on the other hand went close to taking the lead for the first time on 52 minutes as Jack Turner was a yard away from getting a touch that would've likely turned Zane Robinson's fierce dangerous ball into the net from point blank range.

Three minutes later, some string defending from Ely thwarted Clinton Frank from giving the Blues the lead, Robinson's ball back into the box fell to Frank free inside the box, the forward looked to smash the ball low across goal and into the far corner only to be denied by a well placed defender on the goal-line to block it away. 

An incredible save from Bull on 66 minutes though denied Frank what would've been a great finish. Having been threaded through inside the box by Ben Haddoch, Frank thumped his shot towards the top far corner only to see the Ely 'keeper react quickly to dive across well at his near post and palm it away. 

Bury soon were in front though, with Jack Turner picking up his second goal in the process, the loose ball from Ben Haddoch's free-kick fell kindly for the striker to simply blast the ball home first time into the bottom right-hand corner from 10-yards out, 3-2 Bury after 68 minutes. 

No more than a minute later, the crossbar denied Turner a hat-trick - the forward leapt like a salmon to turn Haddoch's free-kick towards goal only to see his great header agonisingly rebound back into play off the face of the crossbar.

The latter was involved though in Bury's fourth goal, Turner this time the provider - his headed flick on from a long ball released Max Kersey through on goal, who drove through exploiting space on his way into the box where he bent his powerful finish past the goalkeeper and into the bottom near corner, 4-2 Bury. 

Some alert and crucial sweeper-keeping from Blues stopper Joe Wilson preserved Bury's two goal lead ten minutes from time, sliding off his line well to clear a cross into his six yard box which was destined for Josh Lawrence to tap home. 

Ely did set up an interesting last two minutes however as a corner picked out Louis Jenkins free from close range, who picked up his second of the night heading home into the bottom right-hand corner to make it 3-4 a minute into stoppage time. 

That goal sparked another Bury goal up the other end, as Luke Gannaway who had only been on the pitch seven minutes when he sealed the points for Bury two minutes later. Back from injury, Gannaway added Bury's fifth with a powerful, swerving, dipping finish that nestled into the top right-hand corner. 

Bury will look to continue their league form when they welcome Walsham Le Willows, who beat Royston Town 3-0 on the same night, to the Denny Bros Stadium on Monday. 

Ely City:-

1 Louie Bull

2 Sam Holden

3 Ben Terry

4 Ed Sporle

5 Corey Braybrooke

6 Levi Briggs

7 Josh Lawrence

8 Oliver Hollands

9 Charlie Barham

10 Louis Jenkins

11 Luis Cowie

Subs:

12 Luke Pettit

14 George Kirby

15 Harvey Wilson

16 James Farrel

17 Joao Aguilar

Bury Town:-

1 Joe Wilson

2 Jack Utting (90' Jolland)

3 Elliott Lacey (57' Kersey)

4 George Allison

5 Zane Robinson (76' Hay)

6 Tom Gee (c)

7 Max Wilcox

8 Ben Haddoch

9 Jack Turner

10 Clinton Frank (86' Gannaway)

11 Jack Jolland (HT' Smith)

Subs: 

12 Max Kersey

14 Charlie Smith

15 Fin Hay

16 Luke Gannaway.

Booked: Lacey (39'), Frank (71'), H.Wilson (73').

Goals: Jenkins (6', 90'+1'), Hollands (13'); Haddoch (12'), Turner (36', 68'), Kersey (75'), Gannaway (90'+3').