3 GOALS 3 POINTS

Bromsgrove form W3 L2 - WWLWL, lost at home to Spalding United last Saturday 2-3 both 10 men, after beating Alvechurch (a) 2-1 on Tues 12th. Winless at home this season with a 2-0 opening day home defeat to Bishop's Stortford.

Needham Market extended their early season unbeaten run to three games, following a second straight win, with a clinical 3-0 win at Bromsgrove Sporting.

The result moves the Marketmen up to 8th and a point behind Halesowen Town (8 points) in 6th in the last play-off spot also makes it 3 consecutive clean sheets, while Bromsgrove remain without a point from 3 home games this season.

Rothery's side made 1 change to last weekend's win over Worcester City, captain Keiran Morphew was unavailable due to injury with Ben Hunter returning to midfield as vice-captain Dan Morphew skippered the side.

Bromsgrove directed a free header at close range from a right wing cross just wide of the near post on 4 minutes. 

Kyle Hammond however gave Needham a 6th minute lead in style. Jamie McGrath broke through cleverly down the left-hand side before seeing his low shot across goal palmed away by the keeper as far as Kyle Hammond at the far post to thunder home, first time, brilliantly from 15-yards off the underside of the crossbar.

Kobe Hall then saw an 8th minute low wrapped strike from distance comfortably reads and held by James Bradbrook, while Ollie Saunders broke into space before curling a shot from long range over on 11 minutes.

Needham then enjoyed a good spell of possession as Ollie Saunders slid Luke Ingram through down the right-hand but fired just over the crossbar on 22 minutes, before Joe Neal fired narrowly wide soon after.

Kyle Hammond and Tommy Smith then read two crosses into a dangerous area well to head them clear in the space of two minutes on 27 minutes, with Hammond booked for taking too long over a throw in, with McGrath seeing a 35th minute shot blocked.

Ingram saw a dangerous right-hand cross blocked crucially wide for a corner, who flicked across Hammond's dangerous 37th minute resulting corner but no Needham players were around to capitalise at point blank range.

Tommy Smith was fed in acres of space by Hammond on 38 minutes, though his rasping low drive was just held onto by the keeper.

A minute later, Jake Dye preserved the Marketmen's lead, crucially clearing a dangerous low ball on a plate into the six yard box, with Hammond brilliantly blocking a fierce shot from distance on the left-hand side, with a follow up effort going behind for a corner.

The visitors though couldn't find the target for a Needham goal-kick.

After a fairly even first half, with both sides having chances, with the home side arguably having more of the possession while the Suffolk side created the better opportunities, Jamie McGrath hooked Hammond's left wing 43rd minute corner wide of the far post.

Bromsgrove headed over from close range on 44 minutes, who fired just over from a dangerous left wing cross to the far edge of the box.

Ryan Miles replaced Ben Hunter at the break, while Hammond saw a 47th minute 25-yard deflected fierce low strike held by the keeper at his near right-hand post.

Dan Morphew was cautioned for a foul, despite the hosts seeing a rasping 25-yard shot across goal well held by the diving Bradbrook on 57 minutes. 

Luke Benbow's free-kick a minute later however was curled well over the crossbar. Jake Dye then read play well to slide in perfectly and deflect the striker's 61st minute wide from distance, while Ryan Miles blocked Billy Shaw's volley moments after.

Miles then latched onto a great through-ball over the defence, through on the right-hand side on 64 minutes but saw his poked shot beat the keeper and hit the inside of the post and agonisingly stay out trickling across the line.

Needham then won a penalty 66 minutes after Chambers' first involvement was to be fouled in the box, which Joe Neal expertly dispatched in ruthless fashion, sending the keeper the wrong way to find the bottom right-hand corner. 

Two minutes later, Ryan Miles' ferocious strike from distance was well held by the keeper at his near post, who saw a 73rd minute low driven shot from the right-hand side held by the keeper.

Tommy Smith latched onto a great ball down the left wing from Joe Neal to cross dangerously into the box on 76 minutes, albeit his delivery was cleared as far as the goalscorer whose shot just outside the box was blocked.

Bradbrook up the other end a minute later saved smartly, down low at his near right-hand post before diving a cross to his left-hand side to hold onto a far post header from the resulting corner.

Cowling replaced Joe Neal, with Eddie Barker replacing Reggie Lambe. 

Seth Chambers meanwhile raced through on goal down the left-hand side but saw his close range shot crucially blocked on 85 minutes, as the hosts' curled a 87th minute dangerous free-kick well over.

Cowling then slipped Chambers through on goal down the right-hand side on 89 minutes but saw his shot parried away by the onrushing keeper, who broke through on 92 minutes but saw his close range shot parried just wide. 

Tricker replaced McGrath, while Chambers got his deserved goal on 94 minutes, converting a penalty cooly into the bottom left-hand corner, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Needham return to Bloomfields at home to Leiston on Monday (3pm).

Manager Tom Rothery reflects on Saturday's win.

DK: A superb win away from home, you must be pleased? 

TR: Yes, really pleased. As we discussed last week in the interview, it's not an easy place to come, never an easy place to come, regardless of where they're at, what form they're in, what side they've got. I think it's always a tough place, always has been in the time that I've been in this league. So, to come here, score three goals and keep a clean sheet is hugely pleasing, obviously. 

DK: And to have got two wins and a draw now in our last three games, it's good.

TR: Yes, of course. And like I said, performances have been good. I think we could have had more control in the game at times, but again, you've got to give them credit. They tried to play their shape at times, gave us some problems that we could have maybe dealt with better, but at the same time, I thought we defended really well by and large and we're missing Keiran as well. He's always a big player for us. So, players have stepped in today and stepped up. Like I said, I think we could have had a bit more control at times in the game, but I thought overall we managed the game pretty well again. 

DK::Would you say it was kind of a ruthless clinical performance? 

TR: Yes, I've just said to the lads, I think we could have been even more ruthless. Again, I'm going to demand high standards. So, like I said, I think we could have had more control at times, and in the end, we could have maybe had a couple more goals as well, because I think the keepers especially have made a really good save with Seth one-on-one. We've had some chances towards the end, obviously, when at 2-0, I think at 1-0 they tried to come out, but at 2-0 they really come out and sort of left themselves open in transition, but yes, three goals away from home a clean sheet, I'm certainly not going to pick too many holes in that. 

DK: You mentioned Seth, he came off the bench, made a real impact, winning the penalty straight up and then had a few shots saved and got his deserved goal in the end.

TR: Yes, look, no-one believes in Seth more than me, but it's been a tough start for him, because he hasn't probably got as many minutes as he wants, but me and Munno were sort of talking on the side and we made some big calls today. He's obviously started Hunts, off the back of being injured. He came in, obviously, it's tough for him because he hasn't had minutes since pre-season, but he came in and did the job that we wanted him to do and then we changed that, that was a big call, and then I thought bringing Luke off was a big call, but I just felt it was the right decision to make.I felt Seth would stretch them, Joe would then pick up the ball in pockets. I think it clearly worked, but yes, I thought Seth was really good, and for me personally, I think at times in pre-season, Seth's not quite been himself. At times, I've discussed that with him and that's not a criticism. It's just, obviously, like everyone, he's trying to get fitness and all the rest of it. I think personally, he came on against Bedford and looked really sharp and I thought he looked a threat when he came on on Saturday, and again, he's done that again. So, it's brilliant from him. He's knocking on the door and he's making it tough for me to make decisions, but that's like I said to you, that's what the squad's about. It's important that from 1-17, 1-18, whatever it is, that everyone's contributing and they are, wnd that's what we need all season. 

DK: The most crucial part was the first few minutes, you could say Bromsgrove looked the brighter, but we took our first attack brilliantly with a brilliant goal from Hammo.

TR: Yes, I felt, obviously, they've lost their two home games this season. So, I thought it was important that we started well and tried to put them under pressure, but again, I'll always give credit to the other team. They started well, but it felt like even in that first few minutes when we got it down, we could hurt them, and I thought we got it down really well and Hammo finished that superbly, and like I said, obviously, we played him in a different position today. So, that's again, pleasing that he's had a good game and capped it off with a goal as well. And it was a very good finish and it gave us a platform definitely to go and play from there.

DK: The other goal scorer, Joe's first goal back at the club, which will be good for him after a good start with us. 

TR: Yes, that's what I've said afterwards. Joe and Seth getting off the mark is brilliant, doesn't matter how they get them. I think Joe's been brilliant in all the games. So, obviously, strikers are judged on what their goal return is, but look, anyone that's coming and watching the games is seeing how well Joe's playing. So, for me, the goals will come and as almost as important as that, he's contributing hugely to the team. Like I said, I think if you're at the games, you can see what he's contributing to the team and he's made us a better team already. 

DK: So, was it tactical bringing Hunts off at half-time?

TR:  Yes, I just felt personally that he was blowing, which I expected. I knew he wasn't going to last 90. I thought he would struggle to go much beyond half-time, and I just felt by moving Reggie one inside and Ryan then giving us another outlet with pace and being direct, I thought that was the way to go. So, whether it was right or not, I don't know, but it just felt the right thing. You've got to be mindful. Obviously, we're trying to manage the players' loads and that. So, Hunts has come back from being out for three, four weeks. He's only done a week's worth of training. So, we've asked a lot of him today to come in and start, but he's done it because he's a top player and he's a great lad. So, fair play to him. But yes, I felt that was the right thing to do and that was the sensible thing to do.

He wasn't happy, by the way. He didn't want to come off. But it was the right thing for the team.

DK: So, I know we've just obviously played the game, but will Keiran and Hunts be available Monday? 

TR: Hunts definitely will. So, Hunts is fine. Keiran, not sure really. It's one of them. Again, we're trying to manage his loads. So, we've done that throughout the week. Tuesday, he just did a bit of a stretch and a bit of a cycle. And then Thursday, he'd just done the warm-up and then had a stretch and started doing ball work and he's just felt a little nip in his hamstring. So, that's why we've left him on today. Just to try and be cautious really, be sensible around it. There's no point in trying to force it. So, we'll see how he is. It felt a little bit better on Friday. It probably feels a little bit better today. So, we'll just see where he's at on Monday really and make a call and make a judgement then. 

DK: Speaking of Monday, it's a quick turnaround with a local rivalry against a familiar opponent.

TR: Yes, look, the Saturday-Monday is always tough whether it's at this time of the season or later in the season around Easter time. So, that's always a quick turnaround. I think it's very demanding on the lads for all teams.

But I've just said to the lads in there, it's the same for all teams, isn't it? So, we'll see where we're at. It's massively important that the lads recover properly tonight and tomorrow, which obviously will help them manage that. And then we'll see where we're at Monday and make judgement calls on who he feels ready and hopefully get that right.

DK: Will you be asking for more the same or slightly different? 

TR: Yes, look, like I said to the lads at the start of the game today, I know we're away. But I want us to play how I want us to play home and away. I want us to be consistent and we've got a clear identity of how I want us to play. So, I expect us to do that home and away. But understanding that away is tougher at times. And look, at home it will be tougher at times. So, like I said, every game is tough. So, we'll treat everyone with respect and Monday is another tough game. And yes, we'll prepare properly and look forward to Monday.

Goalscorer Joe Neal reflects on the win at Bromsgrove.

DK: A superb win away from home, you must be pleased with that? 

JN: Yeah, really good. Another clean sheet, three goals. I don't think we could have asked for much more to start off the bank holiday weekend.

DK: A well-deserved goal for you as well? 

JN: Yeah, it's nice to finally get off the mark. It's taken a bit longer than I would have liked, but I've just been doing what I can to help the team and finally got off the mark and yeah, good feeling. 

DK: What's the overall feeling after that win? 

JN: Very good, very good. We know we can enjoy it for now, but another big one on Monday, just another step in the right direction. 

DK: Must feel nice having built a bit of momentum now, three unbeaten with two wins and a draw? 

JN: Yeah, 100 per cent, especially after the Harborough game. It was a tough start, but I think us boys knew that it wasn't a proper reflection on the performance and then three game sheets in a row, like I say, two wins and a draw, really good bounce back from the first game.

DK: Quite a clinical performance from you lot today?

JN: Yeah, yeah, for sure. I think we could have had more, but defensively solid again. They had a few chances and we just kept them at bay and then took our chances when we needed to. 

DK: Yeah, and like you say, back at home in two days' time with a game against Leiston? 

JN: Yeah, really big game, obviously. Going into that with three points today, we know it's going to be tough, but everyone's in the same boat, two games in three days. Just got to keep going, grind it out like we have been and hopefully get another three points.