NEEDHAM MARKET U18 V WHITTON UNITED U18 25.04.2022

Thurlow Nunn Youth League Central Division Champions Needham Market maintained their long term unbeaten run in the league with a 5-0 win over Whitton United.

Some excellent finishing from the young Marketmen concluded their home league campaign in some style, but in truth it took the home side a portion of the first half to get going. 

Although, once they did they played some neat football. 

Having said that, it was the home side who had the first chance after just six minutes, as a clever through-ball towards Aiden Jolly, who'd ran past the defence, went through the onrushing goalkeeper's legs but was well dealt with by the defender. 

The away side though had a great chance on 13 minutes, after the young Greens picked up possession on the left-hand edge of the box the player tried his luck at goal, only to see his shot deflect over via the top of the crossba for a goal-kick. 

Dimitri Gayle however did have a decent chance for Needham four minutes later, the winger weaved through onto the left-hand edge of the box, only to fire his shot comfortably over the crossbar. 

The hosts went agonisingly close though to breaking the deadlock on 23 minutes - which came after a booking and a sin bin for the Whitton captain. Harry Blackburn's dangerously 30-yard low free-kick audaciously curled round the wall, forcing the goalkeeper to beat it away as far as Ben Smith whose shot from a tight angle went wide. 

On the half hour mark, Needham were awarded a penalty after Ivan Sanchez's driving run into the box was halted illegally. Up stepped the left-back, who empathically sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and thumped his spot- kick home into the bottom left hand corner, 1-0 Needham. 

Just five minutes later, some great play from Needham almost resulted in a second goal, the ball was squared across brilliantly to Eddie Barker, in space from ten yards out, who smartly threaded it onto Gayle down the right-hand side, who took a touch but was denied a shot at goal by a great tackle by a defender. 

At this point, Needham were firmly on top, with some great goalkeeping from the visiting stopper ensuring it wasn't 2-0 after 39 minutes, racing out off his box to clear Gayle's ball through to Barker out for a throw-in. 

But four minutes later, the young Marketmen did double their advantage, Harry Blackburn was threaded through brilliantly by a sumptuous defence splitting pass onto the right-hand side of the box, the full-back then squared a fantastic ball on a plate which saw Ollie Fraser, one of 3 Needham players queuing up, race in to empathically sidefoot home from point blank range at the far post, 2-0. 

Whitton meanwhile tried to catch Needham out straight from kick-off, shooting just over the bar from the half-way line. 

On the stroke of half-time Needham went close again, this time Aiden Jolly was threaded through free inside the box, only to sidefoot his effort wide of the bottom right-hand corner. 

Whitton on the other hand went close with the last touch of the opening forty-five minutes, firing a long range strike just over the top right-hand corner.

Into the second half, Needham started the half looking to quickly build on their half time lead, just five minutes after the restart. 

Ollie Fraser drove through dangerously across the box before squaring a great ball across goal, on a plate for 2 red shirts, neither of whom though were able to reach it. 

Shortly after, Needham did increase their lead, thanks to an absolutely stunning goal from Dimitri Gayle. The winger exploited space to curl a stunning strike from 30-yards out, which dipped into the top far left hand corner via the underside of the crossbar, 3-0!

And in quickfire fashion, it was soon 4-0 to the young Marketmen after 53 minutes. Aiden Jolly was unfortunate to see his great strike on the left-hand edge of the box crash back into play off the front face of the crossbar, falling kindly for Eddie Barker who volleyed in low from close range, fiercely into the middle of the net! 

Three minutes later, Jolly went close again to getting his name on the scoresheet, firing a great first time strike narrowly wide of the bottom near corner from the edge of the box. 

The chances continued to fall for the home side, as Harry Blackburn's 64th minute audacious free-kick just evaded Ben Smith free on the penalty spot, as it went just wide of the bottom far right-hand corner. 

Had it not been for an offside flag, Needham would've added a fifth goal in exquisite style two minutes later. Mallet's long ball threaded Jolly through down the left-hand side of the box, but was offside when he cleverly lobbed the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the net. 

Needham were unlucky to not to add a fifth goal once more after 70 minutes, this time Flynn Crosthwaite threaded a great ball through to Ollie Fraser down the left wing, the winger then drove through dangerously dow. The byline, only to see his inviting poke across goal from 3-yards out rebound off the fortunate Whitton full-back and away from goal.

The visiting keeper meanwhile was well placed a minute later to brilliantly claim an excellent looping strike from Jolly, which was creeping underneath the crossbar a minute later, while Needham were awarded an in-direct free-kick just outside the six yard box on 73 minutes.

The ball was rolled off as the fierce strike was bravely deflected away by the bravely charging defender, the ball then fell to Harry Blackburn on the edge of the box whose fierce strike flashed just wide, at lightning speed, of the left-hand post. 

Next it was the crossbar that denied Needham from adding a fifth goal with 10 minutes remaining, Tom Roughley won back possession brilliantly on the edge of the box, finding Marcus Curtis. He then poked the ball onto Eddie Barker free from 10-yards out whose sidefooted shot clipped the top of the bar on its way just over. 

Shepherd meanwhile did well to continue driving towards the penalty area, despite a foul on 83 minutes, only to fire his strike a centimetre wide of the bottom corner. 

A minute later, Needham got their well deserved fifth goal in clever fashion, Ollie Fraser notched his brace, sweeping smartly into the bottom far corner, after cutting inside following a great through-ball. 

Marcus Curtis was similarly threaded through by a neat defence splitting pass on 85 minutes, but the latter could only watch as his chip past the onrushing goalkeeper went wide. 

In an impressive second half, Needham almost added a sixth goal on 88 minutes, Fabio De Souza hooked a great cross into Shepherd, who leapt well but couldn't quite get above the ball, as his header looped just over the bar. 

It was also Shepherd who had the last chance of the game, three minutes into stoppage time, the midfielder jinked into space well only to see his low shot well saved.  

The young Marketmen will look to see out their unbeaten title winning campaign on Thursday, when they travel to Harwich & Parkeston. 

Needham Market:-

1 Fred Mallet

2 Harry Blackburn

3 Ivan Sanchez

4 Euan Shepherd

5 Ben Smith

6 Dillon Olias (c)

7 Ollie Fraser

8 Clayton Osborn

9 Eddie Barker

10 Aiden Jolly

11 Dimitri Gayle

Subs:

20 Flynn Crosthwaite

14 Brandon Greenleaf

15 Fabio De Souza

16 Tom Roughley

17 Marcus Curtis

Whitton United:-

4 (c)

Booked: W4 (22')

Sin Binned: W4 (22')

Goals: Sanchez (31'pen), Fraser (43', 84'), Gayle (51'), Barker (53').

Needham Market Reserves v Stowupland Falcons, 23.04.2022

A late brace from Konnor Fletcher settles an entertaining end of season friendly young Needham Market side against a fantastic Stowupland Falcons side.

The game was played in the right manner by both teams from the first to the last whistle, with the game being a thoroughly enjoyable contest, and it was the home side who had the first chance in the second minute.

Fletcher's great left wing corner found a Needham teammate free from close range, whose first shot was blocked, while his second attempt was fired agonisingly wide of the top right hand corner. 

Four minutes later, the hosts went close again firing an equally agonising strike just over the bar from 25-yards out. 

A terrific stop from the fantastic Stow Falcons goalkeeper denied Needham from breaking the deadlock in the 8th minute, the Needham number 15 threaded through Brandon Greenleaf one on one with the in-form shot-stopper, the former tried to place his shot cleverly into the right-hand corner, but to be denied by the keeper's outstretched hand. 

But a fantastically well worked move did see the Reds break the deadlock in the 10th minute, it all started with defender Ben Smith finding Fletcher with a great ball. The latter then brilliantly flicked it onto the number 10, who raced through down the right wing. He then teed up Brandon Greenleaf, who in turn fed Ollie Fraser who curled a great strike into the very top right-hand corner, 1-0 Needham!

Another fantastic stop from the Falcons goalkeeper denied Greenleaf from doubling the young Marketmen's advantage in the 24th minute, the Needham number 9's fierce shot was beaten away well by the keeper firmly at his near post, whilst goalscorer Fraser was unfortunate not to see his ball across the face of goal squeeze into the gaping net. 

And more good play from the home side saw them go close again to doubling their lead after 31 minutes, this time Tom Roughley's cross into the six yard box found the Needham number 10 in acres of space from eight yards out, whose toe-poked shot towards the roof of the net was caught well by the vitally well placed goalkeeper. 

However, a minute later Needham did double their lead, Brandon Greenleaf was threaded through into acres of space inside the box to finish cooly, low, into the middle of the net, 2-0!

Back down the other end however, a dangerous Falcons crossfield ball saw them find a man free, who cut inside well only to fire his low shot just wide into the side netting. 

Fraser meanwhile tested the goalkeeper again five minutes before the interval, heading a great cross in from close range straight at the 'keeper. That though was quickly followed by another Needham chance, albeit this time Greenleaf fired his shot over the bar from 18-yards out. 

The inspired visiting keeper though thwarted Needham once again on 43 minutes, goalscorer Fraser weaved through brilliantly onto the left wing byline, only to see his clever low shot smothered behind by a great save by the shot-stopper at his near post. 

In the second half, the entertainment continued, in a game that both sides can be massively proud of not only their performance, but how they played the game. A fantastic advert for lower-league football. 

It was Falcons who had the first shot after the restart, with the visitors firing a great strike just over the crossbar in the 47th minute, whilst Fraser did likewise at the other end a minute later. 

Falcons though reduced the deficit after 55 minutes, a great ball was squared across on a plate for Jack Yaxley to tap home low into the middle of an empty net, 2-1!

But Needham responded and restored their two goal advantage just four minutes later, as Brandon Greenleaf picked up a brace, the forward was threaded through expertly one on one with the goalkeeper before finishing confidently past the goalkeeper and into the bottom right hand corner, 3-1 Needham!

And so the fun continued, as Konnor Fletcher was threaded through by another great defence splitting pass, but was offside as he shot just a centimetre wide of the bottom corner after 61 minutes.

Two minutes later, Fletcher was denied by the Falcons goalkeeper, this time the winger weaved through into the box, only to see his low shot from a tight angle kept out by a brilliant save from the legs of the keeper, who then denied the home side in the same fashion from the follow up. 

The astonishing goalkeeping continued moments later, as the stopper then dived across to beat behind a great strike for a corner. 

And as a result of which, Falcons reduced the deficit back to a single goal once more on 66 minutes, a great save from the Needham goalkeeper tipped a great ball into the six yard box away from Yaxley running in behind him, who would've no doubt had the goal at his mercy. However, the ball fell perfectly to Ryan Rampley to curl an unstoppable stunning strike into the top right-hand corner, 3-2!

Five minutes later, a crucial goalbound block denied Falcons from drawing back on level terms, while Fletcher went agonisingly close to again regaining his side's two goal lead in the 72nd minute. 

A great ball found the latter with his back to goal, just outside the box, who spun well only to fire his strike just wide of the top right hand corner. 

The drama was not over yet by a long shot, as Falcons tied the game up at 3-3 with 11 minutes left on the clock, as Craig Simpson had space on the left-hand byline inside the box and oozed composure as he deservedly drew Falcons level with a great finish into the bottom far corner.

And a crucial low stop from the Needham keeper ensured that Falcons wouldn't take the lead a minute later, with both sides very much playing some brilliant football.

It was Needham though who had the next few chances in quick succession, first, in the 84th minute, Ollie Fraser cut inside brilliantly from the left wing, before teeing up a teammate whose great strike towards the top right hand corner was saved by the well placed keeper.

A minute later, Fletcher then curled a great strike from just outside the box just wide into the side netting, while the hosts then fired a fantastic effort just wide of the right-hand post on 87 minutes. 

Fittingly, in his first game back after over a year and a half out because of injury, Konnor Fletcher scored two outrageous goals in the space of a minute to win the game for Needham. 

The first, on 89 minutes, saw Fletcher race through into space onto the edge of the box, where he lasered an unbelievable strike into top right hand corner, 4-3!

And courtesy of some brilliant defending from Flynn Crosthwaite, the former quickly had a brace. Crosthwaite won back possession brilliantly in his own half before driving forward and threading Fletcher racing through one on one with the 'keeper. The forward then curled a beautiful strike home into the top right hand corner to settle a top class 90 minutes of football, 5-3 in Needham's favour. 

Goals: Fraser (10'), Greenleaf (32', 59'), Fletcher (89', 90'); Yaxley (55'), Rampley (66'), Simpson (77').

Needham Market U18 v Stowmarket Town U18 22.04.2022

Needham Market U18 win the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Youth League Central Division for the first time in their history following a 5-0 win over local rivals Stowmarket Town.

After having been unbeaten in the division since 21st of March 2019, it's a long overdue wait for the club, which has seen numerous players who've played in the Under-18s progress onto the Reserves, with a good amount making it all the way to the First Team.

On the pitch, the young Marketmen, some of whom were involved in the First Team's Suffolk Premier Cup triumph the night before, wasted little time before taking the lead.

No more than twenty seconds were on the clock when Flynn Crosthwaite started the move from kick-off, feeding Louie McDonagh, he in turn found Clayton Osborn with a great cross into the box, the winger free close to goal then cut the ball back to Mo Igwebuike. The onrushing midfielder cooly swept home the opening goal of the night into the bottom right-hand corner, 1-0 Needham. 

Stow on the other hand did have the ball in the net in the seventh minute, but after a far post free header from a right wing cross couldn't quite be kept out by the diving Johnson, the goal was chalked off for a foul. 

A minute later, Archie Exworth controlled a great long ball well, chesting it down before firing a fierce volley a centimetre wide of the bottom right-hand corner - albeit the whistle went for a foul. 

The young Reds shortly after doubled their lead, courtesy of a second goal of the night for Mo Igwebuike, Harry Blackburn lofted in an exquisite right wing corner into the midfielder, amongst a crowd of bodies from close range, who leapt like a salmon to loop a great header into the top far corner, despite the goalkeeper diving across and getting a hand to it, 2-0.

Stowmarket though forced a good save out off goalkeeper Ewan Johnson in the 12th minute, Wharton-Richardson was threaded through into space past the defence, only to see his low shot well saved by Johnson, while the rebound was shot just a centimetre wide of the bottom far corner. 

Dimitri Gayle down the other end went agonisingly close for the home side two minutes later, the winger's half-volley from just outside the box flashed just wide of the bottom far corner. 

Gayle meanwhile forced a good low diving save out off goalkeeper Isaac Read in the 19th minute, although Louie McDonagh was in an offside position as he latched onto the loose ball. 

Needham had another great chance in the 25th minute, this time miscommunication in the Stow defence saw the ball fall as far as Clayton Osborn, whose fierce half volley was beaten away firmly by the goalkeeper. 

And it was 3-0 to the young Marketmen a minute later, the ball bounced kindly for Louie McDonagh to rifle an audacious volley home into the bottom left-hand corner, from inside the box. 

Thirteen minutes before the break, McDonagh turned provider, the striker whipped a great ball over the top to thread Osborn through inside the box, whose volley lashed just wide of the bottom corner. 

Osborn again was unfortunate to not increase his side's advantage on 39 minutes, this time teed up by Archie Exworth, racing through into the box, the former sidefooted a fierce shot just over the crossbar. 

The hosts continued to test the visiting defence however, with McDonagh's 25-yard first time powerful strike too hot for the goalkeeper to handle at the first attempt in the 41st minute. 

Stow on the other hand had a great chance a minute later, the visitors broke through into the box but fired low and wide into the side netting from a tight angle.

Although the whistle had already gone for an offside against Exworth, McDonagh finished the half with a sensational finish, empathically firing the loose ball home via the inside of the far post. 

Courtesy of their half time advantage, the second half was quite comfortable for the home side, who had virtually all of the notable chances after the restart.

The first of which arrived in the 50th minute, Exworth's great all out to Gayle released the latter driving through down the left wing, whose inviting cross in was glanced wide by Marcus Curtis. 

Curtis tried his luck at goal again two minutes later, only this time the midfielder was thwarted by a good diving stop from Read. The Needham substitute was teed up cleverly by Exworth from 30-yards out, only to see his sumptuous curling and dipping strike denied. 

In a spree of quickfire chances for the young Reds, Gayle drove a 25-yard strike narrowly wide of the bottom far corner on 54 minutes, while resolute defending from Stow prevented Exworth from adding his name to the scoresheet four minutes later. 

Great team play saw Harry Blackburn feed McDonagh, the striker then flicked on smartly to Exworth free inside the box, but for a sliding defender to close him down just in time to vitally block the shot. 

Blackburn meanwhile curled a dangerous free-kick into the box on the hour mark, but his set-piece was fiercely volleyed just wide of the near post by a red shirt.

Had it not been for another great stop from the Stowmarket shot-stopper, Needham arguably could've had a hatful more goals, with Read's latest intervention denying Brandon Greenleaf's low strike from close range with his legs. 

It was 4-0 though to the hosts on 67 minutes, Exworth played Euan Shepherd through past the defence with perfectly weighted through-ball, the latter then took the ball away from the goalkeeper before slotting home into the bottom near corner from a tight angle. 

The professional performance from the young Reds continued, who ultimately sealed their league title in style, 

Louie McDonagh though thought he'd added to his side's lead, after pick pocketing the goalkeeper and expertly firing home, albeit the goal was chalked off for impeding the goalkeeper. 

Read denied McDonagh again with a superb stop on 79 minutes. A neat flick from the striker created space to fire low at the near post, although impressively held onto by Read. 

In a rare brilliant chance for Stow, the visitors almost dented their hosts' clean sheet two minutes later as their low shot rebounded in off the front base of the left-hand post. 

Chasing a hat-trick, Igwebuike again rose lije a salmon from close range to meet another cleverly taken Blackburn corner, albeit this time the midfielder headed wide of the target on 85 minutes. 

As the derby game entered the final minute, McDonagh was thwarted from making it 5-0 to the Reds. A great ball round the defence set McDonagh through inside the area, whose low shot was well smothered by Read at his near post. 

But seconds later, Igwebuike completed his hat-trick, coupled with being the title clinching goal, in fitting fashion. The midfielder was threaded through inside the box before finishing cooly into the bottom corner.

The young Marketmen are back in home action on Monday when they welcome Whitton United to Bloomfields (7:45pm). 

Needham Market:-

1 Ewan Johnson

2 Harry Blackburn

3 Brandon Greenleaf

4 Mo Igwebuike

5 Dillon Olias (c)

6 Hugh Cullum

7 Clayton Osborn (HT' Curtis)

8 Flynn Crosthwaite (64' Shepherd)

9 Louie McDonagh

10 Archie Exworth

11 Dimitri Gayle (61' Sanchez)

Subs:

20 Euan Shepherd

14 Marcus Curtis 

15 Ben Smith

16 Aiden Jolly

17 Ivan Sanchez

Stowmarket Town:- 

1 Isaac Read

12 Sam Blewitt

3 Milan Irving

4 Bobby Bell

5 Charlie Bushell

6 Harvey Talbot

7 Aiden Phair

8 Jesse Wyatt

9 Cameron Taylor

10 Jack Wharton-Richardson

11 Joel Simmons

Booked: Wyatt (60').

Goals: Igwebuike (1', 9', 90'), McDonagh (26'), Shepherd (67').

Needham Market U18 v Leiston U18 19.04.2022

Needham Market Under-18s maintain their league unbeaten run after a 2-2 home draw with 2nd placed Leiston.

A win for the Thurlow Nunn Youth League Central Division leaders would've sealed their first league title, although with 2 games in hand a draw firmly kept the young Reds in the driving seat to do so - with Leiston only having one game left after Tuesday night's encounter.

The young Marketmen remain a point ahead of their opponents, ahead of a local derby at home to Stowmarket Town on Friday (8pm), and were by far the better team in the first half. 

Archie Exworth had the first chance after just eight minutes, the midfielder had space to shoot just outside the box, but blazed his shot over the bar. 

Leiston however got through down the left-hand side of the box a minute later, only to see their shot well saved by Johnson down well at his near post. 

The woodwork meanwhile denied the young Reds from breaking the deadlock in the tenth minute, Clayton Osborn fed Flynn Crosthwaite, who in turn fed Louie McDonagh through inside the box. The striker cleverly teed up Exworth, free inside the box, whose great first time strike rebounded wide off the outside face of the top near upright. 

But the young Marketmen did open the scoring a minute later, Exworth's corner picked out Hugh Cullum, who leapt like a salmon from close range to nod home into the bottom left hand corner, 1-0 Needham. 

A flying save though from Sonny Wright thwarted Needham from doubling their lead on 19 minutes, Dimitri Gayle exploited space on the left-hand edge of the box, only to see his rifled shot towards the top near corner tipped over by the shot-stopper. 

Eight minutes later, Gayle then tried his luck at goal again, this time from 30-yards out the winger looked to dip an audacious 30-yard shot towards the top near corner, which took a deflection off the defender as it dipped towards goal, only to take the sting out off it and leave a comfortable catch for Wright.

At the other end, Needham survived a brief scare just after the hour mark, a passback evaded goalkeeper Ewan Johnson, but luckily for the home side was going just wide of the post when Johnson got his foot to the ball. 

Five minutes later, Needham looked to catch their visitors out with a quickly taken throw-in. As a result, McDonagh drove through dangerously down the left-hand side, close to goal, but as he cut across towards goal his clever shot was well gathered by the goalkeeper guarding his near post.

Needham went close again on 38 minutes, Clayton Osborn stole a yard of space from the defender to whip a good cross into the box, but his ball in went just over the crossbar. 

Exworth then looked to curl a sumptuous 25-yard strike home into the top near corner on 41 minutes, only to find Wright right behind it. 

A minute into first half stoppage time, Needham had the final chance of the half as Harry Blackburn's set-piece was glanced wide at the back post. 

After the restart though, it was Leiston who were arguably the better side, up until the visitors' equalising goal. 

Just a minute of the half had been played when Matt Mullis was teed up inside the box, but side footed his shot from a tight angle wide of the top near corner. 

Needham though created a good chance in the 50th minute, a peach of a cross in picked out Exworth free at the far post, whose close range header was easy for Wright to collect. 

At the other end though, Mullis found space just outside the box, but the striker blazed his shot high over the bar. 

Tugman meanwhile drove through dangerously to the edge of the box on 57 minutes, but the winger fired his shot a centimetre wide of the bottom far corner. 

Mo Igwebuike on the other hand exploited space well to get a shot off low at goal, but his strike was comfortable for Wright at his near post, as the scoreline remained 1-0 on the hour mark.

Leiston though drew level in the 62nd minute, a left wing corner found Johns free at the back post, who volleyed home into the top near corner from close range. 

That goal gave the young Marketmen the spark they needed, as the home side were denied by the crossbar just two minutes later. McDonag was fed just outside the box, who spun round well only to see his fierce strike cannon back into play off the right-hand face of the bar. 

Needham continued to go close to regaining their lead, with their latest effort arriving on 66 minutes, Exworth's fierce 25-yard strike though went just over the crossbar. 

Sixty seconds later, the home side went agonisingly close again, Gayle teed up McDonagh, who in turn fed Osborn just outside the box, but the winger could only sidefoot his shot over the crossbar.

With 20 minutes to go meanwhile, Leiston took the lead, after a neat run from Matt Mullis the striker teed up Jacobbi Tugman at the back post to tap home low into an empty net. 

Needham looked to respond quickly as Gayle's shot a minute later was gathered well by the diving Wright.

And with 74 minutes on the clock, Needham restored parity, Exworth threaded Louie McDonagh through down the left-hand side, the striker then cooly finished underneath the goalkeeper and into the bottom near corner. 

The home side arguably could have retaken the lead on 76 minutes, but Flynn Crosthwaite's curling shot went agonisingly just over the top left hand corner. 

Captain, and goalscorer, Hugh Cullum marauded forward dangerously onto the edge of the box, only to fire his shot into Wright's midrift. 

A great save from Johnson though on 89 minutes ensured Needham a point, the goalkeeper stood firm at his near post to beat away a shot from the left-hand byline. 

Needham substitute Ollie Fraser, down the other end a minute later, went close to snatching all 3 points late on for Needham, driving his low shot narrowly wide from just outside the box.

The final chance of the night also fell to the young Marketmen two minutes later, a great long free-kick from Johnson fell to Exworth in space, whose half-volley went just wide into the bottom near side-netting.

Needham Market:-

1 Ewan Johnson

2 Harry Blackburn

3 Brandon Greenleaf

4 Mo Igwebuike (62' Barker)

15 Hugh Cullum (c)

6 Ben Smith

7 Clayton Osborn (73' Shepherd)

8 Flynn Crosthwaite

9 Louie McDonagh

10 Archie Exworth

11 Dimitri Gayle (87' Fraser)

Subs:

12 Euan Shepherd

14 Eddie Barker

16 Ollie Fraser

17 Harry Davison

18 Aiden Jolly

Leiston:-

1 Sonny Wright

2 Cohen Duhaney (c) (81' Mills)

3 Callum Pearman

4 Ben Batho

5 Jimmy Williams

6 Max Johns

7 Jacobbi Tugman

8 John Shannon (67' Fowler)

9 Matt Mullis

10 Reagan King

11 Joe McNeil

Subs:

12 Ashdon Fowler

15 Harrison Podd (GK)

16 Arthur Noble

17 Finn Mills

Booked: Cullum (29'), Fowler (79')

Goals: Cullum (11'), McDonagh (74'); Johns (62'), Tugman (70').

SUFFOLK PREMIER CUP FINAL Needham Market v Leiston 21.04.2022

Needham Market retain the Turners Hyundai Suffolk Premier Cup for the second consecutive season following a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Leiston, after a tightly contested 0-0 draw, which is a repeat of the 2007/08 Final between the two clubs.

Needham manager Kevin Horlock made 1 change to Monday's 1-0 away win at Lowestoft Town, for the Marketmen's 4th County Cup triumph, with the cup-tied on-loan Ipswich Town attacker Callum Page replaced by Harvey Sayer, on loan from the night's hosts Colchester United. There was also a landmark appearance last night, as Kyle Hammond notably made his fiftieth Needham appearance.

Clear cut chances were at a premium, with neither goalkeepers having anything of real note to do during the game. 

But Needham did have a decent chance as early as the second minute, albeit Seth Chambers was offside when Noah Collard cleverly threaded him through on goal, albeit the striker fired low into the side netting.

At the other end, a minute later, Garnham was alert at his far post to punch away a corner which looked to be on target, which fell as far as George Quantrell, whose shot blazed over the crossbar. 

Leiston's Baris Altintop, on-loan from King's Lynn Town, broke through into space down the right wing nine minutes later, but his cross-shot went just over the top far corner. 

Good defending from Needham MOTM Keiran Morphew meanwhile shielded the ball back to Marcus Garnham on 17 minutes, after Ollie Saunders had broken through dangerously down the right hand side. 

Down the other end though, Harvey Sayer expertly cut inside towards the edge of the box, creating space to shoot, but saw his shot blocked. 

The Colchester United loanee then almost Leiston goalkeeper Donkin a brief scare, as the winger's aduacious right wing shot looked to be creeping into the net until the shot-stopper just managed to gather, as the scoreline remained goalless after 34 minutes. 

Sayer almost did likewise, only this time with a corner, only to be palmed away again by Donkin, while Taylor Clark fired over from the rebound three minutes before the interval.  

Into the second half, it was still a tight affair, with again a few real major chances of note with both teams arguably weary of conceding what would likely had been the winning goal. Sayer again looked to test the Leiston defence, curling a dangerous ball across the face of goal, just two minutes after the restart, but Donkin was well placed to gather.  

With 52 minutes on the clock, Ben Fowkes was neatly threaded through inside the box, before cutting the ball back smartly to Taylor Clark, who was in acres of space until a great recovery tackle from a defender denied him from getting a shot off. 

And two minutes later it was a role reversal, Leiston's cutback found a man in space, although his shot was blocked well by Clark. 

After weaving into space to shoot from just outside the box, Fin Barnes' low shot however went straight to Marcus Garnham after 57 minutes.

Dan Morphew then fed Ben Fowkes through down the left-hand side with a great through-ball, though the latter's dangerous ball across the face of goal was held by Donkin, just after the hour mark. 

Harvey Sayer, ten minutes later, then jinked through down the right-hand byline, but saw his cutback blocked. 

A loose ball then fell to Noah Collard in the 86 minute, but his shot with the outside of his foot curled wide of the target. 

Just before stoppage time, Quantrell's left wing corner picked out Jake Hutchings, whose overhead kicked effort went wide of the bottom corner. 

The last action of note meanwhile fell to the Marketmen, two minutes into added time, a dangerous cutback was picked up by Noah Collard, just outside the box, but his audaciously curling shot was held by Donkin. 

With that, the final whistle soon followed, with penalties to follow. 

While the shootout took place in front of the Needham end of the West Stand, it was Leiston who took first.

Fin Barnes opened the shootout, cooly sending Garnham the wrong way to dispatch his spot-kick into the bottom left hand corner.

Ex-Leiston midfielder Kyle Hammond stepped up first for Needham, but his penalty was parried away by Donkin, down at his left-hand side. 

But Leiston's advantage was short lived, as penalty saving specialist, and ex-Leiston goalkeeper, Marcus Garnham similarly to his heroics at Yeovil back in January, saved his first of 3 penalties of the night. Odelusi went for placement towards Garnham's top left hand corner, but the goalkeeper flew across to outrageously tip it away. 

Needham's former regular penalty taker Dan Morphew stepped up, and duly levelled the shootout, after two kicks apiece, powerfully beating Donkin, who guessed right diving low to his right-hand side and did get a hand to it, but couldn't stop it from going in.

Leiston captain Seb Dunbar was next to step up, with the left-back confidently sending Garnham the wrong way as he slotted home into the bottom left-hand corner, 2-1. 

Noah Collard empathically levelled the shootout though, sending Donkin the wrong way, whilst thumping home into the top left hand corner. 

Substitute Rob Eagle emulated Dunbar's penalty, to give Leiston the lead once more, albeit slotting into the bottom right-hand corner. 

It was match point Leiston briefly however after four kicks apiece, as Donkin was rooted to the spot and could only watch as Ben Fowkes'fierce penalty crashed back out via the inside base of the left-hand post 

But it was again short lived, as Garnham stuck out a hand to tremendously tip wide Ocran's penalty, low down to his right-hand side.

Callum Sturgess meanwhile was cool as a cucumber, as the left-back drew Needham back level at 3-3, after 5-5 goes each. The defender smartly sent Donkin the wrong way whilst dispatching his spot-kick home into the bottom left-hand corner.

Adam Bailey-Dennis ln the other hand was unfazed as he fired his spot-kick into the roof of the net, while Seth Chambers showed the same amount of concentration, as he smashed home a great penalty into the roof of the net, via the underside of the crossbar. 

Baris Altintop on the other hand was denied by a superb diving save from Garnham, Leiston's seventh penalty taker looked to place his penalty into the bottom left hand corner, but saw his effort clawed away by the Needham shot-stopper. 

That meant substitute Tom Maycock just needed to score to win the Suffolk Premier Cup for Needham, which he did in style, as he sent Donkin the wrong way while expertly thumping his spot-kick into the top right hand corner!

Needham will look to keep their end of season momentum going on Saturday, as the end the campaign with a home game against League Champions Banbury United (3pm), which will be the Marketmen's 55th game of a long but enjoyable season. 

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham

2 Jake Dye

3 Callum Sturgess

14 Kyle Hammond

5 Keiran Morphew (c)

6 Daniel Morphew

7 Harvey Sayer

8 Noah Collard

9 Seth Chambers

10 Taylor Clark (82' Maycock)

11 Ben Fowkes

Subs:

12 Tom Maycock 

15 Hugh Cullum

16 Louie McDonagh

17 Archie Exworth

18 Ewan Johnson (GK)

Leiston:-

1 Sam Donkin

20 Baris Altintop

3 Seb Dunbar (c)

5 Adam Bailey-Dennis

6 Jake Hutchings

7 Finlay Barnes

8 George Quantrell

9 Will Davies

16 Siju Odelusi

10 Joe Marsden (81' Ocran)

11 Ollie Saunders (90'+1' Eagle)

Subs:

12 Rob Eagle

14 Brendan Ocran

15 Iuri Fernandes

17 Adam Mills

GK Sonny Wright

Booked: Collard (57'), Hutchings (59'), Chambers (72'), Bailey-Dennis (74').

Penalty Shootout:

Leiston:- ✔️❌✔️✔️❌✔️❌ (4)

Barnes✔️, Odelusi ❌, Dunbar ✔️, Eagle✔️, Ocran ❌, Bailey-Dennis ✔️, Altintop ❌.

Needham:- ❌✔️✔️❌✔️✔️✔️ (5)

Hammond ❌, D.Morphew✔️, Collard ✔️, Fowkes ❌, Sturgess✔️, Chambers✔️, Maycock ✔️.

https://youtu.be/LAV61fC1ZPw

https://youtu.be/yakvKk908a0

Att: 556.

NEEDHAM MARKET APRIL 2022 BANK HOLIDAY DOUBLE HEADER

NEEDHAM MARKET V COALVILLE TOWN, SATURDAY 16TH APRIL 2022:-

An early Tim Berridge goal boosted Coalville Town's chances of finishing second in the league, after a 1-0 victory at Needham Market.

Needham manager Kevin Horlock made 3 changes to Tuesday's Suffolk Premier Cup Semi-Final win over Kirkley + Pakefield, Callum Sturgess dropped to the bench, whilst Tom Fitzgerald and Luke Ingram (knee and ankle injuries respectively) were unavailable, with Kyle Hammond returning from Patrick Brothers' (unavailable for the rest of the season, due to his honeymoon) wedding in Cyprus, Callum Page returning to the squad after being cup-tied for the County Cup and Jake Dye back fit after recovering from an injury. 

The only goal of the afternoon arrived with just eight minutes on the clock, Keiran Morphew's clearance fell to Luke Shaw, free down the left-hand side, whose curling shot rebounded off the inside of the top far upright, landing on a plate for Tim Berridge from point blank range to simply thrash home into the roof of the net, 0-1. 

In response however four minutes later, on-loan Ipswich Town attacker Callum Page whipped a great right wing cross into Seth Chambers, running in from close range, although the latter's looping header at the far post was gathered by Notts County loanee Tiernan Brooks. 

On-loan Colchester United playmaker Harvey Sayer meanwhile troubled the visiting defence with two dangerous corners in quick succession. The first, Sayer whipped in dangerously creeping towards the top near corner, forcing Brooks to fly out to tip it away. But only AOS far as Keiran Morphew, whose kick back into the box over his head required Robertson to head over his own crossbar for another corner. This time though, Sayer curled it cleverly to the far post, just evading Dan Morphew on 21 minutes. 

And soon after with just 24 minutes on the clock there were chances at both ends, first a low Coalville strike from the left-hand side was beaten back into play well by MOTM Marcus Garnham, while Seth Chambers was threaded through into the box, only to fire his shot over the crossbar. 

Two minutes later, the Marketmen went close to an equaliser as Chambers then squared the ball across to Ben Fowkes, inside the box, but his shot was brilliantly blocked behind by Tomlin. 

Just prior to the half-hour mark, the home side went close again, this time Harvey Sayer's audacious free-kick, from the right wing edge of the penalty area, curled over the crossbar. 

Despite having plenty of chances, the Marketmen frustratingly couldn't take them, although Callum Page tried his luck to change that after 32 minutes. After seeing his fierce strike blocked, the attacking midfielder's shot on the rebound flied just over the crossbar. 

Into the second half, Needham continued to probe for an equaliser, and some great play from the Marketmen on 57 minutes almost provided the breakthrough they craved. A neat back-heel from Page teed up Ben Fowkes just outside the box, who could only laser his first time strike just wide of the bottom far corner. 

And two minutes later, the Reds went close again, Sayer was threaded driving through down the left wing and exploited space well to whip a sumptuous low ball invitingly across the face of goal, but just evaded both Fowkes and Chambers rushing into the six yard box.  

The Ravens on the other hand had a half chance just after the hour mark, only to fire their shot into the near side netting. 

Another chance came and went though for the home side on 64 minutes, though Taylor Clark could only fire his shot narrowly over the crossbar.

The visitors though forced a string of excellent saves from Marcus Garnham, as they looked to double their lead. The first of which saw goalscorer Berridge weaves through past the defence, only to be thwarted by an outstanding fingertip save from Garnham, to tip it just wide of the bottom right-hand corner, keeping it at 0-1 after 65 minutes. 

Five minutes later, another good stop from Garnham denied the visitors. Tyrell Waite drove through towards goal, but the shot-stopper smartly raced off his line to expertly smother the shot. 

After the away side fired over from inside the box, another insane save from Garnham ensured that the scoreline would remain 0-1, with 14 minutes left on the clock. 

Berridge again was fed through inside the box, but his shot was impressively tipped over by the 'keeper. 

Needham however drew a good stop from Brooks on 86 minutes, substitute Tom Maycock poked Garnham's long kick onto Page, whose low driven shot across goal, from outside the box, was beaten away by the goalkeeper down to his left hand side. 

Three minutes later, the hosts were denied by the woodwork after a well worked set-piece. Sayer cleverly lofted a free-kick just over the wall, threading Keiran Morphew through, who in turn teed up Tom Maycock whose strike went just over via the top of the crossbar. 

The Marketmen end their away league campaign on Monday, when they travel to relegation threatened Lowestoft Town (3pm).

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham (GK)

2 Jake Dye (55' Maycock)

3 Harvey Sayer

14 Kyle Hammond

5 Keiran Morphew (C)

6 Daniel Morphew

7 Callum Page

8 Noah Collard

9 Seth Chambers (64' Sturgess)

10 Taylor Clark (72' Kudiabor)

11 Ben Fowkes

Subs:

12 Thomas Maycock

15 Callum Sturgess

16 Hugh Cullum

17 Louie Kudiabar

Coalville Town:-

13 Tiernan Brooks (GK)

2 Kalern Thomas

3 Kyle Tomlin

4 Kian Taylor

5 Christopher Robertson

6 Stephen Towers (C)

7 Luke Shaw (83' Assuncao)

8 Connor Smith

9 Timothy Berridge (89' Kee)

10 Tyrell Waite

11 Thomas McGlinchey

Subs:

12 Billy Kee

1 Tomasz Bukowski (GK)

14 Dave Assuncao

15 Kyle Jardine

Booked: Taylor (35'), Smith (54'), C manager (92).

Goal: Berridge (8').

LOWESTOFT TOWN V NEEDHAM MARKET: MONDAY 18TH APRIL 2022:-

Needham Market conclude their away league campaign with a 1-0 win at Lowestoft Town.

Kevin Horlock made 1 change for the local rivalry, in which the Marketmen ultimately relegated their fellow Suffolk opponents, with match-winner Harvey Sayer starting on the bench and replaced in the starting eleven by Callum Sturgess. 

The Marketmen went close as early as the ninth minute, Seth Chambers races through on goal, drawing Luis Tibbles off his line, who did enough to smother the ball away from the forward to gather the loose ball. 

Just three minutes later, the woodwork denied the Marketmen from opening the deadlock, Callum Page's clever low corner was dummied smartly by Noah Collard, allowing Callum Sturgess to run onto it. The left-back though scuffed his shot, despite the fact it picked out Kyle Hammond, amongst a crowd of bodies, whose low overhead kick deflected off Tibbles and back into play off the front base of the left-hand post. The rebound fell back to Sturgess, but his shot from a tight angle was blocked behind for a corner. 

In truth, it was a typical end of season league game with very little clear cut opportunities, though the Marketmen were dominant in the first half. 

Taylor Clark's brilliant cross in after 25 minutes picked out Kyle Hammond at the far post, but the midfielder could only head over from an acute angle.

Lowestoft though did have a decent half chance just prior to the half hour mark, curling a decent strike from just outside the box over onto the roof of the net.

Ten minutes before the interval, Needham went agonisingly close, Noah Collard threaded a defence splitting pass through to Callum Sturgess racing through, although the latter's inviting ball across the six yard box just evaded both MOTM Hammond and Chambers arriving. 

The away side, sporting their Yellow away kit, almost found the breakthrough in the 39th minute, after great passing play Collard threaded a great through-ball towards Chambers past the defence, but the striker couldn't quite latch onto it. 

The Marketmen arguably should've broken the deadlock on 49 minutes, Callum Page's clearly lofted corner towards Dan Morphew was beaten away well from Luis Tibbles around the penalty spot, although the cross back in was fired over from point blank range by Ben Fowkes. 

While Jake Dye fired a half volley over the bar on 52 minutes, the Marketmen went close again 2 minutes later. This time Callum Page was threaded through one on one, but dragged his shot wide of the bottom left-hand corner.

The sole breakthrough however arrived on 56 minutes, Harvey Sayer was threaded through down the left wing, where on the edge of the box, the substitute - who'd only been on the pitch six minutes - whipped a low ball towards the near post, which went through Tibbles' hands and into the net. 

On the hour mark, chances arrived at both ends, with the first of which falling to the Trawlerboys, the home side whipped two dangerous crosses in to a man free from close range, but both times they couldn't find the finishing touch.

At the other end, goalscorer Sayer thundered a fantastic shot from the left-hand edge of the box, which looked destined to nestle into the top near corner until it clattered just wide via the outside of the post.

A good save from Tibbles thwarted Needham from doubling their lead on 63 minutes, Chambers was threaded through on goal, with just the keeper to beat, only for his low shot to be smothered well by the onrushing goalkeeper. 

At the other end, Lowestoft went close six minutes later, although they failed to draw a save out off goalkeeper Garnham all afternoon. Captain Ryan Jarvis was fed through inside the box, but the midfielder could only shoot just wide of the bottom left-hand corner. 

Ben Fowkes, alongside Garnham playing against his former club, tested Tibbles in the 71st minute, the forward smashed an audacious low strike towards goal - from just outside the box - but his effort bounced up and away off the chest of the goalkeeper. 

The chances kept coming for the Marketmen though a minute later, as Sayer's exquisite cross into Chambers saw the latter glance his header just wide from close range.

Great play from the away side almost resulted in a second goal ten minutes later, Chambers fed Collard, who in turn threaded Fowkes through on goal, albeit the forward's strike was smothered just wide of the bottom right-hand corner by Tibbles. 

With just 3 minutes left on the clock, Lowestoft almost drew level after a right wing cross picked out Jarvis, who could only head just over the crossbar.

Despite not being a game for the purest, the Marketmen will look to build on the victory when they face Leiston in the Suffolk Premier Cup Final at Colchester United on Thursday (7:30pm)

Lowestoft Town:-

1 Luis Tibbles

2 Tai Fleming

3 Jack Wilkinson

4 Ryan Jarvis (c)

5 Harry Knights

6 Travis Cole

7 Kieran Higgs

8 Adam Tann

19 Jack Reed (16' M.Wilkinson)

10 Joshua Harvey (75' Lane)

11 Louis McIntosh (66' Ruffles)

Subs:

12 Joshua Wells

13 Warren Burwood (GK)

14 Dylan Ruffles

16 Owen Lane

17 Marcus Wilkinson

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham

2 Jake Dye

3 Callum Sturgess (50' Sayer)

14 Kyle Hammond

5 Keiran Morphew (c)

6 Daniel Morphew (83' Cullum)

7 Taylor Clark (57' Maycock)

8 Noah Collard

9 Seth Chambers

10 Callum Page

11 Ben Fowkes

Subs:

12 Harvey Sayer

15 Tom Maycock

16 Hugh Cullum

17 Louie McDonagh-Kudiabor

18 Archie Exworth

Goal: Sayer (56').

Moreton Hall Ferals v Occold 17.04.2022

Moreton Hall Ferals complete a League and Cup Bury Sunday Division One double after 4 second half goals against Occold sealed the club their second consecutive League title.

In truth, the first half was underwhelming to say the least, with very little action of note, although Ferals did go close after 26 minutes. Charlie Larter threaded Jake Peasgood into space down the right wing, the latter drove into the box only to see his cross into Callum Dove, who was free from 3 yards out, just evades the leaping forward. 

At the other end though, a vital deflection from Dan Allen turned a low well struck Occold strike a centimetre wide of the bottom left-hand corner, while the resulting set-piece was glanced wide from close range by Western at the far post on 37 minutes. 

Four minutes later, Ferals went close again, this time Jack Whiting-Noakes teed up Callum Dove, whose fierce shot went just wide of the top right-hand corner.

But early into the second half, Ferals did break the deadlock. Just two minutes after the restart the home side opened the scoring in style, thanks to a sumptuous curling, dipping, strike from Jake Peasgood into the top far, left-hand corner.

Galvanised by the goal, Ferals looked to double their lead on 53 minutes, Jack Whiting-Noakes whipped a great free-kick over the top, finding Callum Dove whose close range shot went wide of the bottom corner. 

However, the Blues doubled their lead with another well taken goal on 65 minutes, Harry Whiting-Noakes' cutback found his brother Jack on the edge of the box, who comfortably swept home his side's second goal into the bottom near right-hand corner.

And 5 minutes later, Ferals triped their advantage, virtually sealing their second straight League title, Jake Peasgood cooly picked up his second goal of the morning, after being threaded through onto the right-hand side of the penalty area, to volley home audaciously into the top near corner, 3-0!

Casey Underwood then tried his luck for Ferals after 74 minutes, only to shoot just over the crossbar, whilst Harry Whiting-Noakes' corner was rifled over the bar by Callum Dongray, on the follow up, just outside the box on 82 minutes. 

With 6 minutes remaining, Ferals were awarded a penalty after Ben Newdick had beat the defender, but was brought down. Up stepped goalkeeper Aston Fallows, who was as cool as a cucumber as he sent goalkeeper Cook the wrong way, dispatching the spot-kick into the bottom right-hand corner, to round off the scoring. 

Back at the other end though, a great save from the Ferals stopper preserved his clean sheet, parrying behind Mius' low shot towards his near post.  

Ferals now have a week break, before they travel to Bloomfields - the home of Needham Market F.C. - to play Ipswich Sunday League Champions Kitchener Taverners on May 1st (10:30am) in their first ever Suffolk Sunday Cup Final. 

Ferals:-

13 Aston Fallows

28 Ben Newdick

12 Dan Allen

20 Callum Dongray

5 Craig Defew

8 Charlie Larter (c)

19 Jack Whiting-Noakes

15 Charlie Glover

11 Callum Dove

7 Fred Stewart-Hogg

Subs:

88 George Crowe

4 Taylor Waterson

21 Casey Underwood

33 Harry Whiting-Noakes

50 Adrian Crowe (unused)

Occold:-

1 Charlie Cook

2 Ryan Howe

3 George Green

4 Reece Parry (c)

5 George Johnson

6 Robert Lockwood 

7 Lee Clements

8 Connor Bennett

9 Ben Catton

10 Joe Western

11 Jeremy Bowe

Subs:

12 Adam Clements

14 Nathan Mius

Booked: A.Clements (90').

Goals: Peasgood (47', 70'), J.Whiting-Noakes (65'), Fallows (85'pen).

Mellis v Moreton Hall Ferals 10.04.2022

Division One reigning Champions Moreton Hall Ferals win the Bury Sunday Knights Lowe Knock-Out Cup for the first time in their history after a 2-0 win over a tough Mellis side at Bury Town's Atalian Servest Ram Meadow Stadium.

Ferals just need a point next Sunday to win their second consecutive Division One league title, and went into this cup final hoping to make it the first of four trophies this season, with both the Suffolk Sunday Cup final, against Ipswich Sunday League Champions Kitcheners Taverners at Needham Market F.C on the 1st of May, and Bury Sunday Premier Logos Open Cup Final against second placed Division One side Barrow at Bury Town F.C on the 8th of May to come.

Ferals had the first chance after just ten minutes, Ben Newdick was set racing thorough one on one with the goalkeeper, but was in an offside position when he lofted the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and just wide of the bottom corner.

Down the other end, Lawrence Brown's 30-yard low shot drew a comfortable diving catch from Ferals stopper Aston Fallows in the 12th minute, who was drawn into another fairly comfortable save 16 minutes later, this time diving down well to hold onto Harry Rollingson's low shot from inside the box. 

Mellis meanwhile went agonisingly lose on 36 minutes, Kieran Manning's shot though went just over the top right-hand corner onto the roof of the net, while Brendan Head's shot from distance went just over the bar a minutester. 

A great save from goalkeeper Barry Lynn thwarted Ferals from breaking the deadlock on 38 minutes, Harry Whiting-Noakes drove through brilliantly down the left wing, holding off his defender well as he squared the ball into Casey Underwood, whose shot towards the far post was tipped just wide by the outstretched arm of the Mellis shot-stopper. 

From the resulting corner, Ferals broke the deadlock a minute later, Harry Whiting-Noakes' set-piece was swung in dangerously to Ben Newdick free at the near post, whose excellent header from point blank range nestled into the bottom near corner, 1-0 Ferals. 

As the match entered stoppage time, Ferals had another good chance, the ball fell to Underwood from 30-yards out, who looped a good shot just over onto the roof of the net. 

But at the other end a minute later, a brilliant save from the onrushing Aston Fallows denied Manning from equalising, the Mellis man was released one on one, haring down on goal, but for the goalkeeper to brilliantly smothers the low shot. 

Arguably it wasn't a game for the purists, with the second half in particular not containing a massive amount of clear cut chances, though Mellis glanced a close range header just wide four minutes after the restart. 

Mellis meanwhile fed captain Ben Hugman free outside the box on 55 minutes, but his low shot was comfortable for Fallows down to his left-hand side. 

Ferals though had a half chance on 63 minutes, Harry Whiting-Noakes' cutback found Callum Dongray, whose shot was well blocked. Nine minutes later Ferals went close with some great team play, the aforementioned Whiting-Noakes this time threaded substitute Callum Dove racing through on goal, the forward then teed up Dongray, who in turn teed up substitute and top scorer Charlie Glover, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.  

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Glover did double Ferals lead, capping a great goal from the league leaders, a great ball over the top threaded the forward one on one inside the box, who lobbed the goalkeeper cooly, as the ball then bounced once on its way into the right-hand corner. 

Glover then looked to add a quickfire double a minute later, after being picked out by Dove's cutback, the onrushing Glover saw his shot towards the bottom right-hand corner go just wide.

Ferals will look to make it two trophies in a matter of seven days when they host Occold at Hardwick Heath, with only a point needed to confirm their second straight Division One title. 

Mellis:-

1 Barry Lynn

7 Brendan Head

11 Luke Rowe

16 Reece Lancaster

8 Tom Davey

2 Ben Hugman (c)

6 Callum Nash

15 Lawrence Brown

3 Jack Payne

4 Kieran Manning

17 Harry Rollingson

Subs:

10 Jack Stevenson

Will Goulding

12 Hayden Wilby

5 Roman Newell

14 Tom Peck

Ferals:-

1 Aston Fallows

2 Lewis Kemp

27 Jack Brame

10 Sam Waterson (c)

28 Ben Newdick (64' Glover)

5 Craig Defew (81' Allen)

9 Jake Peasgood (64' Dove)

7 Fred Stewart-Hogg (81' J.Whiting-Noakes)

21 Casey Underwood

20 Callum Dongray (78' Larter)

33 Harry Whiting-Noakes

Subs:

19 Jack Whiting-Noakes

8 Charlie Larter

15 Charlie Glover

11 Callum Dove

12 Dan Allen

Booked: Hugman (29'), Payne (34'), Newdick (58'), Dongray (59'),

Goals: Newdick (39'), Glover (75').

Kirkley + Pakefield v Needham Market 12.04.2022

Holders Needham Market book their spot in next Thursday's Turners Hyundai Suffolk Premier Cup Final at Colchester United in a re-run of the 2007-08 Final, which Needham won 5-4 on penalties, following a goalless draw. 

Kevin Horlock made 2 changes to Saturday's defeat at Bromsgrove, as Callum Sturgess started in place of Archie Exworth, who started on the bench, pushing Harvey Sayer further forward, while Ben Fowkes started in place of the cup-tied Callum Page. Tom Maycock returned to the bench, having missed Saturday due to work commitments. 

The Marketmen exploded out off the blocks, with Needham players feeling they had broken the deadlock just four minutes on the clock. Harvey Sayer lofted an exquisite right wing corner into Luke Ingram, in space, at the near post, who glanced an excellent header seemingly over the line via the inside of the far post. 

Needham did have the ball in the net three minutes later, albeit the flag was up for offside. A great ball over the top released Ben Fowkes free inside the box, who despite the flag being up finished well into the bottom right-hand corner. 

Fowkes nearly turned provider as Needham had a great chance after 15 minutes, the winger latched onto a great ball over the top before squaring it across to Seth Chambers, whose neat flick was comfortably gathered by the diving keeper at his near post down left in box. 

The Marketmen though did break the deadlock a minute later courtesy of a well worked goal, a great deep cross picked out Seth Chambers in space at the back post who finished confidently for his maiden First Team goal. 

Needham did have the ball in the net again in the 22nd minute, but was chalked off for offside, this time Luke Ingram was released racing through one on one past the defence, before lashing home brilliantly into the top left hand corner. 

The Reds arguably should have doubled their lead sixty seconds later, a long ball over the top again released Ingram through on goal, but with the goalkeeper caught in no man's land outside his own box the striker shot agonisingly a centimetre wide of the bottom left hand corner. 

The chances kept falling to the higher league Marketmen, who showed why they were two leagues higher in the first half, with the next chance arriving on the 24th minute, goalscorer Seth Chambers races through down the right-hand side of the box, but the goalkeeper advanced off his line well to beat his low shot behind at his near post. 

Two minutes later however, Fowkes' shot from a tight angle was denied by 'keeper Blowers at his near post, although the goalkeeper just gathered it just ahead of an onrushing Red shirt. 

Down the other end, Marcus Garnham didn't have a great deal to do in the first half, but he was needed to deny Haylock's dangerous low strike across goal, just prior to the half-hour mark.

The Marketmen deservedly doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark with a well taken goal, Luke Ingram's squared ball across the six yard box was missed by the goalkeeper off his line, enabling an easy tap into the empty net for Ben Fowkes, making him the only Needham player to have scored for the club in all competitions this season, 2-0. 

Five minutes before the break, the Southern League Premier Central side nearly added a third goal, Ingram latched onto a great ball down the right-hand side of the penalty area, the striker then squared it on a plate for Seth Chambers free from point blank range, but the goalkeeper did well to smother the shot. 

The second half on the other hand, saw Needham drip off and invite Kirkley to take the game to their higher league opponents. 

And the side sitting in tenth in the Eastern Counties Premier Division made it a nervy remaining 31 minutes, as they reduced the deficit back to a single goal. After Collard gave away possession, Kyle Haylock cleverly dipped a long range shot home into the bottom left-hand corner.

A brilliant save from Marcus Garnham in the 68th minute denied Kirkley from getting back on level terms, with the goalkeeper diving across to his top right-hand corner to tip the curling strike over for a corner. 

Seven minutes later, the lower league side continued to have the better of the second half, as a shot following a corner was blocked off the line, while a free header across goal was well held by Garnham soon after. 

Needham on the other hand went close on 77 minutes, Harvey Sayer's free-kick fell to Dan Morphew who got too much on his scooped shot, as his shot went over the vacant goal. 

And with the last notable chance of the night, Needham booked their spot at the Jobserve Community Stadium next Thursday with a great goal just as the tie entered stoppage time. Ben Fowkes notched his 19th goal of the season as he latched onto an audacious ball over the top on the counter attack to slot home past the onrushing goalkeeper into the bottom left hand corner.

Needham return to home action on Saturday, with the games coming thick and fast, as 3rd placed Coalville Town visit Bloomfields for the 11th placed Marketmen's penultimate home game of the season. 

Kirkley + Pakefield:-

1 Alex Blowers

2 Daniel Munro

3 Alex Meeken

4 Keenan Hutchings (90'+4' Bell)

5 Jack Herbert (c)

6 Harry Creamer

7 Kyle Haylock

8 Miguel Lopez

9 Daniel Conroy (90'+4' Holt)

10 Cameron Russell (90'+4' Swan)

11 George Barber

Subs:

12 Callum Bell 

14 Louis Tillet 

15 Maca Holt 

16 Connor Swan 

GK Jordan Smith 

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham

2 Taylor Clark

3 Callum Sturgess

14 Tom Fitzgerald (69' Maycock)

5 Keiran Morphew (c)

6 Daniel Morphew 

7 Seth Chambers (77' Exworth)

8 Noah Collard

9 Luke Ingram

10 Ben Fowkes

11 Harvey Sayer

Subs:

12 Archie Exworth

15 Louie McDonagh

16 Tom Maycock

Booked: Fitzgerald (8'), Meeken (58')

Goals: Haylock (59'); Chambers (16'), Fowkes (31', 90').

Att: 143.

Bromsgrove Sporting v Needham Market 09.04.2022

Needham Market's penultimate league game on the road ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat, after an early Bromsgrove goal.

Manager Kevin Horlock made 5 changes to Tuesday's away win at Stratford Town, with goalkeeper Marcus Garnham returning in place of Ewan Johnson, captain Keiran Morphew also regained his starting spot with Hugh Cullum again away on England Schoolboys duty, whilst Archie Exworth made his league and full first team debut in place of Kyle Hammond. Patrick Brothers also was unavailable, with his wedding taking place in Cyprus, so Noah Collard took his place, with the final change seeing double goalscorer Callum Page come in place of the injured Jake Dye, moving Taylor Clark to right back.

With just four minutes on the clock, Bromsgrove, who started the game the much brighter side, struck what proved to be the only goal of the game, Joshua Quaynor's corner picked out Michael McGrath, whose pinpoint cross was turned home, at the back post, by Matthew Barnes-Homer in space. 

Two minutes later, Bromsgrove looked to double their lead as Callum Ebanks picked out Joel Kettle, but the latter's free header was well held by Garnham. 

Needham though began to grow into the game after 15 minutes, Luke Ingram's cross in was headed away as far as Tom Fitzgerald, though his tame shot was gathered comfortably by goalkeeper Oliver Taylor.

Down the other end, Bromsgrove had a half chance on 19 minutes, after being teed up by goalscorer Barnes-Homer, Nathan Hayward's shot was comfortably saved by Garnham. 

The home side meanwhile were denied by the woodwork a minute before stoppage time, as Quaynor's free-kick found Toby Raison, whose header rebounded back I to play off the frame of the goal. 

But it was Needham who had the last chance of the half, two minutes into added time as Harvey Sayer curled a dangerous 30-yard free-kick narrowly over the top left-hand corner. 

Needham were much more lively in the second half, and just two minutes after the restart Seth Chambers teed up Tom Fitzgerald, whose shot went narrowly over the top right-hand corner. 

However, down the other end a terrific flying save from Needham shot-stopper Marcus Garnham denied Joseph Willis' exquisitely curled free-kick from a dangerous position on 52 minutes.  

Luke Ingram meanwhile exploited space as the forward ran through on goal three minutes later, but after working the angle to shoot the Needham all time appearance maker fired over the crossbar.

Bromsgrove though missed a guilt edged chance to double their advantage just shy of the hour mark, Joshua Dugmore fed Callum Ebanks through in goal in acres of space, but rushed the shot, blazing it first time out off the ground. 

A crucial outstretched foot from Taylor Clark meanwhile thwarted Bromsgrove from adding to their advantage as the Academy scholar was well played to clear a towering free header from a corner off the goal-line on 67 minutes. 

Needham meanwhile forced a good stop from goalkeeper Oliver Taylor a minute later, Luke Ingram broke into the box, only to see his first time low half volley palmed away well by the keeper, whilst Seth Chambers' shot on the follow up was blocked. 

The woodwork then denied the Marketmen on 69 minutes, Tom Fitzgerald found space down the left-hand side in the box only to see his shot deflected by a defender onto the outside of the near post and behind for a Needham corner. 

Fresh from his match winner on Tuesday, substitute Ben Fowkes provided an assist for what would've been a well worked equaliser two minutes later. With the visitors firmly on top, Fowkes was threaded through on the overlap down the left-hand side, the forward then cut back possession to Ingram in space from close range, but the striker sidefooted his first time shot over the crossbar. 

A brilliant flying save from Taylor prevented the Marketmen from getting an equaliser with 12 minutes left on the clock, Harvey Sayer's sumptuous curling 30-yard free-kick looked destined to find the top left hand corner until the goalkeeper dived across to tip it wide for a corner.

Ingram, who is Needham's season top scorer, almost added to his season tally on 84 minutes, the striker raced through inside the box once more, but this time his shot from a tight angle was well held by Taylor. 

Four minutes into stoppage time, the Marketmen had once last chance to salvage a point, Marcus Garnham started the well worked move as the goalkeeper picked out Noah Collard with a great long ball, the midfielder then fed Fowkes through on the overlap, but his low shot from a tight angle, inside the box, was well held by the diving Taylor.

Needham's Man Of The Match was chosen as Dan Morphew, who made numerous brilliant tackles to prevent clear shots on goal. 

Needham arguably will feel they should've got a point from the game, and will look to react to the defeat when they travel to Leiston FC to face Kirkley & Pakefield in the Turners Hyundai Suffolk Premier Cup Semi-Final.

Bromsgrove Sporting:-

1 Oliver Taylor (GK)

2 Joshua Dugmore

3 Joshua Quaynor

4 Nathan Hayward

5 Toby Raison

6 Joel Kettle (C)

7 Joseph Willis

8 Michael McGrath

9 Matthew Barnes-Homer (63' Letford)

10 Callum Ebanks (72' Perkins)

11 Mitchel Candlin (81' Fisher)

Subs:

12 Jonathan Letford

14 Dominic Perkins

15 Jamie Molyneux

16 Cody Fisher

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham

2 Taylor Clark

3 Harvey Sayer

14 Archie Exworth (62' Fowkes)

5 Keiran Morphew (C)

6 Daniel Morphew

7 Thomas Fitzgerald

8 Noah Collard

9 Luke Ingram

10 Callum Page

11 Seth Chambers (87' Chambers)

Subs:

12 Ben Fowkes

15 Callum Sturgess

16 Louie Kudiabor

Booked: McGrath (38'), D.Morphew (81'), Ingram (90'+1'), Willis (90'+3').

Goal: Barnes-Homer (4').

Lakenheath v Bury Town Bisons 10.04.2022

Bury Town Bisons advance to the Premier Logos Bury Sunday League Floodlit Cup Final after a 5-1 win over higher Division Two opposition Lakenheath, setting up a clash with Division One side Bedricks Worth. 

Division Three Bury wasted little time before taking the lead with just eight minutes on the clock, Owen Walton-Ross exploited space to volley ferociously across the box, arrowing home into the far corner, 1-0 Bisons. 

Walton-Ross could've doubled his tally on 17 minutes but for an excellent save from the Lakenheath goalkeeper, the goalscorer's looping header looked destined to nestle into the top left-hand corner until the goalkeeper claimed the ball well underneath his crossbar. 

The Blues though arguably should have doubled their lead on 22 minutes, Dan Stobbart's long free-kick towards Joe Hogg, free from point blank range, just evaded the defender.

But clinically, Lakenheath equalised 12 minutes later, the ball was squared on a plate for the onrushing Isaac Reyna to tap home at the far post. 

The Bisons though regained their lead a minute before the interval courtesy of another well taken strike, goalkeeper Dan Stobbart again caused the defence problems with a long range free-kick, which fell to Harvey Hubbard whose volley was blocked as far as Harry Bentley. The latter, in space from a similar position to Walton-Ross' goal, duly smashed home Bisons' second goal home into the bottom far corner. 

And with the second half just two minutes old, Bury tripled their lead, Ed Spampanato found himself in space from 30-yards out, where his well taken powerful strike took a deflection of the Lakenheath defender and into the top far corner via the inside of the post, 3-1 Bury. 

Lakenheath looked to respond five minutes later, arguably missing a guilt edged chance to reduce the deficit after a long range free-kick was swung into the number 7 free at the right-hand post, who could only poke the ball just wide of the bottom left-hand corner.

The home side then went close once more on 55 minutes, this time though a right wing cross was diverted narrowly wide of the right-hand post by an unmarked diving header from point blank range, at the far post.

The visitors though added a fourth goal just three minutes later, virtually sealing their spot in the final. Dan Williams audacious right wing cross waso pinpoint to Owen Walton-Ross, who leapt well to loop and excellent header into the net for his second goal of the morning. 

Goalscorer Spampanato almost added to his side's tally with 72 minutes on the clock, this time his fierce 50-yard left wing volley was dipping into the bottom right-hand corner but for a superb fingertip save from the goalkeeper to turn it just wide. 

Hunting a hat-trick, Walton-Ross went close to capping the Bisons' passage through to the final on 76 minutes, the forward cleverly headed a long ball forward past the defence before racing through on goal, only to see his 35-yard strike pushed just wide by the fingertips of the goalkeeper, who'd reacted well after advancing off his line. 

Joe Hogg meanwhile again missed a fantastic opportunity to get on the scoresheet from another pinpoint Dan Stobbart set-piece on 81 minutes. This time the goalkeeper's free-kick on the halfway line found the central defender free from 9 yards out, but the latter glanced his header wide of the top corner. 

The Bury goalkeeper though was forced into a good save down the other end three minutes later, claiming a Lakenheath 30-yard strike which was curling towards the far post. 

Straight down the other end, captain Jordan Asker had a great chance for the away side, Asker cleverly weaved through the challenges of two defenders to open space to shoot, but the midfielder agonisingly shot just wide of the bottom corner. 

With the final notable action of the game, Owen Walton-Ross sealed his hat-trick with a terrific finish, a great ball over the top released the forward facing through down the centre, before cooly smashing home across goal to put the gloss on his side's 5-1 victory. 

Bury Town Bisons:-

1 Dan Stobbart

3 Dan Williams (74' Younge)

16 Joe Hogg

77 Harvey Hubbard

4 Miles Holt (68' Newdick)

5 Ed Spampanato (74' Trautner)

22 Will Stobbart

7 Jordan Asker (c)

20 Luke Bates (85' Spampanato)

10 Harry Bentley (68' King)

15 Owen Walton-Ross (87' Bentley)

Subs: 

11 Fletcher King

27 Reece Newdick

2 Kyle Trautner

8 Tommy Younge

Lakenheath:

4 Isaac Reyna

Booked: Bates (29')

Goals: Walton-Ross (8', 58', 86'), Bentley (44'), Spampanato (47'); Reyna (34').

Needham Market U18 v Framlingham Town U18 07.04.2022

Needham Market U18s go two points clear, with a game in hand of Leiston U18s, after a 4-1 home win over Framlingham Town.

The young Marketmen controlled the game throughout, with the first chance falling to the young Reds after just five minutes. Striker Louie McDonagh was found in space, down the left-hand side of the penalty area, but after taking a touch hit his close range shot from a tight angle wide of the near post.

A worldie save from the visiting goalkeeper however denied Needham the opening goal in the eleventh minute, Ivan Sanchez broke forward, exploiting space, driving through the visitors' half, where upon reaching the edge of the box curled a stunning strike dipping towards the top right-hand, far, corner, only to be thwarted by an outstanding diving stop by William Driver, tipping the shot onto the face of the post and behind for a corner.

And with 25 minutes on the clock, the home side quickly raced into a 2-0 lead, first Louie McDonagh latched onto a good ball through, to then beat 2 defenders and the keeper, off his line, down the right-hand side of the area, before squeezing a brilliant finish home from a tight angle into the bottom far corner, 1-0!

And within a minute it was 2-0 to Needham, this time McDonagh was the one creating the chance, as he threaded Eddie Barker through past the defence, down the left-hand side, the winger's low shot from a tight angle though was only smothered away by the knees of the diving Driver - only as far as Flynn Crosthwaite arriving from close range, who duly drilled home past the defender into the gaping bottom right-hand corner! 

The visitors meanwhile halved the deficit in the 32nd minute, Quinn Covey was threaded through one on one with Johnson, in acres of space before dulying smashing home into the bottom right-hand corner, 2-1. 

Back down the other end, the young Marketmen rattled the woodwork again in the 40th minute, a great ball over the defence released Louie McDonagh racing through past the defence into the box, drawing the goalkeeper off his line at his near post. Although, his driven low strike rebounded back into play via the inside base of the far left hand post. The rebound meanwhile fell to Archie Exworth, whose first timed volley went over the bar. 

But the young Marketmen restored their 2 goal lead on the stroke of half-time, Ivan Sanchez brilliantly beat his defender down the left wing, enabling him the space to fire a brilliant cross into the six yard box, picking out Louie McDonagh, who cleverly used the power on the cross to divert home his second goal of the night, powerfully past the goalkeeper into the roof of the net, 3-1 Needham. That goal incidentally was his 11th Thurlow Nunn Youth League goal in eight league appearances of this season. 

Into the second half, despite Needham dominating a lot of the possession, Framlingham to their credit didn't let their heads dropped, and continued to battle hard, but Needham continued to probe for a fourth goal early after the restart.

The half was only 2 minutes old when McDonagh exploited space only to see his low driven strike denied by a superb diving save by William Driver, who held onto it brilliantly. 

Soon after, the home side added a fourth goal in the 50th minute, with Louie McDonagh sealing his hat-trick, a well worked team goal saw Harry Blackburn thread Clayton Osborn free down the overlap down the right wing, the latter then squared a brilliant ball across, on a plate for McDonagh running in to sweep home from 7-yards out into the bottom left hand corner, 4-1. 

The young Reds continued to trouble the determined visiting defence, going close again on 53 minutes, Ivan Sanchez drove past his man down the left-hand side, advancing into the box, where he smashed a great ball across the six yard box towards McDonagh, who took a touch before seeing his shot vitally deflected just wide of the bottom near corner, for a Needham corner. 

The resulting set-piece however saw Harry Blackburn in space inside the box but his curled strike went narrowly wide of the top far corner. 

Just prior to the hour mark, a deflection onto the woodwork denied Needham a fifth goal, after Clayton Osborn was fed through down the right wing, the winger squared a great ball across to Eddie Barker, running into space, whose neat low strike was deflected off a defender onto the outside base of the post, before then rebounding just wide off the goalkeeper's head. 

That proved to be the last real notable action of the evening, as Needham take advantage of title rivals Leiston drawing 1-1 with Harwich & Parkeston to go 2 points clear at the top, with a game in hand. The two title chasers go head to head, which is also Needham's next game, at Bloomfields on Tuesday 19th April.

Needham Market:-

1 Ewan Johnson

2 Harry Blackburn

3 Ivan Sanchez

4 Mo Igwebuike

18 Dillon Olias (c)

6 Ben Smith

7 Clayton Osborn (77' Jolly)

8 Flynn Crosthwaite

9 Louie McDonagh (60' Gayle)

10 Archie Exworth (54' Fraser)

11 Eddie Barker

Subs:

12 Marcus Curtis

14 Aiden Jolly

15 Brandon Greenleaf

16 Dimitri Gayle

17 Ollie Fraser

Framlingham Town:-

1 William Driver

2 Alec McKay

3 Oliver Mayhew

4 Hector Edge

5 Charlie Peacher

6 Tom Humphrey

7 Hayden Freeman

8 Joshua Clayton (c)

9 Quinn Covey

10 Archie Simpson

11 Kian Wilson

Subs:

12 Luke Potter

14 Gruffudd Harries

15 Owen Cameron

16 Sam Fryer

17 Ashton Darwell-Taylor

Booked: Cameron (66'), Mayhew (72').

Goals: McDonagh (25', 45', 50'), Crosthwaite (26'); Covey (32').

Bury Town U18 v Saffron Walden Town Community U18 4.4.2022

TURNER BRACE HELPS BURY GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS

A quickfire second half brace from Jack Turner turned the game on its head, while Jack Hurrell's volley ensured that Bury did the double over Saffron Walden.

Bury Town Under-18s get back to winning ways after a quickfire second half comeback, courtesy of a brace from Jack Turner and a goal from Jack Hurrell. 

Striker Turner, had the first chance early on for the young Blues after just 2 minutes, firing a low strike from the right-hand edge of the box just wide of the bottom near corner. 

Turner went similarly close a minute later, after being teed up by Ethan Flack, who'd cleverly intercepted the goalkeeper's kick, the former fired just over the gaping top right-hand corner from 26-yards out. 

Saffron Walden though had a great chance on 10 minutes, the ball into the box was headed away as far as Joel McGuinness on the edge of the box, who fired a well taken volley just over the top left hand corner. 

Bury meanwhile went close again after 15 minutes, Ben Haddoch fizzed a dangerous right wing free-kick just outside the six yard box, finding Jack Turner whose flick on was cleared back to him, although the forward could only fire his shot narrowly wide of the bottom near corner. 

The visitors however struck first on 17 minutes, as Niam Khier's bending left wing effort nestled into the bottom far corner.

In response, Bury went close to drawing back level seven minutes later, after driving into space Jack Hurrell flashed a dangerous 30-yard shot narrowly wide of the bottom far corner.

A great save from goalkeeper Ollie Lindsell though denied the young Blues on 25 minutes. Ethan Flack's cutback found Clinton Frank from eight yards outz, whose fierce strike required a strong hand from the goalkeeper to parry it over the crossbar.

Only three minutes had past when the visiting shot-stopper was required to deny the hosts twice in succession, first Ben Haddoch's fierce 30-yard fierce low strike was just too much for Lindsell to keep hold off, although Flack's follow up effort from point blank range was well smothered by the goalkeeper. The latter then looked to square it across to Kushinga Benyu, who just couldn't quite latch onto it.

At the other end, the visitors almost doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark, when a crucial deflection on a Saffron Walden strike from inside the box diverted the ball just over via the top of the crossbar. 

Bury were arguably unlucky not to restore parity, with Saffron Walden providing a stern test, with the Blues again going close on 37 minutes. This time a cross in from a clever short corner picked out captain Tom Gee at the back post, whose header back into the danger area drew Lindsell off his line - only to be beaten to it by Jack Turner whose towering header went just wide of the bottom far corner. 

Gee then went close himself to drawing his side back level, on the stroke of half-time, on this occasion the centre-back leapt highest to meet a pinpoint Ben Haddoch right wing corner, but could only loop his header over from close range.

In the second half, the Blues efforts were rewarded, with 2 goals arriving in quickfire fashion, both being taken impressively by striker Jack Turner - taking his Under-18 season tally to 12 goals in 14 matches, with the first arriving after 52 minutes.

The ball fell to Turner inside the box, who expertly fired home the equaliser into the bottom left hand corner.

And three minutes later, Turner quickly notched his brace, rifling a beautiful strike home into the bottom far corner, from the edge of the box. 

The goalscorer could've netted a hat-trick in the 57th minute, but his header from Utting's cross was claimed by Lindsell. 

Clinton Frank meanwhile proved too quick for the visiting defence, as the winger latched onto a dangerous long ball over the top, although the goalkeeper was first to gather his dangerous low cross into the six yard box on 63 minutes. 

The chances continued to flow for the home side, who firmly had their tails up, as the hosts fired a powerful strike just over the crossbar, with 64 minutes on the clock.

Just a minute later, Jack Turner went close to adding to his own and his side's goal tally, the striker's powerful 30-yard free-kick beat the wall, but landed on the roof of the net. 

The forward had another good opportunity in the 71st minute, Ben Haddoch's dangerous left wing free-kick picked out Turner inside the six yard box, whose flick towards goal was blocked by the goalkeeper, rebounding back off Turner and just wide for a goal kick. 

Seconds later, Jack Hurrell almost got on the scoresheet himself, only to see his clever shot with the outside of his foot curl agonisingly wide off the bottom far corner. 

Then with 74 minutes on the clock, Ethan Flack latched onto a great ball over the defence before holding the ball up smartly inside the box to create the space to shoot, only to watch his strike go just wide of the bottom left-hand corner. 

Bury though did extend their lead to 3-1 in the 76th minute, excellent pressure from Ethan Flack allowed Jack Turner to pick the pocket off the defender to run on into the box, the striker's shot however was well smothered by Lindsell off his line. The rebound fell to Jack Hurrell, who volleyed ferociously home into the bottom left-hand corner, to give his side some much needed breathing space. 

Just as the game headed towards stoppage time, George Talbot nearly added the gloss onto a great second half performance from the Blues, the midfielder kept the ball brilliantly just outside the Walden penalty area, he then worked space to shoot, bending a sumptuous shot towards the top far corner, only for Lindsell to be well placed to leap and claim it well. 

Three minutes into added time, Benyu tried his luck at goal, and got power behind it but fired his effort wide off the bottom corner. 

And with the last action, some clever quick thinking from Ben Haddoch almost paid off as the playmaker spun well before noticing the goalkeeper off his line, and almost catching him out, with his fierce 60-yard strike gathered well by the recovering Lindsell. 

The young Blues are next in home action on Thursday 21st April, when they take on Royston Town (7:45pm).

Bury Town:-

1 Oliver Kellett-Green

2 Jack Utting

3 Jake Cobbold

4 Jack Hurrell

5 Tom Gee (c)

6 Max Willcox

7 Ben Haddoch

8 Clinton Frank

9 Jack Turner

10 Ethan Flack

11 Kushinga Benyu

Subs:

12 Jack Jolland

14 George Talbot

15 Mikhim Bhujel

16 Elliott Lacey

17 Ethan Hynes

Saffron Walden:-

1 Ollie Lindsell

2 Adam Hall

3 Dan Johnson

4 Frank Sullivan

5 Alex Taylor

6 Joel McGuiness

7 Henry Huxter

8 Ryan Porter

9 Jack Winner

10 Jadon Keogh

11 Niam Khier

Subs:

14 Eliot Stephens

15 Finn Pluck

16 Ted Peggs

17 Gabriel Mangoni

Booked: Lindsell (70').

Goals: Turner (52', 55'), Hurrell (76'); Khier (17').

Stratford Town v Needham Market 05.04.2022

Needham Market comeback from behind to record their first away league win since Alvechurch in January with a 3-2 victory at Stratford Town.

Goals from substitutes Callum Page (brace) and Ben Fowkes ensured Needham did the double over their hosts, after a long midweek trek, with a few regulars missing. 

Manager Kevin Horlock handed a First Team debut to Reserves/Under-18 goalkeeper Ewan Johnson, with Marcus Garnham missing due to work, whilst Seth Chambers also made his maiden first team start in place of match-winner Ben Fowkes, with Hugh Cullum starting in place of captain Keiran Morphew - meaning Dan Morphew took on the armband. Taylor Clark also started in place of the other scorer Callum Page, along with Tom Fitzgerald replacing the unavailable Noah Collard. Callum Sturgess returned to the bench from suspension, with Tom Maycock also on the bench. 

The Marketmen started brightly, with Harvey Sayer's left wing free-kick into the six yard box headed just over the bar by a Needham head after just 3 minutes. 

At the other end, Storer worked space to fire a decent low shot towards the bottom left-hand corner, only to find debutant Johnson right behind it at his near post in the 14th minute. 

Needham meanwhile had another great chance on 16 minutes, Patrick Brothers this time leapt highest at the back post to meet Jake Dye's right wing cross in, but the midfielder could only head it just wide off the left-hand post. 

There were chances at both ends just three minutes later, the first of which fell to the hosts, after a low shot from a left wing cross needed clearing off the line by captain Dan Morphew. Needham then broke on the counter, Luke Ingram flicked it onto Seth Chambers, releasing the latter one on one, but the Academy scholar shot a centimetre wide of the bottom far right-hand corner. 

The Marketmen were arguably the team on top, with the visitors maintaining the pressure after a shot went narrowly wide of the bottom far corner in the 21st minute.

Three minutes later, clever play from the away side earned themselves a corner. After a great ball over the top released goalscorer, for the season, Luke Ingram through down the right-hand side, the forward's low drive across goal drew a touch off the diving goalkeeper, taking it just wide for a corner. 

The chances continued to fall to the visitors, who just couldn't find the breakthrough, with two more opportunities falling to the Marketmen in a matter of minutes. The first saw Tom Fitzgerald threaded through by a perfectly weighted pass, although the midfielder fired just over the bar from just outside the box on 28 minutes. 

And two minutes later, a brilliant Needham counter attack almost provided the opening goal of the night. Dan Morphew won the header from a Stratford long kick downfield, Sayer then picked up possession and found Luke Ingram, the striker then controlled it brilliantly before driving through the centre, before dipping a well struck 30-yard effort just over the top right-hand corner. 

And the Marketmen had the final two chances of the opening half. After Jake Dye had driven through cleverly onto the edge of the box, the fullback's audacious dipping strike was creeping into the top near corner, until goalkeeper Liam O'Brien tipped it over his crossbar well on 41 minutes. 

And just on the stroke of the interval, Harvey Sayer almost caught the home defence by surprise, whipping a fierce long range, right wing free-kick, just over the top far corner. 

The game came alive more so in the second half, with all five goals happening after the restart, with all the goals coming in the final 12 minutes of the game. 

Before that though, the Marketmen arguably should have broken the deadlock on 53 minutes, the visitors lofted a great ball over the top to release substitute Callum Page through one on one inside the box, but the latter shot tamely just wide of the bottom right-hand corner. 

A terrific pass from Harvey Sayer three minutes later then set up a fantastic chance for the visitors, the pacey winger/fullback cut inside dangerously, exploiting space as he drove onto the edge of the box, the on-loan Colchester United playmaker then threaded an exquisite ball through a needle to Seth Chambers, inside the box. The forward beat his defender only to see his low shot from a tight angle denied by O'Brien.

At the other end, a flying save from debutant Ewan Johnson denied the Bards just prior to the hour mark, Daniel Lafferty's close range header from Ashley Sammons' right iwng cross was creeping into the top near corner, until Johnson got across quickly to beat it behind for a corner. 

His opposite number O'Brien meanwhile made a great save off his own to deny on-loan Ipswich Town attacker Callum Page after 61 minutes. The ball fell to the substitute inside the box, whose ferocious low volley needed shovelling behind his right-hand, near, post by the shot-stopper. 

The away side went agonisingly close from the resulting corner, with Dan Morphew's header from the set-piece crucially headed off the line by Daniel Vann, while Luke Ingram fired over on the volley on the rebound.

Clever play from Needham almost saw the Suffolk outfit, sporting their yellow away kit, break the stalemate on 66 minutes, Luke Ingram's great crossfield ball released Kyle Hammond running through into space down the right wing, the latter latched onto it with a great touch before seeing his powerful low strike deflected just wide of the near post. 

Four minutes later, the Marketmen fed Taylor Clark cleverly into space just outside the box, but the latter's fierce strike was held onto by O'Brien, while Harvey Sayer's ferocious shot was deflected just wide into the side netting for a corner two minutes later. 

But it was the Bards who broke the deadlock on 78 minutes, as Ashley Sammons' fierce 25-yard strike found the roof of the net, 1-0. 

But the Marketmen responded straight away, immediately restoring parity, Ben Fowkes' low drive across goal, from the edge of the box, rebounded as far as the onrushing Page off the inside of the bottom right-hand post, who took advantage, following in, of a vacant net, to tap home from a tight angle, 1-1 with ten minutes left on the clock.

A big double stop from Ewan Johnson thwarted Stratford from retaking the lead in the 84th minute, both times denying Sammons' from the left-hand edge of the box, firstly beating away a low drive, before quickly getting back up to tip the second effort over superbly. 

But the home side went back in front from the resulting corner, captain William Grocott's set-piece into a dangerous area picked out Jordan Williams peeling away free from close range, at the back post, to bullet head the ball home into the roof of the net, 2-1 on 85 minutes.

However, the twist and turns weren't finished there, as Needham again drew level in the ninetieth minute. 

A clever team goal saw Kyle Hammond thread Luke Ingram through brilliantly on the overlap, who hung an audacious cross on the byline over to the far post, finding Page who nodded home his second goal of the night, low at the near post, 2-2. 

It was nearly 3-2 to Needham two minutes into stoppage time, MOTM Harvey Sayer's left wing corner in found Ben Fowkes free from point blank range, who could only nod agonisingly just wide of the bottom left hand corner. 

Patrick Brothers was next to benefit from a fantastic cross in from Harvey Sayer a minute later, but the latter, in space at the back post, could only shoot just wide. 

The Marketmen did complete the comeback seven minutes into stoppage time, the ball fell to Ben Fowkes down the left-hand side of the penalty area, the forward kept the ball well before lashing a brilliant shot low into the bottom far corner, 3-2.

Needham are back on the road again on Saturday, when they travel to Bromsgrove Sporting (3pm, 9:45am the coach will depart from Bloomfields), and will hope to build on their victorious long midweek trek. 

Stratford Town:-

1 Liam O'Brien (GK)

2 Daniel Vann (82' Field)

3 Harry Higginson

4 James Fry (90'+4' Aisthorpe)

5 Jack Turner (69' O'Regan)

6 Jordan Williams

7 Daniel Lafferty

8 Ashley Sammons

9 Jack Storer

10 William Grocott (C)

11 Lewis Wilson

Subs:

13 Louis Beresford (GK)

14 Owen James

15 Michael O'Regan

16 Bailey Aisthorpe

17 Paul Field

Needham Market:-

1 Ewan Johnson (GK)

2 Jake Dye (HT' Page)

3 Harvey Sayer

14 Kyle Hammond

5 Hugh Cullum

6 Daniel Morphew (C)

7 Taylor Clark

8 Thomas Fitzgerald

9 Luke Ingram

10 Patrick Brothers

11 Seth Chambers (77' Fowkes)

Subs:

12 Callum Page

15 Ben Fowkes

17 Callum Sturgess

18 Thomas Maycock

Booked: Lafferty (87'), Ingram (90'+6').

Goals: Sammons (78'), Williams (85'); Page (80', 90'), Fowkes (90'+7').