top of page

CHAMBERS DOUBLE FIRES NEEDHAM TO FOURTH STRAIGHT COUNTY CUP FINAL

Needham Market advance to the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Final following a 4-2 win over Ipswich Town Under-18s.


Kevin Horlock's side were without Dylan Williams (illness), Nico Valentine and Emmanuel Okunowo (ineligible against their parent club), while Adam Mills (cup-tied) and Reece Harris (injured) were still unavailable. Patrick Brothers, for the first time in just under a year after a horrific injury, and Academy midfielder Eddie Barker started on the bench, alongside Kyle Hammond. Luke Ingram, Byron Lawrence, Jamie McGrath all started.


The first half saw Needham arguably edge the possession but would rue missed chances in an entertaining encounter.


Town had the first chance though on 7 minutes as Marcus Garnham's first time clearance went straight to a Town player free on the right hand edge of the box, whose first time shot at the near gaping post was well blocked by Jake Dye.


At the other end, Needham went close twice in the space of a minute, the first saw Luke Ingram's close range near post flick deflected behind from a Tevan Allen low left wing corner in the 8th minute, while Allen's resulting corner found Dan Morphew leaping like a salmon, although his close range header cannoned back into play off the underside of the crossbar.


The Marketmen though raced into an eleventh minute lead, a well worked goal saw Luke Ingram drive through into space down the right wing before crossing low to find the arriving Jamie McGrath, in acres of space at the far post to expertly guide a left footed into the bottom right corner.


Needham went close again on 15 minutes, Byron Lawrence's clever right wing free-kick towards Dan Morphew was headed away as far as Luke Ingram on the far side of the penalty area whose first time slammed volley went just wide of the bottom near corner.


Needham keeper Marcus Garnham however was on hand to deny Town a minute later with 2 superb stops. The first saw the Needham keeper down low smartly to his left to beat away a shot across goal, while the resulting corner saw the keeper beat away a shot from point blank range while the rebound was hooked off the line and away to safety after pinball inside the Needham box.


Tevan Allen meanwhile saw his ferocious shot, from the left hand edge of the box, well held by Binns at his top near corner on 18 minutes, while the Needham midfielder was threaded free on the right wing to square a great low ball across the face of goal, on a plate, but Jamie McGrath just couldn't provide the vital touch from point blank range a minute later.


Tevan Allen's 23rd minute left wing corner was then headed towards goal by a near post free header from Ingram, albeit a crucial interception turned it over for a corner ahead of Dan Morphew.


Keiran Morphew then looped a point blank range header narrowly over the far post, after a one two at a right wing corner led to a great cross in from Byron Lawrence a minute later.

Town however equalised on 25 minutes, Tommy Taylor neatly beating Garnham to make it 1-1.


Garnham was then on hand to deny Town with a stunning reaction save on 36 minutes, Ward's right wing cross found Jesse Nwabueze at point blank range whose header was excellently tipped away by the lightning quick flying reactions of Garnham.


Matt Ward then tried his luck at goal 3 minutes later, driving into the right hand edge of the box before shooting low at goal, only for his effort to be beaten away by Garnham, across smartly to his near post.


Luke Ingram however ballooned a shot over from a Seth Chambers flick on, while a good save from Town keeper Binns denied Jamie McGrath a second goal in the 43rd minute.


The forward latched onto a bouncing ball, one on one, down the right hand side of the box, whose low shot across goal was beaten away by the keeper with a defender retreating at the right time to hook it over the crossbar.


Town though went into the interval in front after a 44th minute goal, a smart move saw Foyo find space to see a shot smothered, falling to Jesse Nwabueze to sweep home.


A 6 minute delay followed, while Needham forced another good save from the Town keeper in the 8th minute of first half stoppage time, Tommy Smith's great first time cross picked out Jamie McGrath, free at the near post, whose header was instinctively beaten behind by the keeper.


Rio Morgan then saw clear shot on goal well block five minutes after the restart, as the Marketmen dominated the majority of the possession in the second half - looking for an equaliser.


The Southern Premier Central leaders nearly levelled proceedings on 53 minutes, Jamie McGrath threaded Chambers free down the left hand side, the young striker's low dangerous cutback found Luke Ingram whose first time shot went just wide of the far post.


The Marketmen then saw an effort fired fiercely into the side-netting, before Town saw a shot in space blocked by Keiran Morphew three minutes later, ahead of Kyle Hammond being introduced in place of Byron Lawrence.


A smart save from Binns thwarted the Marketmen again on 67 minutes, Seth Chambers latched onto a great through-ball on the right hand side but saw his low shot across goal beaten away by the onrushing keeper, down well to his right hand side.


Chambers then drove through on goal in the 69th minute, but Binns got down and back well to grab the ball before the striker could pass him and shoot.


Needham went agonisingly close to finding an equaliser two minutes later, MOTM Tevan Allen's right wing corner found Dan Morphew tower highest once more at the far post whose header went just wide.


The Marketmen did equalise following a smart move on 72 minutes, Seth Chambers won a bouncing ball on the right hand side of the box to head it across to Allen free in the centre to arrow a sumptuous first time low volley into the bottom left hand corner.


Town however were reduced to 10 men four minutes later, as Foyo hit Ingram with the ball out off play.


Needham then hit a tame shot straight at Binns, while McGrath was again denied by Binns on 78 minutes, the forward got to the loose ball on the right byline, a yard from goal, but sas his effort smothered by the keeper.


Needham retook the lead for the first time since the first half on 79 minutes, a great low ferocious 25 yard drive from Jacob Lay, following good play between the midfielder and Allen, could only be beaten away by Binns down to his left hand near post, with Seth Chambers on hand to tap home a composed left footed shot into the bottom left hand corner from 8 yards out.


In reply, Uzor-Grey hit a shot in space straight at Garnham, for a routine hold at head height on 84 minutes, with Needham then making a double change to bring on Patrick Brothers and Eddie Barker - the latter for his senior debut - in place of Ingram and Lay.


Brothers was quickly involved as the midfielder's 88th minute right wing free-kick fell to Allen whose fierce shot was blocked by the backside of Tommy Taylor.


Seth Chambers wrapped up Needham's passage to the final in the 91st minute, adding his second goal of the night to his assist earlier in the second half. Allen picked up the loose ball on the right hand side in the box following a cross, the midfielder slipped smartly onto the byline before clipping a pinpoint audacious cross into the six yard box for Chambers to stoop his header into the bottom near corner.


Needham will face either fellow league opponents Leiston or Isthmian North Division second placed side Felixstowe + Walton United in the Final. Horlock's side travel to Leamington in the league on Saturday (3pm).

Comments


bottom of page