3 POINTS AT HOME

Tom Rothery's side were changed from Tuesday's goalless draw, Hunter on bench for Barker. 

Luke Ingram blocked a second minute free-kick, while Ingram's half volley on the turn went narrowly over a minute later. 

Tommy Smith broke down the left-hand side on 4 minutes but his cutback to McGrath was intercepted, the latter shot agonisingly just over the top far corner from the left-hand side a minute later. 

Joe Neal broke onto the left-hand byline moments later, but his low ball across towards Reggie Lambe was intercepted. 

Needham remained on top, Jake Dye's low cross from the right-hand side on 9 minutes while Kyle Hammond saw a deflected shot from outside the box held by the keeper. 

The Marketmen took the lead moments later, Luke Ingram exploited space down the right-hand side, after a great through-ball from Kyle Hammond, to square it low across to Jamie McGrath unmarked in the six yard box to turn home into the empty net. 

Reggie Lambe then shot just wide on 14 minutes, while Joe Neal was threaded racing down the right-hand side five minutes later but just couldn't pick up Ollie Saunders arriving on the edge of the box. 

Reggie Lambe was slotted through on goal down the right-hand side on 22 minutes, but the keeper narrowed the angle well to deny a shot or ball across for Neal. 

Hammond then fed Neal down the right-hand side in the 26th minute but his dangerous low ball across the face of goal was crucially deflected away. 

Joe Neal was then accused to have committed a foul two minutes later, while sandwiched between the captain and goalkeeper, before Needham won a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left wing for a handball. 

Kyle Hammond's left wing resulting free-kick looped dangerously towards the top far corner on 29 minutes but saw his set-piece tipped over off the top of the crossbar though a goal-kick was given.

The goalkeeper was then booked for a dangerous last man challenge on Neal on the half-hour mark, just outside his penalty area, as James Bradbrook was on hand to deny Worcester's only major chance on 37 minutes.

A low left wing cross was turned goalwards at close range at the far post but the low shot was expertly beaten behind by James Bradbrook, with the resulting corner fired wide of the bottom far corner.

Edward Rowe was then cautioned on 41 minutes for fouling Lambe, who had raced onto the left-hand edge of the box, as Kyle Hammond's exquisite set-piece was looped towards the far corner by captain Keiran Morphew but for the goalkeeper to tip it wide at his top corner. 

Needham remained on the front foot after the restart, Joe Neal's right wing dangerous effort was deflected wide of the far post for a corner, which Hammond's corner was punched cleared by the keeper. 

Ollie Saunders however wrapped a great 52nd minute left wing cross to the far post, forcing the defender to turn it just wide, as Needham sustained a brief spell of possession for the visitors before Kyle Hammond's 35-yard low driven strike went just wide of the bottom corner on 58 minutes. 

Neal again drove through down the left wing, and into the area, three minutes later but his cutback was pounced on by the keeper. 

Ollie Saunders and Kyle Hammond was replaced by Myles Cowling and Ben Hunter on 72 minutes, while Reggie Lambe threaded Jake Dye through down the right whose sumptuous cross was headed narrowly over by Myles Cowling on 75 minutes.

Cowling then drove forward in possession on the break, before brilliantly releasing Jamie McGrath clear on goal but the latter's shot went just wide a minute later. 

Reggie Lambe meanwhile saw a great left wing cross cleared back to him, only for his 79th minute wrapped shot to be headed crucially behind for a corner, just evading a lurking Red shirt, with the resulting corner headed just wide in the 80th minute.

Chambers replaced Neal, as Luke Ingram was adjudged to handled the ball past the onrushing keeper on 83 minutes, as he latched onto Tommy Smith's brilliant ball over the top.

Lambe then broke through the opposition's half two minutes later, crossed smartly for Cowling arriving at the far post but for a defender to head it crucially behind. 

Ryan Miles replaced Lambe, after Chambers was punched down by captain Hayden Reeves, who became the sixth Worcester player to be booked, who then hauled Chambers down in the box moments later with a goal-kick given.

Dan Morphew was on hand to win back possession crucially inside the Needham box, brilliantly timing his challenge to prevent a shot at goal on 90 minutes. 

Worcester fired wide from a second corner on 92 minutes, as Needham held onto secure an important first win of the season.

Needham travel to Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday (3pm). 

McGrath reflects on Saturday's win. 

DK: An important three points today, you must be pleased? 

JMcG: Yeah, delighted to be fair, I think. Obviously, after the first two games, we obviously played really well Tuesday nightbut didn't get the result we wanted. So, I think it was important to come here today and get three points. It didn't really matter how we did it, but just make sure we get those points on the board. 

DK: Once again, it was a good team performance, only this time we got the result we deserved. 

JMcG: Yeah, I think, like you say, very similar in terms of performance on Tuesday night.

I think we played really well in both games. To be honest, in both games we should have had a few goals. So, it was obviously important that we got the early one today. We'd have liked to have built on that and made things a little bit easier for ourselves towards the end of the game, but, like you say, all that matters is we got over the line. 

DK: And you're off the mark fairly quick with a well-taken team move.

JMcG: Yeah, I think it was a good goal. Obviously, Ingers put the ball across and couldn't really miss from there, but, like you say, it's nice to get off the mark fairly early on in the season and hopefully the first of many.

DK: We do often have starts where things don't fall for us, so it must be pleasing when it does?

JMcG: Yeah, I think it's always going to happen at the start of the season. It's probably like I've always thought there's no point paying attention to the table until you're about 10 games in. There's so many odd results that can happen at the start of the season. So, you just have to wait and let things settle, but, yeah, just to be on the right side of the result today is obviously excellent. 

DK: Yeah, having had two home games and when we went up we were unbeaten all season, it must be nice to maintain that unbeaten run?

JMcG: Yeah, definitely. I think that's something that Tom has spoken about at the start of this season. We obviously have to make this a fortress, make this a really hard place for opposition teams to come because that's one of the reasons why we were so successful two years ago. I think to get two clean sheets obviously speaks volumes about how we've defended and Bradders has been brilliant last couple of games. So, yeah, it's going to be really important if we're to have a successful season this year that we really do make this our fortress.

DK: After playing three completely new teams, we're back to playing a fairly familiar opponent in Bromsgrove on Saturday.

JMcG: Yeah, I think there's always going to be quite a large turnover of teams in this league. So, you're always going to be facing different opponents, but like you say, there are some that we've obviously faced a number of times. But I can't read too much into that. I can't remember what Bromsgrove were like when we played them two years ago, to be honest with you. So, we'll just take it game by game and see what happens.

Tom Rothery reflects on an important three points.

DK: Three points on the board, you must be delighted?

TR: Yeah, really pleased. Again, similar to Tuesday, I thought we were really good.

I thought performance was excellent, but ultimately you need points, so really pleased that we got the points that we definitely deserved, there's no doubt about that. I thought we were excellent throughout. There was definitely a couple of controversial moments and we've definitely missed a few where we could have made the game more comfortable.On the back of your mind, you're always worrying, are they going to nick something? Is there going to be a scruffy? Is there going to be a decision that goes against you? Thankfully, I thought we managed the end stages really well and fully deserved the win, as simple as that.

DK: It's another good performance after Tuesday, but this time with a result to go along with it.

TR: Yeah, look, at the early stage of the season, you want results, but for me personally, it is important that you're performing as well. Look, I'll take scruffy wins all season long, but I think eventually that will come back and you need to be informed and I just feel like the players are really giving everything they've got. I can feel that. I can sense that at training. really feel like they're buying into everything that we're doing and I think the performances on the pitch showed that. I think if you wanted to be critical or a little bit finicky, which I can be at times, we should have scored more goals, simple as that. So, not just today, but Tuesday as well, but, you know, like I've just said to the lads after, we keep working, we keep doing things on the training pitch. I've got massive belief in the whole of the squad. I think we've got a strong squad and I think we'll show that through the course of the season.

DK: First half again, arguably, as you said we could have been further in front, especially at the break, but the main thing is that we did get that goal?

TR: Yeah, yeah. It doesn't matter how we scored, does it? It doesn't matter who scores, it doesn't matter how you score, you just want goals. So, it's a good goal. I just thought throughout the game really we looked threatening, but probably more so in the first half. I think second half we still, I can think of Mylo had a really big chance. Ingers had a chance, didn't he? I'm trying to think. There were other chances, I've probably forgotten about. It's difficult to recall them straight after the game, but first half we created more.

Definitely, I remember Reggie going through one-on-one. We had some really good moments and obviously you've got the two contentious, definitely contentious issues. Joe's, in my opinion, is a penalty and I think the goalkeeper's done remarkably well to still be on the pitch after he's come and brought Joe out, taking Joe out 40 yards from goal.

I'm just pleased with how the lads are playing. I think we're playing well and we're working really hard and our shape looks good in and out of position. 

DK: Mixed bag results to start the season, but like you said, it's still early days, are you still relatively pleased with the start? 

TR: Yeah, I'm never going to be pleased with coming away with a 4-0 defeat, but put it into context, I didn't feel like it was a 4-0 game. Harborough were better than us on the day, no doubt. Conditions were tough and that's the way it can go. Look, like we've said at this level of football, you don't get easy games. Even today, we've clearly been the better team. They've still hung in there and they're still fighting right to the end. That's what you've got to expect out of every game. So, I'm pleased because of what effort the lads are putting in. So, if we do that throughout the season, then I know we'll be fine. That's what I'm pleased about. We've got a lot more points. Of course, every manager wants to be sat at the top of the table with nine points.

We are where we are, but I think we've had a relatively good start. Now, it's just important that we've got a week's training now, so we'll manage the lads, manage their loads and prepare for another tough game. Bromsgrove away has never been an easy game since I've been at the Football Club. So, I'm not expecting an easy game next Saturday. Then obviously, we've got a quick turnaround with the Derby on Monday against Leiston. Like I've stated many times, we know there's no easy game. So, we'll get ready for both of those upcoming games now in this next week. 

DK: You touched on it, but our form at Bromsgrove isn't the greatest. How important is it that we try to change that?

TR: Yes, thanks for that. Well, of course it is. It's like anything, isn't it? It's PMA, isn't it? You've got to have a bit of positive mental attitude. So, what's happened in the past, we can affect Saturday's game. That will be the message to the lads. We go there and be the best version of ourselves. If that's good enough to get us points, then brilliant. If it ain't, then we'll look to React Monday.