Needham Market v Ilkeston Town | 18.02.2023 | The Pitching In Southern League Central Premier Division |

 

A fairly, even, tight game at Bloomfields goes the way of the clinical visitors after a hattrick from Leroy Lita.

Ilkeston though had the first chance after 6 minutes, Remaye Campbell flicked a header onto Leroy Lita who ran through one on one down the right hand side of the box only to see his low shot across goal palmed away by Marcus Garnham, while the striker's rebound effort was similarly palmed behind the 'keeper's left-hand post for a corner. 

Needham however took the lead on 20 minutes, Crane threaded Jake Dye through with a peach of a crossfield through-ball, the fullback squared it across to Luke Brown who wrapped a clever shot from the left-hand of the box side into the bottom far corner for his maiden Needham goal, 1-0 Needham. 

While Hallam saw his low shot across goal from 18 yards out on the right-hand side kicked away by Keiran Morphew on 23 minutes, the away side equalised a minute later as ex-professional Leroy Lita poked the ball past the onrushing Garnham and into the net from close range, 1-1. 

A superb stop from Garnham then twarted the visitors from going in front on 32 minutes, the shot-stopper narrowed the angle down well to tip Hallam's low shot, following a good ball over the top, wide of his bottom right-hand near corner. 

While the game remained a tightly contested affair, Ilkeston arguably had the better of the chances - capitalising, more so second half, when the chances arrived, albeit Hallam's shot from in acres of space after 36 minutes was tame and straight at Garnham on 36 minutes. 

After the restart, it was an entertaining end to end contest, until after the second Ilkeston goal, after which Needham enjoyed most of the possession.

Ilkeston though had the first chance of the second half, Remaye Campbell towered highest only to head a left wing corner over the crossbar after 49 minutes. 

Five minutes later, Lita turned the game on its head in favour of the visitors, O'Malley was first onto a loose ball in acres of space on the edge of the box whose deflected strike cannoned back into play off the inside base of the right-hand post into the path of Lita arriving to tap home into the bottom far, right-hand, corner from close range, 1-2 Ilkeston. 

A big save from Ilkeston goalkeeper Huddlestone meanwhile thwarted Needham on 70 minutes, Christian Frimpong read a great header across from a dangerous Dylan Williams' free-kick, only to see his effort from point blank range smothered by the 'keeper. 

Williams' brilliant right wing corner 18 minutes later almost provided the equaliser Needham craved, the hosts' man of the match's set-piece fell to Seth Chambers in space from close range whose near post shot on the turn was agonisingly smashed just wide of the top near corner. 

Great play again from the Marketmen proved in vain a minute later, Dye's great long ball was controlled well by substitute Chambers who threaded goalscorer Brown through one on one with the 'keeper, down the left-hand side of the box, though the forward thumped wide into the top near side netting from a tight angle.

Lita however sealed the three points for the visitors in the 2nd minute of stoppage time. Poor defending saw the ball fall to the forward unmarked down the right-hand side of the box who finished smartly into the bottom far corner. 

Needham will look to bounce back on Tuesday when their Suffolk Premier Cup defence begins at home to Isthmian League North Division side Felixstowe + Walton United at Bloomfields.

Attendance: 313

Entertainment: 3 

Star Man: Lita.

Needham Market:-

1. Marcus Garnham 

2. Kyle Hammond 

3. Jake Dye 

14. Christian Frimpong

5. Keiran Morphew (C)

6. Dylan Williams

7. Jacob Lay (58' Fitzgerald)

8. Noah Collard (74' Chambers) 

9. Luke Brown

10. Luke Ingram

11. Ross Crane

Subs 

12. Jamie McGrath

15. Hugh Cullum

16. Thomas Fitzgerald

17. Seth Chambers 

18. Finlay Shorten (GK)

Ilkeston Town:-

1. Callum Hiddlestone 

2. Joseph Wilson

3. Henri Wilder

4. Mason O'Malley 

5. Finn Delap

6. Kieren Fenton (c)

7. Remaye Campbell  

8. Connor Dixon 

9. Leroy Lita 

10. Jordan Hallam (59' Hilton)

11. Mitchell Woakes

Subs:

12. Lloyd Patterson

16. (14?). Thomas Hilton

18. Jack Thomas 

19. Harvey Woodward (GK)

Booked: Delap (8'), Jamie Ward (42'), Ingram (52'), Dixon (61'), O'Malley (67'), Williams (83'), Hiddlestone (88'), Fenton (90'+5').

Goals: Brown (20'); Lita (24', 54', 90'+2')

Needham Market v AFC RUSHDEN + DIAMONDS | 14.02.2023 | The Pitching In Southern League Central Premier Division |

Needham Market pick up a deserved win for the first time in six matches at home to AFC Rushden + Diamonds on Tuesday night.

Manager Kevin Horlock made 3 changes to Saturday's fifth straight defeat at Mickleover, Luke Ingram, Jacob Lay and Keiran Morphew all starting in place of Jamie McGrath, Daniel Morphew and Hugh Cullum.

The Marketmen dominated from the start and arguably had the first better chances. Luke Brown was first to work goalkeeper Loris Marcimain after 12 minutes. The forward, making his home debut, looked to catch the shot-stopper out with a fiercely taken low free-kick on the left-hand edge of the box, only for the goalkeeper to comfortably gather.

Ten minutes later a superb goalkeeper from the visiting goalkeeper denied the Marketmen the breakthrough they craved, first Kyle Hammond's rasping driven shot, after driving into space onto the right-hand edge of the box, was beaten away well by the goalkeeper diving down well to his bottom far corner, while Marcimain was on hand to then deny Luke Ingram's unmarked, far post, header from close range at his bottom left-hand corner following an audacious left wing cross from Jake Dye from the rebound of the initial save. 

The Marketmen meanwhile had a great chance to break the deadlock on 34 minutes, Luke Ingram broke through down the right wing, the forward then picked out Dylan Williams with a great low pass into the box, the midfielder, who was in acres of space, unselfishly teed up Luke Brown whose first time low strike was well blocked by the Rushden defender. 

At the other end, a smart save from Marcus Garnham meanwhile denied the visitors on 36 minutes, Joel Anker found space on the left-hand edge of the box to try his luck low at goal, only for his deflected effort towards the near post to be matched by a good reaction Dave from Garnham to beat it wide into the side-netting.

The Marketmen however crucially broke the deadlock on 43 minutes, Luke Ingram latched onto a brilliant defence splitting pass from Noah Collard in acres of space down the right-hand side of the box to slam home into the bottom far corner from a tight angle, for his 6th goal in all competitions this season, 1-0 Needham. 

The Marketmen started the second half were they left off, Patrick Brothers' peach of a left wing cross found Luke Brown from close range whose free header appeared to be deflected wide of the near post on 49 minutes, while the latter glanced a back post header from a right wing delivery wide for a goal-kick three minutes later. 

The Marketmen went agonisingly close to the all important second goal of the game on 64 minutes, Luke Brown started the move with a sumptuous crossfield ball to thread Luke Ingram through down the right wing, the goalscorer then broke through onto the byline before dinking a brilliant ball to the former free at the near post, whose attempt from a yard out was deflected just wide of the near post for a Needham corner. 

Needham continued to create the better chances, as the Reds forced a decent stop from St Albans loanee Marcimain two minutes later, the shot-stopper was down quickly and smartly to smother away a low fierce strike from the edge of the box. Luke Brown though was quickest to the loose ball before feeding Jacob Lay in acres of space, from close range on the left-hand side, but the winger's shot was well smothered away by a combination of a defender and goalkeeper. 

Sixty seconds later, Needham doubled their advantage courtesy of a ferocious strike from Luke Ingram to double his tally for the night. The Needham all time record appearance maker edged ever closer to the club's all time goalscoring record as his fierce strike from the right-hand edge of the box was deflected into the top near corner, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot, 2-0 Needham. 

Although that was the end of the scoring, Horlock's side weren't finished yet as Kyle Hammond ran onto a great ball from 30-yards only to thunder his shot just past the top right-hand corner on 70 minutes. 

Patrick Brothers did similarly, albeit the midfielder's rocket of a strike went just wide of the top left-hand corner from the edge of the box eight minutes later.

A much needed win for Kevin Horlock's side, who move up to 16th (32 points) in the table ahead of the visit of 8th placed Ilkeston Town (42 points).

Needham Market:-

1. Marcus Garnham 

2. Kyle Hammond 

3. Jake Dye

14. Christian Frimpong

5. Kieran Morphew (C)

6. Jacob Lay (80' Chambers)

7. Luke Ingram (76' Fitzgerald)

8. Noah Collard (82' McGrath) 

9. Luke Brown

10. Patrick Brothers

11. Dylan Williams

Subs 

12. Daniel Morphew 

15. Hugh Cullum

16. Seth Chambers

17. Thomas Fitzgerald 

18. Jamie McGrath

AFC Rushden + Diamonds:-

13. Loris Marcimain

2. George Joyce (70' Agemoh-Davies)

3. Bogdan Marian

4. Charlie Waller (71' Chikamba)

5. Ryan Hughes

6. Luke Massingham (c)

7. Joel Anker  

8. Fraser Corden

9. James Burnside

10. Jenson Cooper (71' Black)

11. Charlie Pattison

Subs:

12. Nigel Chikamba

14. Anthony Agemoh-Davies

15. Charles Black

Booked: Cooper (14'), Williams (30'), Waller (41').

Goals: Ingram (43', 67').

Assists: Collard (43'), Brown (67').

Needham Market U18 V Brantham Athletic U18 | 09.02.2023 | Thurlow Nunn Eastern Countries Youth League Central Division |

Needham Market Under-18s picked up what could prove to be a crucial point in the Thurlow Nunn Youth League Central Division title race, despite leading their Brantham Athletic counterparts 3-1 at Bloomfields before sharing the points in a 3-3 draw.

The evening though couldn't have got off to a better start from the young Marketmen's perspective as James Letts broke the deadlock with an incredible free-kick after just 45 seconds, as the midfielder curled the set-piece home perfectly and audaciously into the top near, left-hand corner, 1-0 Needham.

In clinical fashion, Needham doubled their lead with their second shot of the night after 3 minutes, with Dimitri Gayle smashing home from close range into the vacant top left-hand, near corner, after being threaded through into space to make it 2-0 to Needham. 

While Brantham saw a curling shot from in space on the left-hand edge of the box deflected wide of the bottom far corner for a corner on the half-hour mark, the visitors saw another great strike from a similar area deflected just wide of the top near corner a minute later. 

Goalscorer James Letts then exploited space well on the left wing before cutting inside onto the near edge of the box, but for the midfielder's curling shot to go wide of the bottom far corner after 40 minutes. 

Brantham on the other hand halved the deficit three minutes later after Ben Smith was adjudged to have handled a bouncing ball inside the penalty area. Up-stepped the visitors whose spot-kick cannoned back into play off the bottom left-hand post and back to the taker who tapped home into the bottom right-hand corner from point blank range. 

Seven minutes after the restart, Needham went close to restoring their two goal advantage. A great ball lifted over the top threaded James Letts through one on one with the goalkeeper only to see his half volley well held by the onrushing goalkeeper. 

While a Brantham right wing cross clipped just over off the crossbar on 55 minutes, Needham were awarded a penalty seconds later after Lucas Vance was brought down having broken through dangerously into the box.

Up stepped the forward, who confidently dispatched an empathic penalty perfectly into the top left-hand corner, 3-1 Needham after 57 minutes.

Eleven minutes later though Brantham reduced the deficit to 3-2, the visitors' winger exploited space well to hammer an audacious ferocious strike from distance in off the underside of the crossbar. 

After Brantham fired a low powerful effort just wide of the bottom near left-hand corner on 73 minutes, Brantham saw a goal ruled out for offside from close range a minute later. 

Brantham though picked up a fair point on the balance of play with another stunning strike on 85 minutes, the visiting number 8 firing home a sumptuous effort from the the left-hand edge of the box which went in off the woodwork as it dipped into the top right-hand corner.

The result means that Needham Under-18s now sit 3 points clear at the top of the table ahead of a weeks break prior to a visit to Framlingham Town on the 23rd February (7:45pm).

Needham Market:-

1 Roan Tucker

2 Mileeq Banya

3 Jayden Hanna

4 Travis Buxton

5 Ben Smith (c)

6 Josh Smith

7 Alex Oakley

8 James Letts

9 Lucas Vance

10 Luca Braddon

12 Dimitri Gayle

Subs:

14 Tom Roughley

15 Fabio De Sousa

16 Callum Sumner

18 Jay Button

19 Lennie Milbourne

Booked: BGk (56'), Hanna (90'), Vance (90'+7', 90'+8'), B14 (90'+9').

Sent Off: BGK (90'+7'), Vance (90'+8').

Goals: Letts (1'), Gayle (3'), Vance (57'pen); B11 (43'), B7 (68'), B8 (85'). Goals from Battersby, Chisnall and Robertson/ Robertson, Chisnall, Battersby.

 

Mickleover v Needham Market | 11.02.2023 | The Pitching In Southern League Central Division Premier |

A goal in each half for Mickleover inflicts a fifth straight defeat on Needham Market.

It was a fairly even encounter, though Mickleover took two of their chances well. The hosts had the first chance of the afternoon on 11 minutes as Reeves' low close range shot was beaten away by a smart diving save from Marcus Garnham.

While Brothers saw a fierce strike held well by the goalkeeper soon after, the hosts broke the deadlock on 15 minutes, Reeves was found in space down the left-hand side in the box who finished well into the bottom far corner. 

Needham responded well, although Brothers' fierce shot from the left-hand edge of the box was beaten behind by the 'keeper at the near post for a corner in response on 17 minutes, whilst Jamie McGrath could only head over from a brilliant Dylan Williams right wing corner three minutes before Garnham was on hand to smartly tip a smart Reeves chip just wide after 27 minutes. 

Needham debutant Luke Brown meanwhile fired a fierce strike across goal, from in space on the left-hand edge of the box, just agonisingly over the crossbar on 33 minutes, before Brown saw a shot tipped just wide. Great passing play saw Noah Collard feed Patrick Brothers, the midfielder in turn fed Jake Dye who audaciously threaded Luke Brown through onto the left-hand edge of the box but the forward's low fierce shot across goal was tipped wide by the diving keeper.

The chances continued to fall to the visitors, as Jamie McGrath hit the post a minute later. The forward smartly got onto the end of a brilliant left wing cross from a yard out at the back post, but saw his header cannon back off the outside of the near post. 

The Marketmen though were arguably unlucky not to get a share of the spoils, with Dylan Williams firing a great first time strike just over after low a great cross in from Luke Brown three minutes after the restart.

Needham meanwhile were just unable to get on the end of a great ball across on a plate with nobody in Needham's yellow away kit around to provide the finishing touch that Patrick Brothers' left wing outswinging sumptuous delivery, into the six yard box, craved on 51 minutes.

The Marketmen though created a great chance on 70 minutes, Dylan Williams' dangerous 30-yard free-kick was swung in towards Noah Collard lurking close to goal at the far post, though a defender was first to the ball to poke it behind for a corner.

Mickleover then effectively killed off the game with a counter attack goal from the resulting Needham corner a minute later, striker George Nunn rounded it off by latching onto a great through-ball before chipping the onrushing Garnham to inflict a harsh defeat on the visitors. 

Luke Ingram however went close to reducing the deficit a minute later, but the substitute sliding in just couldn't get a touch to a brilliant ball in on a plate straight after.

A crucial save from Marcus Garnham prevented Mickleover from adding a third goal on 81 minutes, George Nunn was released through one on one with Garnham once more, only this time the Needham goalkeeper advanced off his line well to smother the shot away with his feet.

Mickleover then saw a shot from the right-hand side of the box clip just over off the top left-hand side of the crossbar three minutes later, while Luke Brown just couldn't quite connect to a brilliant Jake Dye header across the penalty area after 89 minutes. 

Kevin Horlock's side will look for a swift response on Tuesday at home to AFC Rushden + Diamonds (7:45pm).

Mickleover:-

1 Oliver Bosworth

2 Ethan Mann

3 Rhys Dolan (52' Wilson)

5 James Butler

6 Philip Watt (c)

7 Andrew Dales

8 Mason Warren

9 George Nunn

10 Elliott Reeves (66' Beavon)

11 Marcus Marshall (66' Trueman)

15 Joseph Bateman

Subs:

4 Pablo Mills

12 William Trueman

14 Stuart Beavon

16 Ryan Wilson

17 George Atwal

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham

2 Kyle Hammond

3 Jake Dye

14 Christian Frimpong

5 Hugh Cullum (66' Lay)

6 Daniel Morphew (c)

7 Noah Collard

8 Dylan Williams (76' Chambers)

9 Luke Brown

10 Patrick Brothers

11 Jamie McGrath (HT' Ingram)

Subs:

12 Luke Ingram

15 Thomas Fitzgerald

16 Seth Chambers

17 Jacob Lay

Booked: Brothers (44', 90'+5'), Watt (50'), Ingram (56'), M (66'), Nunn (69').

Sent Off: Brothers (90'+5').

Goals: Reeves (15'), Nunn (71').

Needham Market v Kings Langley | 04.02.2023 | The Pitching In Southern League Central Premier Division |

Two second half goals from Kings Langley inflict a fourth, two of which at home, straight defeat on Needham Market at Bloomfields. 

While the first half was arguably going to plan for the Marketmen, Kevin Horlock's side were punished by 2 clinical Kings Langley counter attacks to take all 3 points. 

The Marketmen started the first half on the front foot, as a left wing free-kick went just wide of the near post off Seth Chambers, lurking from close range after just 2 minutes.

Sure enough, the Reds broke the deadlock nine minutes later, capping some brilliant team passing play in the build up. Noah Collard threaded Jake Dye into acres of space down the right wing, the defender then released Jamie McGrath through down the near side of the box, where upon latching onto the smart through-ball, the striker unselfishly squared the ball across the face of goal, on a plate, towards the onrushing Seth Chambers to tap home into the roof of the net from 3-yards out, 1-0 Needham.

Just three minutes later, the Marketmen went close to quickly doubling their lead, Seth Chambers latched onto a brilliant long over the top before smartly flicking the ball over the defender on his way through down the right-hand side of the penalty area, but scuffed his effort wide for a goal-kick.

At the other end, a flying save from Marcus Garnham preserved his side's advantage on 22 minutes, a left wing corner picked out Ethan Light at the far post, whose header forced Garnham quickly into action to get across to his top left-hand corner and top the defender's header away, with the defender heading wide from the rebound.

While Noah Collard's deflected attempt at goal, from the left-hand edge of the box, was well held by goalkeeper Jack Berman at his top far corner on 25 minutes, the Marketmen went close again minutes later. Jamie McGrath was threaded through cleverly by a great through-ball down the left wing, the striker then smartly cut inside into the penalty area only to fire his strike narrowly wide of the bottom far corner.

After great defending denied Chambers from capitalising on an open goal, after Berman's clearance went high up in the air on 35 minutes, a crucial goal-line clearance thwarted the home side from the resulting corner a minute later. Ross Crane's audacious left wing set-piece picked out Keiran Morphew at the far post, the defender towered highest to direct a close range header towards the top near corner only to be headed off the line by Sami Bessadi, while Dan Morphew could only head wide at the far post from another Ross Crane delivery from the loose ball. 

Marcus Garnham was again on hand to hold onto Light's close range free header following a right wing cross after 40 minutes before the hosts were denied by a vital save from Berman two minutes later. 

Crane smartly beat two defenders out on the left wing before swinging a terrific outswinging cross into the box which found Jake Dye arriving at the back post whose smartly first time cushioned volley across found McGrath, although the striker saw his close range effort well saved by Berman. 

Four minutes after the restart, Kings Langley equalised following a quick counter attack. Good play saw Leon Chambers-Parillon fed into space on the right wing whose cross in picked out Andronicos Georgiou sliding in to direct the ball home from close range, 1-1. 

Nine minutes later, Georgiou found space to fire a fierce shot across goal from the right-hand edge of the box, only to find Marcus Garnham equal to the task - the home shot-stopper was quickly down well to his right-hand side to beat the effort away. 

Needham meanwhile had a great chance to retake the lead a minute later, Patrick Brothers' clever right wing free-kick, from 30-yards out, found Keiran Morphew towering highest only to direct his header wide of the bottom near corner. 

Just after the hour mark, the Marketmen tested Berman once more, McGrath's clever ball wrapped round the defence released Chambers through one on one with the 'keeper, albeit the striker's strike from a tight angle was comfortably held by the visiting goalkeeper at his near right-hand post. 

It was straight from that that Kings Langley broke up the other end and scored what proved to be the winning goal after surviving continuous pressure from the home side, a clever ball into the box picked out Cain Keller who put the visitors in front, 1-2. 

The Marketmen looked to respond quickly, delivering a great left wing cross into the box towards Ross Crane, although Berman was off his line well to punch the ball away on 67 minutes. 

Two minutes later, the Marketmen were almost bewildered that they weren't back on level terms after Ross Crane's shot, from the right-hand side of the box, was well smothered by the onrushing goalkeeper as far as Jake Dye who smashed the rebound agonisingly wide of the bottom far left-hand corner. 

The hosts though were determined to find an equaliser, Chambers picked up the loose ball following a free-kick but could only watch as his close range shot hooked towards goal went over off the top of the crossbar on 72 minutes. 

While Chambers' effort from point blank range was deflected behind for a corner ten minutes later, a superb stop from Berman maintained the visitors' advantage in the 85th minute. The Needham striker latched onto a brilliant ball into the box at the far right-hand post only to see his shot expertly saved by the quick reflexes of the advancing 'keeper, crucially palming the ball away.

As the clock reached 90 minutes, Ross Crane almost salvaged a late equaliser for Needham but was just an unable to get on the end of a brilliant right wing ball fizzed low across the face of goal, from a yard out at the far post. 

Horlock's side travel to Mickleover on Saturday ahead of a busy schedule, which continues with a home clash with AFC Rushden + Diamonds on Tuesday at Bloomfields.

Needham Market:-

1 Marcus Garnham

2 Jake Dye

3 Patrick Brothers

14 Christian Frimpong

5 Keiran Morphew (c)

6 Daniel Morphew

7 Noah Collard

8 Dylan Williams (78' Fraser)

9 Seth Chambers (90'+6' Fitzgerald)

10 Jamie McGrath (66' Lay)

11 Ross Crane

Subs:

12 Jacob Lay

15 Hugh Cullum

16 Tom Fitzgerald

17 Ollie Fraser

18 Mo Igwebuike

Kings Langley:-

1 Jack Berman

2 Leon Chambers-Parillon

3 Alexander Lafleur

4 Isaac Galliford

5 Ethan Light

6 Jorell Johnson (c)

7 Cain Keller 

8 Finlay Macnab (80' Clarke)

9 Wilson De Carvalho (75' Feyi)

10 Andronicos Georgiou (86' Sole)

11 Sami Bessadi

Subs:

12 Kennedy Feyi

13 Alex Tokarcyk (GK)

14 Liam Sole

15 Tyrique Clarke

16 Chukwuemeka Okoye-Ahaneku

Booked: Crane (17'), Macnab (68'), Light (71'), Johnson (71'), Collard (71'), Frimpong (74').

Goals: Chambers (11'); Georgiou (49'), Keller (62').

 

Two second half goals from Kings Langley condemn Needham Market to fourth straight defeats.

The Marketmen arguably had the better of the chances first half, while Kings Langley were the more clinical side after the restart. 

Needham started on the front foot and deservedly lead at the break after Seth Chambers tapped home Jamie McGrath's squared ball on a plate on 11 minutes. While Garnham was on hand to fly across to superbly tip Light's header away at the other end, Keiran Morphew then saw his header headed off the line as Needham looked to add to their lead, before McGrath saw his close range effort denied shortly before the interval.

After the restart, the visitors quickly got back onto level terms as Andronicos Georgiou slotted home from close range after 49 minutes. 

While Garnham denied the goalscorer with a fine save ten minutes later, Seth Chambers fired a decent effort straight at the visiting keeper soon after.

Kings Langley then countered straight after and crucially scored what proved to be the winner through Cain Keller shortly after the hour mark.

 Needham though battled hard for an equaliser, Ross Crane saw an effort smothered while Jake Dye smashed the rebound just wide of the bottom corner. 

Seth Chambers meanwhile saw his hooked effort go over via the top of the crossbar while the home Goalscorer's clever effort was expertly tipped away by the smart reactions of the visiting keeper.

Needham Market U23s v Haverhill Borough | 07.02.2023 | Thurlow Nunn Eastern Countries League First Division North

Needham Market Under-23s record two straight wins in the space of five days with a fine 3-2 win over Haverhill Borough. 

The victory moves James Mant's side up to 16th having followed up a 2-1 win at FC Parsons Drove (goals from Ed Barker and Clayton Osborn).

The young Marketmen dominated proceedings and took their chances well, putting right the 3-1 defeat at Haverhill Borough earlier in the season, that could've gone either way. 

The young Reds, kindly sponsored by Roofix, started on the front foot. Ollie Fraser threaded Flynn Crosthwaite through on the overlap whose low good ball into the six yard box was well by Fin Watts diving down well off his line after 3 minutes. 

Four minutes later, good goalkeeping from Fin Watts denied his former club from breaking the deadlock on 7 minutes, the shot-stopper crucially on his toes to narrow the angle and smother a clever close range effort from Ollie Fraser following a dangerous low ball fizzed into the penalty area.

At the other end, Haverhill meanwhile sidefooted a great first time effort just over the top right-hand corner a minute later, while Needham broke the deadlock in the 12th minute.

A brilliant long ball over the top released Archie Exworth through smartly past the defence down the left-hand side of the box, the attacking midfielder then smartly teed up Jacob Lay with a clever cushioned volley on a plate for the winger to simply tap home into the bottom left-hand corner from close range, 1-0 Needham.

Great play from the Reds almost earned the hosts a deserved two goal lead eight minutes later, Tom Fitzgerald exploited space to chip an audacious cross in, from the left-hand edge of the box, only for Watts to be alert to palm the dangerous delivery away, close to goal, where a defender quickly smacked away the rebound.

The midfielder again tested the visiting defence on 25 minutes, his audacious right wing free-kick picked out Shane Wardley in space at the far post whose close range dangerous header back across the face of goal was bravely smothered behind by Oliver Santry at his near post.

The resulting corner saw Wardley again latch onto the ball unmarked at the far post, only this time the defender's first time fierce shot from point blank range cannoned away to safety of the backside of a defender on 26 minutes.

From the resulting throw in Archie Exworth doubled his side's lead, notching his 10th goal of the campaign, in style a minute later. The midfielder wax fed into space from distance to curl and dip a sumptuous strike into the top left-hand corner, 2-0 Needham. 

Needham almost added their lead just after the half-hour mark, a perfectly weighted through-ball released Hugh Cullum racing past the defence down the right-hand side of the penalty area whose audacious low ball flashed across the face of goal was just too high for the diving Ed Barker to latch onto from 3-yards out.

Sixty seconds later, Fitzgerald threaded Ed Barker through with a perfectly weighted through-ball past the defence, down the left-hand side of the box, although the forward's low shot was well saved by the onrushing Watts.

On the stroke of the interval, a smart reaction stop from Fin Shorten maintained his side's two goal lead at the interval, the Needham shot-stopper quickly dived down across to his near right-hand post to beat away a cleverly taken free-kick by Jude Iron from the edge of the box.

The second half however saw only a handful of clear cut chances, though Needham went close ten minutes after the restart. Archie Exworth fed Jacob Lay through smartly down the left-hand side of the box whose effort smashed towards goal was blocked bravely by Santry.

Two minutes later, Borough reduced the deficit with a fine strike following a quick counter-attack once play restarted. Louie Brampton exploited space on the left-hand edge of the box to expertly curl a low strike home into the bottom far corner, 2-1.

Needham though restored their two goal advantage courtesy of a well taken goal on 63 minutes, Ollie Fraser threaded an intelligent ball through the defence for Archie Exworth to latch onto ahead of the advancing Watts and brilliantly thump home his second of the night first time into the roof of the net, 3-1 Needham. 

A superb instinctive double save from Watts denied the hosts from putting the game definitely beyond doubt a minute into stoppage time, first Ollie Fraser's fierce strike from the right-hand edge of the box was beaten away by the smart reactions of Watts diving up to his top left-hand corner, while the 'keeper recovered quickly to smartly deny Luca Braddon's first time effort,  from a tight angle at close range.

Two minutes later, the visitors set up a tense final minute by reducing the deficit to 3-2 two minutes later, Callum Stone exploited a defensive error to latch onto a ball past the defence before empathically finishing past Shorten, who did get a hand to it, into the roof of the net.

A hard earned victory for the young Marketmen, who entertain league leaders Framlingham Town on Saturday, after the Under-18s are in home action on Thursday in a potential title decider against Brantham Athletic (7:45pm).

Needham Market:-

1 Fin Shorten

2 Hugh Cullum (68' Osborn)

3 Flynn Crosthwaite

4 Tom Fitzgerald (68' Letts)

5 Sam Leslie

6 Shane Wardley 

7 Jacob Lay (71' Gayle)

8 Eddie Barker

9 Ed Barker

10 Archie Exworth (85' Braddon)

11 Ollie Fraser

Subs:

14 James Letts

15 Ben Smith 

16 Clayton Osborn

17 Dimitri Gayle

18 Luca Braddon 

Haverhill Borough:-

1 Finley Watts

2 Charlie Walker

3 Ethan Murphy

4 Kieran Scanlon

5 Oliver Santry (c)

6 Harvey Halgarth (74' Lambert)

7 Jude Iron

8 Louie Brampton

9 Callum Stone

10 Billy Bush

11 Spencer Sykes (88' Lombardo)

Subs:

12 Jack Lambert

14 Luke Gannaway

15 Joe Wilson (GK)

16 Archie Cowe

17 Tyler Lombardo

Booked: Cullum (42'), Bush (76'), Brampton (77'), Lambert (90'). 

Goals: Lay (12'), Exworth (27', 63'); Brampton (57'), Stone (90'+3').

Needham Market U18 V Leiston U18 | 02.02.2023 | Thurlow Nunn Eastern Countries Youth League Central Division |

Needham Market Under-18s make it back to back victories with a 4-2 home win over Leiston at Bloomfields in Thursday evening. 

Leiston though broke the deadlock after 42 seconds after a rocket of a shot from Reagan King, who found space to let fly from 35-yards out, arrowed into the top right hand corner, 1-0 Leiston. 

Needham though were awarded a penalty in the fourth minute after Lucas Vance was threaded through past the defence by a sumptuous through-ball down the left wing before being brought down from behind by a visiting defender. Up-stepped the forward, who scored his 6th Under-18 goal of the campaign as he cooly dispatched from the spot slotting home empathically into the bottom left-hand corner, sending Podd the wrong way to level proceedings at 1-1. 

The young Marketmen quickly took the lead two minutes later, a brilliant left wing cross in from Ivan Sanchez found Clayton Osborn in space at the far post who expertly headed home into the bottom left-hand corner from close range, 2-1 Needham. 

The home side then looked to increase their lead in the eleventh minute, albeit their dangerous left wing free-kick flashed just wide of the far post. Five minutes later, great play from the young Reds saw Flynn Crosthwaite drive into space down the right wing, the young midfielder kept possession well before teeing up James Letts in space on the edge of the box whose shot was well blocked. 

Down the other end, Ollie Griggs found space to shoot on the left-hand edge of the box only to see goalkeeper Roan Tucker hold onto it well at his top near corner after 34 minutes. 

The Needham shot-stopper then reacted smartly four minutes later to advance off his line and beat away a shot from inside the box, while Needham went close to adding a third goal five minutes prior to the interval.

Great passing play saw the hosts feed James Letts out on the left wing, the midfielder found Eddie Barker who in turn found Ivan Sanchez. After some clever one touch play saw Letts released in acres of space down the left-hand side of the box whose tight angle low shot across goal was well held by the diving Podd. 

The end to end action continued three minutes into stoppage time as Eddie Barker's smart low free-kick on the left-hand edge of the box was well held by Podd at his near corner following a deflection off the wall. 

The second half started with more chances for the home side in what was a great competitive game of football to watch, Dimitri Gayle exploited space down the left wing to deliver an audacious cross into the box which found goalscorer Clayton Osborn free from close range at the far post where the ball bounced off the winger and straight to Podd on 52 minutes. 

A minute later, Needham top scorer Luca Braddon netted his 8th goals of the campaign for the Under-18s, having also netted 3 times for the club's Under-23s, in style. The forward cleverly latched onto a brilliant through-ball past the defence in space onto the left-hand edge of the box before driving on into the area and rounding goalkeeper Podd before slotting home from close range, 3-1 Needham.

More good play from the home side saw the Reds go close to a fourth goal on 55 minutes, a great cutback from the left-hand byline inside the box saw a shot from 5-yards out well smothered by Podd, while the ricoshade off the lurking Letts towards goal was smacked away from the goal-line. 

Podd though denied the young Marketmen with a fine save on the hour mark, great buildup play saw Eddie Barker pick out substitute Dimitri Gayle free on the left-hand edge of the box, the winger in turn picked out a Red shirt in space whose close range first time shot was smothered away well by the shot-stopper. 

Substitute Ed Barker then forced a good stop from Podd on 66 minutes, the forward expertly weaved through towards goal down the right-hand byline whose shot from point blank range was again well smothered by Podd. Seconds later, Travis Buxton was first to a high ball in the penalty area before Podd, the midfielder's hook backwards found Clayton Osborn in acres of space down the right-hand side of the box whose instinctive volley towards goal, with Podd caught off his line, flew just over onto the roof of the net. 

Ollie Griggs though did reduce the deficit for Leiston after 69 minutes, the Leiston winger finished smartly after racing through towards goal and sidefooting home past the onrushing Tucker into the bottom left-hand corner, 2-3. 

Needham responded a minute later, Eddie Barker's right wing corner picked out Ben Smith arriving from point blank range whose header glanced agonisingly just wide of the bottom far corner. 

Aiden Jolly was then released through by a great long ball over the Leiston defence sixty seconds later, albeit the substitute midfielder could only smash his half-volley over the crossbar with just Podd to beat.

Podd was then on hand for Leiston to deny Needham once more on 73 minutes, a terrific great ball poked through the defence released Dimitri Gayle one on one with the goalkeeper who rushed off his line well to smother away his deft poked effort towards goal. 

Gayle meanwhile worked space to shoot smartly down the right-hand side of the box only to see his low driven shot across goal well held by Podd a minute later. 

While the young Marketmen blazed a half-volleyed effort off target on 81 minutes, the hosts rounded off proceedings seven minutes later. Aiden Jolly latched onto a great ball over the top before seeing his initial shot denied by Podd which ricoshaded back off the Needham midfielder and bounced into the vacant met from point blank range, 4-2 Needham.

Although that goal rounded off the scoring, Needham did test Podd once more as Eddie Barker's deflected fierce 25-yard effort at goal was well claimed by Podd ten minutes later. 

It's a busy week ahead for the football club at Bloomfields, with the men's first team in action with a crucial encounter with Kings Langley on Saturday (3pm), the Women's Development team then entertain Kesgrave on Sunday (2pm), while the Under-23s return to home action on Tuesday (7:45pm) against Haverhill Rovers, two days before the Under-18s entertain Brantham Athletic in a potential title decider (7:45pm). 

Needham Market:-

1 Roan Tucker

2 Mileeq Banya

3 Ivan Sanchez

4 Flynn Crosthwaite

5 Ben Smith

6 Stanley Forvague

17 Clayton Osborn

8 Eddie Barker (c)

9 Luca Braddon

10 James Letts

11 Lucas Vance

Subs:

12 Aiden Jolly

14 Dimitri Gayle

15 Travis Buxton

16 Ed Barker

18 Jayden Hanna

Leiston:-

21 Harrison Podd

2 Finn Mills

3 Benjamin Batho

4 Reagan King

5 Billy Jordan

6 Cohen Duhaney-Donohue (c)

7 Ollie Griggs

8 Josh Yaxley

9 Mackenzie Travis

10 Thomas Argeles-Stuart

11 Connor Green

Subs:

12 Samuel Cox

14 Jack Finlinson

15 Omarion Lewis

Booked: Duhaney-Donohue (10'), Jolly (80'), Mills (90'+6').

Sin binned: King (90'+5').

Goals: Vance (5'pen), Osborn (7'), Braddon (53'), Jolly (88'); King (1'), Griggs (69').