ALLEN'S FREE-KICK EARNS POINT AT HOME

Needham Market followed up Tuesday's win at Leamington with a 1-1 draw at the Ecologic Stadium Bloomfields against Scarborough Athletic on Saturday.

Kevin Horlock's side named an unchanged starting eleven that recorded a crucial fourth league win of the season, with two alterations to the bench - goalkeeper Marcus Garnham was back from suspension in place of Roan Tucker, who returned to the Reserves, and Northampton Town loanee Josh Tomlinson returned with Jamie McGrath still shaking off an injury.

The Marketmen were arguably the better team in the first half, with Scarborough only having a couple of spells of possession in the second half, with both teams picking up an important point, as 23rd faced 17th.

Adam Mills was at the heart of Needham's bright start, seeing a low shot blocked after being threaded into space - on the edge of the box - after 4 minutes, before Lambe teed up the winger to test Ryan Whitley inside the box, though his ferocious strike was beaten away by the 'keeper across to his left 3 minutes later.

Two corners later though, Needham went close again, heading the set-piece just over.

Danny Cullum, fresh from being selected in Vanarama' s overall Team Of The Week for all free divisions, was merely a bystander - but was alert when required in the 13th minute, changing direction brilliantly to hold onto a low shot at his right-hand post.

Needham continued to look the more likely to break the deadlock on 27 minutes when Jacob Lay's cutback found Adam Mills on the edge of the box, whose ferocious shot was deflected behind.

Reggie Lambe however was the first player cautioned on 38 minutes, which saw Scarborough break the deadlock against the run of play from the resulting set-piece as Tommy Smith headed home into his own net a minute later.

Ben Hunter looked to quickly level proceedings 4 minutes before the break, but his low shot from close range was blocked.

After the restart, Scarborough were the brighter for the initial ten minutes, during which Jonathan Greening's side saw a first time right wing cross shot just over at point blank range on 49 minutes, before Alex Purver was booked for the visitors.

Horlock's side responded with a double change six minutes later, introducing Tevan Allen and Seth Chambers in place of Reggie Lambe and Jacob Lay.

While Danny Cullum watched a left wing low free-kick flashed narrowly wide of his far post on 58 minutes, the Marketmen got their reward with a deserved equaliser twenty minutes later.

Substitute Allen's audacious left wing free-kick took a deflection off a defender at the near post, under pressure from Hammond, on its way dipping into the bottom far corner for Allen's second league goal of the season.

Immediately after the equaliser, Ollie Fraser entered the action in place of the impressive Adam Mills, before a cutback from Scarbrough was shot just wide of the left-hand post on 85 minutes, followed by their own man blocking a close range shot that seemed destined to find the bottom left-hand corner.

Match sponsor Mark J Morsley & Associates selected captain Keiran Morphew as his Man Of The Match, as Needham will look to continue their 2 game unbeaten run and replicate their 1-0 win at Hereford in September when the Bulls travel to Suffolk on Saturday (7th December, 3pm).

Goalscorer Tevan Allen and Manager Kevin Horlock reflect on yesterday's home draw:- https://needhammarketfc2021-22endofseason.blogspot.com/2024/11/Scarborough-Athletic-Home.html