5 GOAL THRILLER ENDS IN DEFEAT

Needham Market's win less run continued in a 5 goal thriller at home to play-off chasing Curzon Ashton on Tuesday night.

Tom Rothery's side made 1 change to Saturday's clash with Buxton, Reggie Lambe started in place of Kyle Hammond. 

Goals from Luke Ingram (76th minute penalty) and Kyle Hammond (90+3) saw the Marketmen battle hard throughout in search of a share of the spoils after goals from Alex Curran and Jimmy Spencer in the space of five minutes had given the visitors a 2-0 lead after 73 minutes, while Marcus Poscha (82) proved to be the match-winner. 

Needham had the first opportunity on 7 minutes in what was largely an end to end affair. Teddy Collis was fed into space down the right wing only to see his low cross-shot go just wide into the near side-netting. 

Tommy Smith then swung a great left wing cross into the six yard box towards Jamie McGrath but goalkeeper Bobby Jones was there to claim possession on 10 minutes.

At the other end, Curzon curled a dangerous free-kick well wide of the top near corner on 14 minutes, before Luke Ingram's towering bullet header from another brilliant cross from Tommy Smith went narrowly wide of the top near corner at close range. A minute later. 

Keiran Morphew blocked a low shot well before the resulting right wing cross was headed over at point blank range on 16 minutes. 

Needham meanwhile went close on 19 minutes, Ted Collis fed Jamie McGrath into space on the edge of the box where the forward's smart turn created space to shoot but drove his low shot just wide of the bottom far corner. 

A brilliant save from Marcus Garnham thwarted the visitors on 24 minutes, Matthew Litherland squared the ball across to Jimmy Spencer whose low effort at point blank range was smothered away expertly by the home shot-stopper. 

Man Of The Match, chosen by match sponsor Phil Fairbrother, Tevan Allen then wrapped a ferocious 28th minute cross over, before Luke Griffiths sliced a first time shot wide after being found by Jimmy Spencer on 31 minutes. 

Great quick passing play from the Marketmen on 33 minutes saw Ted Collis fed into acres of space on the edge of the box to rasp a great shot at goal which clipped the crossbar and went agonisingly just over. 

A minute later, a great one two between Ben Hunter and Jake Dye saw the former fire over from the edge of the box, while Alex Curran's left wing cross found Spencer whose free header was well held by Garnham at his near post in the 36th minute. 

While Curzon fired a volley well over on 42 minutes, Needham went close with the final chance of the opening 45 minutes. 

Ted Collis exploited space from distance but hit his ferocious effort narrowly wide of the near post on 44 minutes. 

After the restart, Luke Ingram looked to pick out Tevan Allen arriving in the box but for a well placed defender to intercept and clear on 51 minutes. 

Curzon meanwhile dragged a first time low volley wide on 61 minutes, before Tevan Allen drew an important save from Jones five minutes later. The winger weaved into space on the left-hand side before smashing a low shot across goal, but for Jones to beat it away. 

Curzon however broke the deadlock on 68 minutes when Alex Curran's left wing free-kick floated all the way into the far corner. 

The visitors doubled their lead five minutes later, Jones' free-kick after a Needham player was deemed offside found Alex Curran whose cross to the far post was looped home by Spencer. 

At the other end, Needham quickly reduced the deficit after substitute Kyle Hammond, who had replaced Teddy Collis ten minutes prior, saw his left wing cross handled on 75 minutes. 

Luke Ingram stepped up to smash home from the spot into the left-hand corner to set up an action packed final 14 minutes. 

Needham instantly made a double change, introducing Seth Chambers and Jacob Lay on place of Jamie McGrath and Reggie Lambe, though Curzon added a third goal on 82 minutes. A left wing cross was headed across by Michael Afuye to Marcus Poscha to tap home. 

Spencer then shot over on 89 minutes, before Needham again reduced the deficit to a single goal on 93 minutes, Jacob Lay's exquisite left wing cross was met by the unmarked Kyle Hammond at the far post to head home at close range. 

Needham almost earned a point at the death but Luke Ingram's shot was fired just over. 

The result sees Needham remain seven points from safety with four matches left, while Curzon jump into the play-off places. Needham have an eleven day break before they host fellow relegation battlers Rushall Olympic in their penultimate home game on Saturday 12th (3pm).

Tom Rothery reflects on last night's defeat. 

DK: So close to a point again?

TR: Yeah, I don't know. It's the story of the season really. I think especially, look, I do think we've been better since the turn of the year but kind of more of the same really. We just don't defend moments well enough and it's cost us again because I think there's a lot to like from the performance Personally. I thought we battled really well, I thought we moved the ball really well at times. I thought the front two were a handful, obviously changed the shape. I thought the midfield were really good. Defensively we were really solid but then the three goals that we've given away again, it's just not, you know, you're going to really struggle to win games when you're giving goals like that away and obviously that has cost us tonight, simple as that, but you know, I thought they were really good as well. I thought they were really tenacious, really battled, showed real good endeavour similar to us and I just thought it was a really even game but we've said that far too many times and we don't seem to come out the right side of them unfortunately.

DK: The two goals are positives to take.

TR: Yeah, like I said, there's a lot to like about the performance, people, you know, you'll always get your critics and you get your trolls and all the rest of it but I think if you're actually watching the games, I think the lads are giving everything they've got and that's all you can ask and I think they've done that again tonight. I thought they did that Saturday and I thought actually we carried more threat tonight than we did Saturday but, you know, like I said again, unfortunately that isn't enough to win us the game for the reasons that I've said previously, really.

DK: Yeah, well, we're still in with a chance of survival with Rushall next up.

TR: We've probably got to win on four games, simple as that. That is as simple as that now with seven points adrift, Radcliffe are still to play Farsley so the way I see it is we've got to win on four games if we want to stay up. It's as simple as that.

DK: What's your message to not just the players but the supporters for the run in?

TR: Look, supporters have been brilliant this season like they have been in previous seasons. They're still backing the lads. They're still travelling all over the country with us so, look, just keep backing the lads and keep supporting them and trying to help them like they have previously. Like I said, in any of the games but the last two games, the lads are giving you everything they've got and that's all you can ask. If at times that isn't good enough for a lack of quality or individual mistakes or whatever it is, then we just have to accept that, but I personally, I'm really pleased with the effort and the endeavour that we've shown since I've taken over but in the last two, I actually think we've been really good. I think we've been really unfortunate not to get any points out of the last two but that's unfortunate and unlucky doesn't get you points.

DK: Are there any other positives from tonight?

TR: Yeah, like I said, there were positives tonight but you're at the stage of the season where really the performance isn't that important, it's the results. We've been at that stage for a number of weeks really but you don't generally get results without performances, not often anyway, especially at this level. So, look, the positives are again, like I said, the players worked really hard. We changed the shape. I thought that was really positive. I thought we were on the front foot. I thought we created chances. I thought we were well in the game against, like I said, I thought they were very good tonight, Curzon. I thought they were a good side, especially when you factor in, obviously we know that because we've done it ourselves, but you factor in the travel on a Tuesday night, it's tough. I just thought it was a very even game. They've obviously shown bits of quality when they want but really they've not threatened us hugely through open play. Marco made one really good save in the first half from the cross, where Matey obviously tried to tap it home, Marco's made an unbelievable save. Other than that, I can't think of many other times where they've really opened us up. The three goals, like I said, we've just got to defend those situations. It's about as simple as that and we haven't, but I think in general play, it was an even game and I thought we more than contributed and played our part in that game. Like I said, I thought in spells we were really good.Effort, endeavour, intensity, I think we showed all those things. It's just, you know, we've kind of had a bad, what, 10 minutes again, which has really cost us.

DK: The goals we conceded really, they've kind of been on kryptonite this season.

TR: Yeah, look, before, probably before November, December time, we were conceding set pieces every game. We changed something, that worked, definitely worked. We went 15 games without conceding and then the last sort of six or seven, it started creeping in again. I can't explain why. I don't, if I knew why, I'd tell you the only thing I would say is, generally speaking, the ball into the box is quality from set pieces. There's a lot of quality on it and if you don't track runners or you don't do what you're supposed to do, then it can cost you a goal and that certainly happens and I think the first goal's gone in without a touch, hasn't it? Got to defend that better and then the third goal, we should defend the ball that's cut back towards the byline. We don't defend that and then once we don't defend that, mate, he's just tapping the ball in. So, look, I've been around football long enough, you don't defend in moments like that. Like I said, you're not going to win football games and for some reason, we haven't defended that tonight, definitely, I don't know why.