After a busy few months, I've finally had time to go back and recap every game I went to in both February and March.
With the new season on the horizon, I've looked back at two football packed months as part of a year long series to document 2025 in a fun way, while also incorporating all levels of football that I watch on a fairly regular basis.
Well, what a month February was! Went to 15 games at 10 different grounds, witnessing 49 goals all the way from the Premier League down to the Bury Sunday League.
Starting at the Ecologic Stadium Bloomfields, February began with a Vanarama National League North clash between Needham Market and Warrington Town.
The Marketmen recorded their first step 2 victory in the reverse fixture at the end of August with a 2-1 win, and repeated the feat in Suffolk. A dangerous sliding challenge from Peter Clarke on Jake Dye gave Luke Ingram (43'pen) the opportunity to find the bottom corner from the penalty spot, while Elliot Morris (54') converted goalkeeper Atherton's long ball in the visitors' search for a valuable point. Needham had other ideas however, Tevan Allen's 92nd minute goal-bound shot was blocked by a hand, with Seth Chambers on hand to dispatch the spot-kick for an important home win.
Up next, I travelled to play-off chasing Brackley with the Marketmen on the Tuesday, which served up a well fought encounter for Tom Rothery's first game in charge. Tevan Allen's 44th minute deflected free kick beat Jonny Maxted for power to give the visitors a half-time lead, only for a handball to lead to a Brackley penalty, which Connor Hall (48'pen) marginally squeezed in, while Miracle Okafor (75') salvaged all three points for the hosts after turning home a right wing cross.
After my first visit in January, I travelled back to Peterborough for what proved to be another thoroughly Vertu EFL Trophy contest (full report on my blog), with the victor 90 minutes from Wembley. Posh notably became the first ever side to retain the EFL Trophy on Sunday (April 13th), which I could see being likely albeit having seen them dispatch two League Two sides. Darren Ferguson's side might have had an underwhelming season in Sky Bet League One this season but look a different animal in the Trophy. After watching a 6 goal thrilling tie on my birthday, this Quarter-Final served up arguably an even more entertaining five goal thriller. United captain, and my pick as MOTM, Hector Kyprianou (24') was first to the rebound after Day had denied Emmanuel Fernandez's header from a corner to open the scoring Cheltenham did turn the game on its head, equalising ten minutes later. Jordan Thomas exploited space to curl home into the top far corner. Thomas was also involved in the visitors' second goal (45'+2'), releasing George Miller through to dink Jed Steer to find the far corner. Abraham Odoh (52') restored parity, turning home the loose ball after Malik Mothersille was thwarted by Day, before Gustav Lindgren fed Ricky-Jade Jones (69') to slot home cleverly to set up a last four visit to Wrexham.
The week continued to serve up goals galore, as a second visit to the Silverlands Stadium pitted Farsley Celtic against Needham Market. Ten minutes had been played when Iffy Allen tapped home Jacob Lay's low cross after a surging run for his first Needham goal, before Josh Blunkell's long kick forward was flicked onto Iffy Allen to send Seth Chambers (20') baring down on goal to fire home into the bottom far corner to double their lead. Farsley struck against the run of play on 41 minutes as Robbie Fox smashed home into the top right-hand corner from distance, although Iffy Allen's stunning second goal (53') restored the Reds' 2 goal advantage - exploiting space to curl home into the top corner.
Iffy Allen made it two goals and two assists for Needham's fourth (59'), as Reggie Lambe effortlessly headed home the winter's right wing cross, while Seth Chambers (62') also netted a brace rifling home into the bottom far corner after Keiran Morphew's through-ball. Liam Cross rounded off the scoring for the seventh (77'), heading home Tevan Allen's sumptuous cross.
Up next, was an all-Premier Logos Bury Sunday Division One Best Badges Suffolk Sunday Cup Quarter-Final clash between Bury Town Bisons and Bedfield. Both sides had good chances in a goalless first half, with Bedfield (55') breaking the deadlock through Joe Mills' deflected 35-yard shot whichooped into the top right-hand corner. Harvey Mills (87') wrapped up their passage to the last four, finishing a low cross smartly into the bottom right-hand corner despite Bisons going close to equalising prior to the second.
Back to the Vanarama National League North, Needham hosted play-off chasing Hereford Live on DAZN, which saw a great performance from the Marketmen result in defeat after Robinson's (49') low shot was blocked off the line back to the same man to rifle into the bottom corner, with Needham Academy graduate Charlie Wood finding the bottom corner but for a controversial foul to rule out a 77th minute equaliser. Hereford then doubled their lead to take home the points (82'), with Jaiden White converting the rebound after Garnham headed away a long ball.
Saturday meanwhile saw Needham record an important 4-0 home league win over Oxford City at the Ecologic Stadium Bloomfields, starting with Iffy Allen (16') latching onto Kyle Hammond's exquisite cross-field ball before lobbing McKenzie-Lyle to find the far corner. Jacob Lay (43') turned home Kyle Hammond's free-kick at the far post to double their advantage at the break, with Lay turning provider for Jamie McGrath (63'), who headed home the former's cross. Substitute Charlie Wood (90'+2') then rounded off the scoring netting a well deserved maiden first team goal, leaping like a salmon to head home the fourth goal.
A first trip to Felixstowe since the turn of the year saw Ipswich Town Women's Women's National League Southern Premier Division title hunt continue gather pace with a 2-1 home win over Exeter City at the Martello Ground. The fourth placed visitors defied the script in the 12th minute, Sophie Gillies drove into space before smashing a ferocious strike into the top corner off the underside of the crossbar. Top scorer Sophie Peskett (30') restored parity for the Blues in a well worked move which saw Kyra Robertson and Maisy Barker link up smartly whose low cross was held up by Natasha Thomas to tee up Peskett to lash home into the bottom corner. Ella Rutherford (86') then ensured Town would not be held to a draw against a very strong Exeter side in dramatic fashion, Leah Mitchell's throw fed the forward whose clever control and drive towards goal saw Peskett and Angela Addison involved, as Rutherford thundered home the winner.
A new ground followed on Tuesday (18th), in what was a rather drap Sky Bet EFL League One encounter at Stevenage's Lamex Stadium. Burton Albion travelled to East Anglia sitting 23rd in the table but left having moved up to 21st, now lying 20th - leaving no doubt that the victory proved to be a catalyst to their improved form.
Stevenage however went into the game virtually safe, currently sitting 14th (at the time of writing on April 16th), with only four shots on target contributing to an underwhelming encounter. Charlie Webster (45') received Romarn Burrell's defence splitting pass to fire home what would prove to be the match-winner into the bottom corner. Stevenage did however let a couple of big moments pass them by, Jamie Reid fired over from the penalty spot, while a red card for Burton's Terence Vancooten (57') proved indecisive in the end result.
Next up in a busy week, I watched Needham's U18s take on Stowmarket Town at home in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Youth League Central Division, albeit as the away team with Stowmarket's pitch unfit. A topsy-turvy seven goal thriller ensued with the 'home side' Stow winning 4-3. After slotting home the opening through Porter (47'), Filip Zadlo (55') drove into space to smash home the equaliser into the bottom corner, before James Coton (62') was first to a low save by the 'keeper to head home at point blank range. Stow then fired home a 70th minute equaliser, before squeezing home a corner six minutes later. Zadlo then netted a brace (83') from Charlie Wood's through ball to round the keeper and slot home a second equaliser. A towering header from a corner meanwhile saw Stow return home with all three points.
Another new ground followed on Saturday, with a trip to South Shields for the longest trip of the season with Needham in the National League North. A game of two halves went the way of the hosts after Paul Blackett (24') broke through to find the bottom corner. Teddy Collis appeared onside when breaking through to find the bottom corner for an equaliser, albeit ruled out by an offside flag in a game of fine margins.
Staying with the National League North, a return to the Ecologic Stadium Bloomfields saw Needham pick up a point at home to Leamington after a 1-1 draw.
The Marketmen remained unbeaten after 3 wins and now a draw against the Brakes, and almost made it 4 wins from 4 meetings in 2 seasons when Reggie Lambe (68') rifled home following Kyle Hammond's free-kick. The visitors snatched an arguably harsh equaliser as Henry Landers (83') lashed home into the bottom corner.
A trip to Manchester followed on Wednesday as Manchester United hosted Ipswich Town in the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.
A thoroughly entertaining five goal thriller, with a rather controversial - mainly because of an arguably worse challenge in a game that followed that didn't receive the same punishment - VAR decision thrown in for good measure. Town took an early lead when a defensive error, one of many from Andre Onana who misjudged Patrick Dorgu's back pass, presented Jaden Philogene (4') with an empty net to slot into.
United however levelled on 22 minutes as Town captain Sam Morsy headed home United captain Bruno Fernandes' brilliant free-kick into his own net. In quickfire fashion, Ruben Amorim's side turned the game on it's head four minutes later. Again from a Fernandes set-piece, this time a corner, saw Harry Maguire's header excellently saved by Palmer who quickly got up to cleverly deny Dalot's strike on the follow up, but couldn't stop Matthijs De Ligt from meeting the loose ball to thump home into the top near corner.
Another twist followed on 44 minutes, as Patrick Dorgu was given his marching orders after a VAR review prompted Darren England to go to the pitch side monitor, after high dangerous challenge on Omari Hutchinson (a decision I could see both sides to).
Ipswich took advantage of the sending off, grabbing an equaliser two minutes into a fairly lengthy stoppage time, Axel Tuanzebe fed goalscorer Philogene on edge of the box who found a pocket of space to drive a low cross looking for Liam Delap at the far post that evaded him and wrapped round the diving Andre Onana into the bottom far corner.
On balance, a draw potentially seemed fair, albeit United will feel they could have been further ahead had it not been for Palmer. United started the second half in the perfect fashion despite the man disadvantage, Bruno Fernandes' 47th minute right wing corner found Harry Maguire free at the far post to bullet head home into the bottom left hand corner. Town pushed for a equaliser but to no avail as United held firm for a confidence boosting victory.
February concluded the next day, as Needham Market U18's set up a Suffolk Boys U18 Midweek Cup Semi-Final against Haverhill Rovers in search of their 2nd final in three seasons. The young Marketmen however ensured they'd reach the last four with a dominant 4-0 win over Lowestoft Town at the Ruby Homes Bloomfields 3G Arena.
Needham hit the front early as Luca Savill's (4') shot couldn't be kept out by the visiting keeper. Filip Zadlo saw a great low shot palmed away only as far as James Coton (15') to turn home the rebound to establish breathing space early on.
Filip Zadlo then secured the young Marketmen's passage to the last four, netting another brace with two well taken finishes in the space of two minutes, firstly poking home a defence splitting pass (65'), before lashing home into the bottom far corner (67') for a big win for the young Reds.
Twelve matches followed in March, starting with a trip to the Welsh border as Needham travelled to Chester in the National League North. The clash at the Deva Stadium produced up a rather deserved point for the Marketmen.
The then second placed Seals took a early lead, captain Rawlinson headed Declan Weeks' free-kick back across goal for debutant O'Kane (4') to tap home, although the Marketmen held firm and belied their position in the table and got their reward when Tevan Allen's left wing corner found Teddy Collis (21') at clsoe range to slot home the rebound after his initial shot was well saved by Storer for his maiden Needham goal.
Tuesday then saw a return to the Cledara Abbey Stadium for the first time since 2018 as Neil Harris' Amber Army hosted Alex Revell's Stevenage looking to ignite their Sky Bet League One survival hopes. However, like the previous time I'd watched Stevenage the game was ultimately a bore fest, with Stevenage having the only four shots on target despite Cambridge looking bright going forward but unable to pose much of a threat in the final third. Like my trip to Stevenage a few weeks before the game was decided by a single goal, once again by the visiting side. Eli King found Jamie Reid (64') who weaved smartly onto the right-hand edge of the box to curl a venomous strike into the corner - for a deserved victory, especially if solely focusing on major chances created.
The following night saw Needham face Felixstowe and Walton United in a Suffolk Premier Cup Semi-Final, which provided much more drama and action. The Isthmian North side broke the deadlock through Josh Hitter's 61st minute header from a free-kick, while Tom Warren (66') quickly added a second, glancing home a corner. Substitute Seth Chambers however refused to give up, netting a brace (75', 90'+3') with time running out to send the tie to a penalty shootout. First the young striker took advantage of a mix-up seeing Harry Wright charge out off his box and miss a long ball to tap into the empty net, before Reggie Lambe and Jamie McGrath both saw shots blocked with the striker on hand to drill home the equaliser. The shootout however saw Ingram, Lambe and Dye all denied by Wright with Hitter, Willie Clemons and Ford sending Felixstowe to a second straight final.
Back to the League for Needham, a gut wrenching home defeat to Marine saw Chris Doyle (46') poke home the decisive goal from a corner in the visitors' only major chance of the afternoon.
Back on the road, we made the long trek to Scarborough Athletic on the coast only to return home at around 4am after a 5-0 defeat which still didn't break the Marketmen's resolve. Harry Green (17') broke the deadlock finding the bottom corner, while Sam Reed (23') doubled their lead, diverting home Colville's cross in a clinical first half for Jonathan Greening's side which saw Green (35') net the third similarly to his first. Reed (50') blocked Garnham's clearance for the fourth, with Tom Walker (86') rounding off proceedings.
The Marketmen showed their metal on the Saturday, responding from Kole Hall (25')'s opener, heading home after a flick on from a corner to, defeat play-off chasing Chorley 2-1 at home following a pulsating finish. Captain Keiran Morphew (74') unleashed his inner Robin Van Persie to equalise, latching onto Jamie McGrath's through-ball to thunder home on the volley into the bottom corner. The skipper was involved again as Needham pushed for a winner, after Mark Ellis was sent off for headbutting the centre-back for a late penalty for Needham. Luke Ingram duly punished the visitors, lashing home the spot-kick to move Needham out of the relegation zone for the time being.
The next day, it was back to the Premier Logos Bury Sunday League Division One as leaders Moreton Hall Ferals looked to finish their league season with a win to help their chances of regaining their league title, that they lost last season having won the previous 3, against title contenders Bedfield. Both sides produced a half decent contest despite both being short of a full 16, with the hosts fielding a bare 11. Ferals created the majority of the better chances, scoring a goal on each half to pick up an important win. Jack Brame (20') acrobatically turned home Mitchell Bryant's long throw, before hitting a free-kick into the keeper's chest on 33 minutes. While Ferals headed just wide a minute later, Bryant's header from Charlie Glover's cross - after a great long ball from Brame - was well held by the stopper on 39 minutes.
Bryant then saw a shot held by the keeper, before Glover curled a sumptuous strike just wide of the top corner from distance on 42 minutes. Bedfield's major chance of note arrived on 45+1 minutes, firing just wide from long range.
Ferals remained on the front foot as Bryant's 48th minute low half-volley went narrowly wide, before Ben Newddixk fired a well struck low volleyed shot straight at the keeper 2 minutes later.
Aston Fallows was well alert to shovel a low shot behind on 51 minutes, with Sam Waterson's towering effort, at point blank range, from Newdick's cross a minute later being saved.
The former meanwhile shot narrowly wide from close range six minutes later, although Ferals did double their lead on 66 minutes. Charlie Glover capped a great personal performance to smartly finish past the keeper after latching onto a great ball through the defence. Although Charlie Goodchild lashed a shot just over two minutes later, Aston Fallows preserved his clean sheet on 93 minutes diving down well to deny a low shot.
Ferals have since been without a game, ahead of two cup finals in May.
Tuesday once again meant a lunchtime departure for a Needham away game, this time away to Spennymoor Town in a rearranged fixture due to their FA Trophy run. There didn't appear to be much between the two teams in a game that could've gone either way, with the fine margins settled by Corey McKeown (30') latching onto a long ball before wrapping a low shot into the far corner.
Once again on the road, a trip to promotion chasing Kidderminster Harriers followed, who I believe to be the best side in the league I've watched this season. Ashley Hemmings added to his brace in the reverse fixture in October, netting a hat-trick - wrapping home the first from close range to give Phil Brown's side a lead at the break.
The forward grasped home a shot from outside the box for the second, while Kouhyar smashed home the third. Seth Chambers however pulled back a consolation, quickly making an impact off the bench to receive a great ball through to smash home past the onrushing Dribble into the bottom far corner. Hemmings though had the final say, finding the bottom corner in stoppage time.
A tournament followed as March drew to a close, in which five clean sheets and a few wins and draws and a solitary defeat to the reigning Champions (after beating them earlier in the tournament), leaving one more to play in April.
The final week of the month saw more semi-final action as Needham U18s travelled to Bury Town to face Haverhill Rovers in the Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup. In a very lively and open clash, Needham broke the deadlock through Filip Zadlo (41'), who took advantage of miscommunication to round the committed keeper and smash into the vacant net.
Rovers though ensured the tie would remain level at the break, smashing home a low cross in stoppage time. Neither team could find a winner after the break though, as the match went to penalties. With a trip to Colchester United on the line, as well as a spot in the final, three saves from Needham stopper Charlie Skinner proved pivotal in Needham progressing, with Zadlo, Brad Smith, Charlie Smy and Harry Hopkins all converting in a 4-3 victory.
March drew to a close with two games over the weekend, one ending in a rather harsh 2-1 defeat for Needham and the second ended in a crucial 2-0 victory as Ipswich Town Women moved closer to a historic promotion to the second tier of English Women's Football.
Needham however faced play-off searching Buxton, and were arguably unfortunate to lose by a fine margin. Luke Ingram had a 21st minute strike crucially blocked, while Oli Ewing smashed home the opener for the visitors six minutes later.
Needham however equalised two minutes before the break, Tevan Allen's looping shot was smothered by Cooper as far as Jamie McGrath who found the top corner with a stunning looping strike.
Tevan Allen then flashed an angled effort just wide on the stroke of the interval, though Tommy Elliott scored the decisive goal on 48 minutes, who was then denied expertly by Garnham on 54 minutes.
The Sunday then saw another trip to Felixstowe as Town Women took on Gwalia United. The Blues broke the deadlock, in rather deserving fashion, on 33 minutes - Grace Garrad's brilliant right wing free-kick from 35-yards out was whipped to the far post, picking out the unmarked Natasha Thomas to simply head home into the bottom near corner from 4-yards out.
Another Garrad well taken right wing set-piece saw Town go close to a quick fire second goal on 39 minutes, only for Megan Wearing to chest the ball just wide at the far post.
Ella Rutherford then threaded Lucy O'Brien through, albeit offside, with a brilliant through-ball only for the latter to sidefoot her shot over the top far corner anyway a minute into first half stoppage time.
Town though doubled their lead 14 minutes after the restart, again created by a well taken Grace Garrad right wing free-kick, as Summer Hughes' far post free header at goal was smothered away well by Laura O'Sullivan-Jones as far as Natasha Thomas to head home from point blank range.
LIST OF GAMES, FEBRUARY 2025:
Sat 01.02: Needham Market 2-1 Warrington Town, Goals: Luke Ingram (43'pen), Seth Chambers (90'+2'pen); Elliot Morris (54').
Tue 04.02: Brackley Town 2-1 Needham Market, Goals: Connor Hall (48'pen), Miracle Okafor (75'); Tevan Allen (44').
Wed 05.02: Peterborough United 3-2 Cheltenham Town, Goals: Hector Kyprianou (24'), Abraham Odoh (52'), Ricky-Jade Jones (69'); Jordan Thomas (34'), George Miller (45'+3').
Sat 08.02: Farsley Celtic 1-6 Needham Market, Goals: Robbie Fox (41'),
Iffy Allen (10', 53'), Seth Chambers (20', 62'), Reggie Lambe (59'), Liam Cross (77').
Sun 09.02: Bury Town Bisons 0-2 Bedfield, Goals: Joe Mills (55'), Harvey Mills (87').
Tue 11.02: Needham Market 0-2 Hereford, Goals: Sammy Robinson (49'), Jaiden White (82').
Sat 15.02: Needham Market 4-0 Oxford City, Goals Iffy Allen (16'), Jacob Lay (43'), Jamie McGrath (63'), Charlie Wood (90'+2').
Sun 16.02: Ipswich Town Women 2-1 Exeter City Women, Goals: Sophie Peskett (30'), Ella Rutherford (86'); Sophie Gillies (12').
Tues 18.02: Stevenage 0-1 Burton Albion, Goal: Charlie Webster (45'). Sent Off: Terence Vancooten (57').
Thurs 20.02: Stowmarket Town U18 4-3 Needham Market U18, Goals: Filip Zadlo (55', 83'), James Coton (62'); (47'), (70'), (76'), (90').
Sat 22.02: South Shields 1-0 Needham Market, Goal: Paul Blackett (24').
Tues 25.02: Needham Market 1-1 Leamington, Goals: Reggie Lambe (68'); Henry Landers (83').
Weds 26.02: Manchester United 3-2 Ipswich Town, Goals: Sam Morsy OG (22'), Matthijs De Ligt (26'), Harry Maguire (47'), Jaden Philogene (4', 45'+2'). Sent Off Patrick Dorgu (44').
Thu 27.02: Needham U18 4-0 Lowestoft Town U18, Goals Luca Savill (4'), James Coton (15'), Filip Zadlo (65', 67').
MARCH 2025 MATCHES:
Sat 1: Chester 1-1 Needham Market, Goals: O'Kane (4'); Teddy Collis (21').
Tue 4: Cambridge United 0-1 Stevenage, Goal: Jamie Reid (64')
Weds 5: NM 2-2 (0-3p) Felixstowe + Walton United SPC SF @ Wanderers, Goals: Seth Chambers (75', 90'+3'); Josh Hitter (61'), Tom Warren (63').
Sat 8: Needham Market 0-1 Marine, Goal: Chris Doyle (46').
Tue 11: Scarborough Athletic 5-0 Needham Market, Goals: Harry Green (17', 36'), Sam Reed (23',50'), Tom Walker (86').
Sat 15: Needham Market 2-1 Chorley, Goals: Keiran Morphew (74'), Luke Ingram (90'+4'pen); Kole Hall (25').
Sun 16: Moreton Hall Ferals 2-0 Bedfield, Goals: Jack Brame (20'), Charlie Glover (66').
Tue 18: Spennymoor Town 1-0 Needham Market, Goal: Corey McKeown (30').
Sat 22: Kidderminster Harriers 4-1 Needham Market, Goals: Ashley Hemmings (33', 63', 90'+5'), Max Kouhyar (71'); Seth Chambers (77').
Sun 23: BTD Tournament - W3, D3, L1, GS 5, CS 5, GA 2
Tue 25: Haverhill Rovers 1-1 (3-4p) NM U18 @ Bury. Goals: H9 (45'+4'); Filip Zadlo (41'). Pens scored: Filip Zadlo, Brad Smith, Charlie Smy, Harry Hopkins.
Sat 29: Needham Market 1-2 Buxton Goals: McGrath (43'); Ewing (27'), Taylor (48')
Sun 30: Ipswich Town Women 2-0 Gwalia United WFC, Goals: Natasha Thomas (33', 59').
