Needham Market's two game unbeaten run was halted by an arguably harsh 2-0 defeat at second placed Scunthorpe United, with an excellent team performance even when down to ten men.
Kevin Horlock's side made 3 changes to Saturday's excellent win at Alfreton Town as Kyle Hammond, Jacob Lay and Reggie Lambe started in place of Jamie McGrath, Adam Mills and Josh Tomlinson.
Despite Kian Scales' 4th minute opener, Needham arguably dominated possession and had the better of the few real notable chances before being reduced to ten men after Luke Ingram was adjudged to have been out of control when fouling an opponent in the 70th minute. Callum Roberts then struck with a deflected goal just over ten minutes later to seal an arguably harsh defeat for the Marketmen, backed by 21 loud away supporters.
The home side started the brighter, breaking the deadlock with one of half a dozen shots on target across the ninety minutes. Callum Roberts weaved down the left-hand side before seeing his cross-shot headed partially away by Dan Morphew as far as Peterborough United loanee Oli Rose outside the box, who teed up Kian Scales to lash home into the top left-hand corner in the 4th minute.
The hosts continued to have the better of the opening 10 minutes, while Needham grew into the game well and arguably enjoyed more of the possession - as well as the better chances - until the restart, with the Iron having some little spells of possession.
Needham MOTM Josh Blunkell's 10th minute goal-kick meanwhile almost released Luke Ingram driving through past the defence, but the ball ran just ahead of the forward.
Ross Fitzsimons then just intercepted a through-ball ahead of Seth Chambers before sending a cross-field ball across to Callum Roberts to control and cut inside only to see his shot blocked well by Tommy Smith on 18 minutes.
Clever play from Needham saw the Suffolk side create a good chance in the 20th minute, Jacob Lay intercepted possession well before releasing Seth Chambers through into space, the striker spotted Fitzsimons off his line but skewed his low shot wide from distance.
Needham continued to grow in confidence in
the 22nd minute when a great long ball threaded Jake Dye through down the right wing, only for the arriving Luke Ingram to shoot wide from his cross into a dangerous area.
Jake Dye meanwhile was booked for a foul on Mo Fadera three minutes later, as the Marketmen continued to contain their hosts.
Needham however were forced into an early change when Dan Morphew was forced off with an injury and replaced by Northampton Town loanee Josh Tomlinson just before the half-hour mark.
Another good spell of possession for Needham saw Luke Ingram weave into space onto the right-hand edge of the box only to see his shot blocked in the 30th minute.
At the other end a great block from the ever impressive captain Keiran Morphew saw the defender stand firm to head away Kian Scales' shot, that looked to be heading towards the top right-hand corner on 34 minutes, while neat passing play from the visitors led to a great chance two minutes later.
Intelligent passes between Tommy Smith, Kyle Hammond and Reggie Lambe created the opening for Jacob Lay and Seth Chambers to exchange a neat one-two of their own, although the former's shot - after latching onto the return pass free inside the box - was blocked.
While Callum Roberts curled a 30-yard free-kick just over Blunkell's crossbar on 43 minutes, Needham went close in the first minute of stoppage time. Great link-up play between Keiran Morphew and Luke Ingram, after Needham recycled Hammond's free-kick smartly, saw the latter's shot blocked.
The Reds tested Fitzsimons seconds later, as the stopper did well to dive across to his right-hand side and hold onto a shot from distance, as the hosts' went into the break ahead despite a strong performance from the Suffolk side.
The Iron arguably enjoyed more of the possession after the restart, up until the hour mark, before Needham had more of the ball, and still the better chances - despite the red card changing the flow of the game.
Luke Ingram heroically blocked a thunderous Scunthorpe shot outside the box on 47 minutes, while Jacob Lay blocked Alfie Beestin's shot with the following right wing cross headed just wide from point blank range at the far post on 56 minutes.
Needham then made a double change in the 58th minute, bringing on Jamie McGrath and Adam Mills in place of Reggie Lambe and Jacob Lay, followed by another double switch on 66 minutes as Brackley Town loanee Liam Cross and Tevan Allen replaced Seth Chambers and Kyle Hammond.
Needham arguably looked the more likely to grab an equaliser, going close to equalising with 67 minutes on the clock. Ingram's left wing cross was cleared as far as the onrushing Josh Tomlinson whose low first time volley thundered just wide of the near post.
Just as Needham had enjoyed the more of the possession over the last quarter of an hour or so, the visitors were hit with a hammer blow when Luke Ingram was adjudged to have committed a red card offence in the 70th minute.
Needham though continued to hold their own, despite the numerical disadvantage as Ben Hunter cleverly deflected a shot over for a corner with 15 minutes left on the clock.
With the red card shifting the flow of the game, MOTM Josh Blunkell thwarted United with two incredible saves in the space of 3 minutes. After narrowing down the angle before diving across to his right-hand side to beat away a shot from outside the box on 77 minutes, the second save was even better - flying across high to his left to push Roberts' strike behind.
The hosts then added a second goal in the 82nd, which was arguably harsh on the Marketmen, as Callum Roberts' deflected strike found the roof of the net.
Ben Hunter then saw a tame shot saved by Fitzsimons, before Michael Kelly skied a shot out of the ground after Adam Mills cleared a corner off the line.
Needham return to the Ecologic Stadium Bloomfields on Saturday (3pm), when Warrington Town visit in a important clash at the bottom end of the table.
Manager Kevin Horlock reflects on defeat at Scunthorpe.
DK: A harsh defeat?
KH: Yes, a little bit. I think circumstances and obviously the first goal killed us early on. Four minutes in, we come with a game plan and it sort of went out the window, but I can't fault the lads. I thought they worked their socks off without creating too much. But in saying that, I don't think Blunks had a shot to save first half other than obviously the goal they got. So, we worked tirelessly. We were in the game and then we were going to throw bodies forward. And then, obviously, the red card takes that away from us as well. So, it was a difficult one in terms of creating chances tonight, being on the back foot early on. But I thought we grew into the game. We stepped on and we asked a few questions. But then, the sending off and then the second goal coming made it really difficult. I think the second goal was a little bit of a deflection as well. So, things didn't go our way tonight. I don't think anyone gives us a chance here tonight, apart from ourselves. I thought we gave a good account of ourselves in terms of work rate and, at times, quality, but not enough in the final third. And our season lies ahead in terms of getting out the trouble we're in and us playing the teams that are around us at home, which is coming up. February is a massive month.
DK: Like you say, we put in a very good account of ourselves. Probably had the better chances, a lot of the possession at second in the league.
KH: Yes, it was always going to be difficult with a home crowd. I'm picking bones here. I've obviously not watched it back, but I thought there was a handball build-up to the first goal, which then puts you on the back foot after four minutes. But I thought the lads dug deep. We give a good account of ourselves without creating too many really open chances. I think Ingers had a shot first off. We had a few set pieces and the sending off just kills the game as such. Down to 10 men. We still tried to be brave with it in terms of playing two up top, hoping a chance would come. But then, obviously, 10 men, the second goal then kills us off. I don't think it's a red card. I'm not a referee, but I've played football for a long time. Yes, it's a free kick. Yes, he probably catches the lad a little bit. They're saying he's lunging and out of control. I don't think he was. I think he's toes down and I think he's even touched the ball, but the lad's gone down and the referee's deemed it that he's reckless and out of control, which I don't think it was. But that's just the way things go. We'll look at it and see if it's worth appealing, but you tend not to get much joy appealing red cards.
DK: It's a night when nothing's really gone for us.
KH: No, not really. Like I say, I think there was possibly a handball in the build-up to the goal. It's a good strike. Let's not kid ourselves. The lad's finished well. But then that puts you on the back foot. And the game was very few chances, really.
I know Blunks has made a few saves when we're down to 10 and we're hanging on, but up until that point, there wasn't much goal mouth action at either end. So we were in the game. We've come away to Scunthorpe, who were a big club, who were at the top. We gave a good account of ourselves and prove that we can mix it with the big boys. But like I said, our season isn't defined tonight. It's the month ahead where we're playing teams in and around us.
I think there's six or seven teams still involved in it (the relegation battle), and it's very tight.
And it's about capitalising on that and getting them elusive wins. Obviously, winning at Alfreton was massive for us. Tonight was a little bit of a gimme when no one gives us a chance, but on another night, we possibly could have got something from it, but the home games, like I say, against Warrington and other teams down in and around us is what's going to define our season.
So the lads will be ready and up for it. And it's about moving forward from this point and trying to get points on the board.
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