DEFEAT ON THE OPENING DAY

Needham Market's winless opening day record over the last few seasons continued with a 4-0 defeat to title favourites Harborough Town. 

A late first half penalty, added to a 49th minute second then two goals towards the closing stages, made it a frustrating start to the season for the Marketmen, with the result not a true reflection of the game. 

James Bradbrook was well alert to comfortably hold Ben Stephens' low shot from just outside the box on 5 minutes, while the stopper held Riley O'Sullivan's left wing cross on his line a minute later.

The Marketmen then grew into the game, earning a corner, though Eliot Putman's 9th minute free-kick from distance was headed back across goal for Bradbrook to read smartly and hold.

Bradbrook, making his second Needham debut, then read the danger brilliantly on 13 minutes to slide off his line and collect a dangerous ball towards goal, getting a free-kick for his troubles. 

Myles Cowling latched onto the following free-kick just outside the box,a after a neat one-two with Reggie Lambe, but the referee waved away appeals for a foul. 

Dan Morphew then sent a free-kick just just inside his own half into the box and just off target for an easy catch for the keeper on 23 minutes, as the first half continued to be cagey though both sides did try to play football, largely cancelling each other out. 

Four minutes later though another long range Putman free-kick was directed back across the face of goal but the close range effort was crucially held by Bradbrook. 

Bradbrook meanwhile held onto a low shot from a tight angle on 34 minutes, while Joe Neal broke down the right-hand side four minutes later but Ryan Miles just couldn't latch onto his dangerous low squared ball across the box. 

Needham went close on 40 minutes, Myles Cowling drove through 4 opposition players on his way through to the edge of the box but saw his shot held by the keeper at head height. 

Two minutes later, Harborough headed a right wing corner wide at the far post from close range, while Harborough were awarded a penalty on 45+2 minutes.

Riley O'Sullivan was seemingly fouled as Ben Stephens smashed home into the bottom left-hand corner two minutes later. 

Harborough doubled their lead on 49 minutes from close range, who fired over on 65 minutes. 

Ollie Saunders then saw a 76th minute low shot from outside the box beaten away by the goalkeeper, before Reggie Lambe broke onto the right-hand byline five minutes later but saw his low ball across the six yard box cleared. 

Reggie Lambe then saw a curling 86th minute from 18 yards tipped over, while a minute later Luis Rose netted a third one on one, lashing home. 

Matty Tricker then deflected Rose's 88th minute shot from the right-hand side in the box behind for a corner, before Harborough added a fourth on 94 minutes, finding the bottom right-hand corner. 

Manager Tom Rothery reflects on our opening day defeat

DK: Not the greatest start of the season. 

TR: No, a bit of an understatement, yeah. Didn't see that coming. Very tough conditions. I thought the wind made it a really tough game. I would say a game of two halves, but clearly that didn't play out that way, but obviously we went against the wind in the first half, so we knew the first half was going to be really tough. I thought we played it really well, but to be honest I don't think they created anything. I can think of one chance for the number 11 off a second phase, off a header at the back post, and then he comes onto it, should probably score, and then the penalty literally in the last, well, I don't know, it was two minutes injury time, so it was 47th minute. So actually last knockings that, and that really does hit you in the kidney. So I even spoke about it at half-time. I wasn't going to let that dictate what I said at half-time, because we'd frustrated them really well in the conditions in the first half, and we just wanted the lads to come out and play and get on the front foot and be positive in the second half, which I expected us to do really. And then the second goal, I don't know when that came into the game, but a few minutes after the start of the half, and then you go from feeling like you're potentially going into a good second half at 0-0, and all of a sudden you're 2-0 down. So yeah, it makes it very tough from that point, and then I didn't want to chase the game, because I didn't want to end up getting smashed. So I just changed personnel. I thought we showed some nice bits.

I still think there were some good performances. Joe, for example, I thought was excellent. I thought he had a really good game, and it was a tough game for him, but I thought he did really well, led the line really well, and we got into some good positions, crossing positions, et cetera, et cetera. No one there to tap in, and I'm frustrated with the third and fourth goals, because I just think they're very avoidable. All goals are avoidable, but the third and fourth goals just put a gloss on it for them, because I don't think it was a 4-0 game. It puts a gloss on it for them, and obviously it looks bad on us.

So yeah, the third and fourth goals really frustrate me, to be honest.

DK: It must kind of make it worse, the fact that obviously we came down the league, and you don't want the mindset to go back to last season.

TR: No, I think that's really important that we don't. It's difficult when you get relegated. Like I said, I've never experienced it before, but we all know football and sport, and if you get relegated, then you obviously haven't had a good season. So off the back of that, you get some negative momentum, but I don't feel we've had that, but like I've been saying in any interview I've done, we know how tough this league is. Do you know what I mean? This league is not an easy league. There's a lot of capable sides in here, and we are going to have to be good, simple as that, and today, I thought we did okay for, like I said, 46 and a half minutes, and then the goals change games at the end of the day. The first goal at the time when it came, literally the last kick of the half, and then the second goal virtually at the start of the half, just gives you a mountain to climb, and we couldn't do that. But it's important that we're level-headed about it, and we have to react now. I don't believe in this negative momentum from last season. We knew last season was going to be tough. We got relegated. Last season's done now. We've got to move on, and we certainly won't underestimate this league. It's important that we react from this today.

DK: Historically, we've not really had the greatest opening day record, so that only makes it worse. 

TR: I saw a thing one of their guys had done. I don't know who he is, but a media guy had done.

They hadn't won in the last three opening days, and we haven't won since 2018-19. That didn't fill me with optimism, but like I said, the past is the past. We have to move on. This was always going to be a tough day today. Everyone's tipping them as favourites for the league, so we knew it was going to be tough, but like I said, up until the penalty, we were well in the game, and then the two goals have just put us massively on the back foot, obviously, and then off the back of that, we've chased the game a little bit, but like I said, the two goals have really put a gloss on it for them. They deserve to win the game, there's no doubt about that. I thought we were in the game, but we are where we are. We've lost 4-0, we have to take it on the chin and react Tuesday on another tough game. Because, again, Real Bedford have been spoken about as potential title chasers. So we've got to show some character, as simple as that. 

DK: Yeah, it's kind of a baptism of fire with the start we've had. Tuesday, we've got an opportunity at home, first game in another, like you said, real tough match. 

TR: Yeah, like I said, I've made it clear, there's no easy games at this level. Just because we've gone up to, like I said in previous interviews, we never finish higher than ninth before we won the league. We're under no illusions, whether that's the staff or whether that's the players. We know this is a tough league. Nothing's made me realise that today. I knew that before, so nothing's changed. Tuesday will be tough, Saturday will be tough. They're all tough games.

DK: What, from your point of view, particularly needs to change from today for Tuesday? 

TR: Like I said, I think all the goals we could have done better. Look, I think the penalty's soft. I think it's really soft. Keiran's gone to go for the ball. The lad's seen him dangle a foot. He's jumped over it. Keiran's then pulled his foot away. The referee's taken it. So for me, it's a very soft penalty, to the point where I don't think it is a penalty, but anyway, it is what it is. Second goal, we could definitely do better. And the third and fourth goals, we could do better. So for starters, we've got to defend better. But then again, like I said, having said that, for 46 and a half minutes, I thought we defended really well. And we've got to do better in both boxes, which is what I said last season. Nothing's changed, really. Football's the same whatever level you're at. You've got to score more than the other team, so you have to be better in both boxes. Simple as that. I thought we had more momentum in the second half because of the conditions. We had more momentum. We had more of the ball, but then when they get the second, obviously they then sit back in a low block and we try and go at them a little bit. We get countered for the third whenever that was scored, 70-odd minutes. We changed shape by that time. So we're chasing the game. That's what happens when you chase the game sometimes. So that's on me, chased the game. At 2-0, but I don't think that's the reason the third and fourth goal was out. I just think we've got to do better in both of those scenarios. And we haven't. Like I said, there were positives. I'm sure many people won't be able to see them at the moment, but there were positives. Look, nothing's changed from today.

I still think we've got a good squad. I still think we'll be competitive at this level, but clearly we've got to do better than we did today. 

DK: Overall, there weren't really many chances between the two.

TR: I honestly don't think. Like I said, I think the wind made it a really tough game. The wind was very heavily for them in the first half. And I thought we nullified them really well. I thought we dealt with it really well. We managed the game really well, slowed things down, etc., etc.

And I can only remember one chance. But in the second half, obviously, like I said, the second goal just killed any momentum because you've gone in there calm at half-time. You've come out second half. You want to get on the front foot. You want to push them back, etc., etc. Use the conditions better than they did because I didn't think they used them that well. Try and use them better. Get the ball down more. And in the second goal, you then start chasing the game.

And I thought we had more possession in the second half. Obviously, you've not expected that, regardless of the scoreline, because of the conditions, and we did do that, but then, like I said, at 2-0, you then don't take the chances that you're kind of creating, and then off the back of that, they then catch us on the break in 3-0. And then the game started. 

DK:'Yeah, Reggie had a shot saved. Ollie Saunders had a shot as well that was denied. So there were chances that we could have clawed something back.

TR: Yeah, and like I said, you look at their chances. What are their chances? Obviously, they've scored the four goals, yeah. Chances on top of that, I can remember number 11. Can't remember much else other than that. But they've been really clinical, so fair play to them. We haven't created massive chances.

But like I said, Reggie and Ollie, Joe and Jamie both got in good positions out wide. Ryan got in good position out wide. And when we cut the ball back or crossed it, we're not on the end of it.

So, you know, like I said, they deserve to win the game. But I don't think it was, it didn't feel like a 4-0 game. But, you know, we've got to take it on the chin.We will. And now it's important that we try and react for Tuesday, which, like I said, it'll be another tough game. So we've just got to be better. Simple as that. 

DK: Hopefully, we're full strength for Tuesday. 

TR: Well, Hammo will be back because he's not... Obviously, he was banned today from last season.

Hunts, I still think it'll be too early for Hunts. I think Saturday's more realistic for Hunts. Obviously, Ryan's come off today with a knock.

We'll have to see how that settles. And Keiran and Dan both come off feeling it a little bit. But I don't think that's anything other than just a little bit of fatigue where they've missed parts of pre-season.

So I think overall, it'll just be Ryan maybe that we'll have to look on. And like I said, I think Tuesday will be too early for Hunts.