BACK TO WINNING WAYS AFTER BEATING SUFFOLK RIVALS AFC SUDBURY

Needham Market returned to winning ways, inflicting a sixth straight defeat on AFC Sudbury with a 4-2 home win.

After 2 consecutive defeats for the Marketmen, a lively start saw Luke Ingram (7') head home his 9th league goal of the campaign, but cancelled out by Marcel Lewis's sliding equaliser (10').

Ex-Sudbury Reggie Lambe (15') sensationally restored the Reds' lead, although it was again wiped out by the visitors as Finlay Oligbo (45') struck.

Kyle Hammond's (80') venomous strike was deflected home to regain the Marketmen's advantage, as another previous Sudbury player Myles Cowling was fouled by goalkeeper Munson when chasing a through-ball.

Former Sudbury man Joe Neal (96') dispatched from the spot to seal the victory, with his eighth league goal of the campaign.

Both sides made changes to the weekend's matches, Tom Rothery's side made 3 alterations with Dan Morphew, Myles Cowling and Jamie Mauge out for Seth Chambers, Max Appauh and Reggie Lambe. The visitors however made 2 changes - Charlie Lewis and Mekhi McKenzie replaced Sam Cox and Kien Connolly.

Max Appauh (2') met a right wing cross with an overhead kick effort but shot narrowly wide of the top far corner.

Appauh's bright start (3') continued, the winger broke down the left wing to cross low for Seth Chambers, whose near post strike at close range went wide.

Chambers (5') rounded the onrushing Munson before finding the net, albeit the offside flag was up, as both sides had efforts denied in the 6th minute.

Albeit the whistle went for a foul by McKenzie on Bradbrook as he thwarted Lewis' close range strike behind, Chambers broke through at the other end but equally saw his strike turned behind for a corner.

Luke Ingram excellently headed home the first goal of the night on 7 minutes, though Marcel Lewis stabbed home a Sudbury equaliser three minutes later at the far post - following a foul from Kyle Hammond on Goredema on the left wing. 

A second spectacular strike from Reggie Lambe in three home matches restored Needham's lead on 15 minutes. Hammond's throw picked out the former Bermudian international, who exploited space from 30-yards out to curl an exquisite strike into the top far, right-hand, corner!!!

Back at the other end, an important stop from James Bradbrook denied Marcel Lewis - who'd driven into space onto the left-hand side to curl a low strike towards the bottom far corner - with excellent reactions to tip it away as far as Norwich City loanee Finlay Oligbo whose strike back across goal went wide of the bottom far corner after 20 minutes.

Keiran Morphew (35') dispossessed Marcel Lewis crucially close to goal, preventing a clear shot at goal, while Chambers' low clever ball across the centre for Neal is cleared just ahead of the latter.

Hammond (38') pounced on a parry from Munson, only to see his good first time awkward effort smothered by the stopper well off his line, in an entertaining first forty-five minutes.

Bradbrook meanwhile (44') smartly claimed Lewis' header on target following a throw, although Oligbo (45') picked out the bottom left-hand corner from outside the box - from Jacob Goredema's pass to conclude the first half.

Half-time substitute Myles Cowling, on for the dangerous Appauh, was quickly involved (47'), the attacking midfielder got through down the left-hand side to cut back for Ingram whose rasped strike was blocked crucially behind by Turner, who then swerved a half-volley just over from the corner.

Two stops from Munson prevented a Needham third on 53 minutes, both having advanced off his line, first denying Ingram then holding onto Chambers' strike after a darting run through.

Ingram (61') went close to his second of the night (61'), but saw his point blank range attempt hacked off the line after Joe Neal's smart run from a long ball down the left was beaten away by Munson on his line.

Pearce (70') headed wide at close range, before Goredema (75') struck the front base of the left-hand post.

Lambe's (77') right wing cross was collected by Munson, as Kyle Hammond (80') regained Needham's lead.

The midfielder latched onto the ball from 30-yards out to unleash a ferocious strike that deflected off Turner and looped sharply over Munson into the roof of the net.

Hammond was cautioned for a foul in the 88th minute, but Marcel Lewis' set-piece was blocked by the wall, while Jamie Mauge (92') fired a low shot narrowly wide from distance.

Needham wrapped up the three points late on, Cowling (94') was taken out by Munson in the box, which Joe Neal (96') converted ice cold - sending Munson the wrong way to dispatch into the top right-hand corner to a much needed 4-2 victory.

Needham travel to Stourbridge on Saturday (3pm).