FA CUP JOURNEY CONTINUES

Needham Market advanced to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 4-2 victory over Eynesbury Rovers.

Tom Rothery started Ollie Saunders and Seth Chambers, with Myles Cowling and Ben Hunter starting on the bench, and Reggie Lambe returning from international duty on the bench alongside new signing Jackson Chukwu-Nsofor.

Needham in truth enjoyed a lot of the first half possession against their United Counties League opponents, as the hosts went close on 4 minutes, Kyle Hammond slotted Ryan Miles through down the left-hand side whose low squared ball across the face of goal just evaded Seth Chambers at point blank range.

Needham broke the deadlock in the tenth minute, an excellent Kyle Hammond 30-yard free-kick picked out Luke Ingram steaming in at close range to head home into the left-hand side-netting.

Ingram meanwhile broke down the right wing a minute later, but whipped his cross-shot narrowly over the top far corner, while Tommy Smith was threaded down the left-hand side on 19 minutes only to see his low cross in the centre cleared.

Hammond then picked up the loose ball on the left-hand edge of the box, whose fierce curling cross-shot towards Chambers was beaten away by the keeper, diving across to his left-hand side.

The Marketmen doubled their lead with another well worked goal on 22 minutes, Kyle Hammond's excellent left wing pinpoint cross picked out Jake Dye just outside the six yard who directed a great header towards the bottom near corner which was beaten away well by the keeper with Ingram on hand to head home the rebound.

A quick fire third goal three minutes later saw Ryan Miles and Ingram also involved, as a great surging run from Seth Chambers down the left-hand side cut it back brilliantly to Tommy Smith to turn home at point blank range.

Ingram however fired over from just outside the box a minute later, before Chambers broke onto the left-hand side albeit his strike was denied by the keeper on 28 minutes.

Ingram continued to be a threat on 31 minutes, the winger was threaded through down the right wing, albeit his dangerous cross was well defended.

Neal exploited space down the right-hand side seconds later but saw his ferocious close range low strike beaten away by the keeper at his near post, a minute before the striker threaded Ollie Saunders through on goal down the right-hand side to see a low shot well held by the keeper.

Hammond's exquisite 34th minute left wing cross picked out Chambers at close range, the striker's clever glancing header towards the top far corner was punched away by the diving keeper, as the hosts continued to create chances against a good lower league side.

Neal jinked into space onto the left-hand edge of the box ahead of firing his strike just wide of the bottom far corner three minutes later.

Ryan Miles and Keiran Morphew were replaced by Matty Tricker and Myles Cowling at the interval, with the former giving away a penalty on 48 minutes.

Luke Young duly dispatched the spot-kick, firing smartly just past Bradbrook into the bottom left-hand corner to reduce the deficit in a very spirited, good display from the visitors.

The visitors did enjoy a good spell of possession following the goal, with Bradbrook required to watch a curling 30-yard free-kick dipping smartly to his bottom left-hand, far, corner to beat it away on the hour mark.

Needham on the other hand broke smartly up the other end, Cowling picked up the loose ball from Bradbrook's kick up field to thread Ingram through down the right-hand side to flash a fierce low strike just wide of the far corner on 62 minutes.

The higher league home side added a fourth on 66 minutes after great play from Chambers. After the striker was brought down as he raced through the left-hand side on 66 minutes, Luke Ingram duly smashed home into the bottom left-hand corner to complete his perfect hat-trick.

Jamie McGrath replaced Joe Neal, while Eddie Barker replaced Dan Morphew, although Luke Young reduced the deficit again on 74 minutes, wrapping home into the right-hand corner.

Young broke through on 83 minutes but fired over, while Myles Cowling hit the inside of the right-hand post on 87 minutes, despite Chambers being in an offside position as he tapped home the rebound.

Bradbrook then advanced off his line well to smother a close range shot wide of the far post in the 90th minute, before Needham went agonisingly close again at the death.

Cowling slipped Ingram into space onto the right-hand side two minutes later but Chambers just couldn't latch onto his great low ball across goal.

Needham return to league action with a home game against AFC Stamford next Saturday (3pm).

Assistant Manager Nathan Munson reflects on our FA Cup win.

DK: A good win in the FA Cup, you must be pleased?

NM: Yes, very much so, delighted. The objective whenever you play cup football is to get into the next round, into the hat, which is what we've done. So yeah, delighted that that's the case again.

DK: Yeah, first half we were probably a bit more in control than the second?

NM: Yeah, I think that's fair. I think the first half was excellent actually. You look at the way that we moved ball and throughout the course of the first half, we just were absolutely sort of purring really. We got the goals that was just deserts for the way we controlled the game, and, you know, 3-0 up half-time, some great finishes. I think it was at the second or third goal, I mean, you see that back on veo, it's however many passes. We've come down the left, worked it really, really nicely. Ryan's involved, Ingers' involved, and Seth's involved, and Tommy's in their box to score. I mean, that's a fantastic bit of football, and then, you know, the sort of three-nil, the sort of reality hit them a little bit, I think in terms of where we were at and we didn't need half-time. You know, the game was sort of done, but what you know about football is it's never really done, is it?

DK: Would you still describe it as a clinical performance or could we have been better?

NM: I'd say the first 45 minutes was clinical, and then, as I say, football, you think it's done and you just want to go out and repeat it, but it's not as easy as that. It never happens like that. They get a soft penalty and it's a big game for them, and you just felt the complexion of the match change a little bit when they scored the goal back. So, then it's 3-1. We've still got a bit of breathing space, but they've got something to fight for, and you just felt that that changed it a little bit from then on.

DK: The pleasing thing is to see Tommy get a fairly rare goal.

NM: Yeah, a rare goal. It's the, you know, he's a willing runner. He knows that he's a fantastic defender, but the way that football has evolved over the years as a full-back, you're a defender, but also you're an attacker now, and he's so mobile. He's such a fit lad. He's such a good player that he recognises that as well. If you can add a few goals to his game, wow, there's absolutely no stopping him. So, delightful.

DK: Good work from Seth to create that goal as well.

NM: Yeah, Seth. I think, you know, he hasn't had as many starts as he'd like. It's difficult. It's Tom and Patch and I have got to make about what we think is the best side for the day. And we've got a really strong squad, and so we haven't got what you would say a starting eleven. We have got a squad of players. We can sort of bring players out like we have done today. We've changed it a little bit. Reggie's back that didn't play. Hunts didn't start.

You know, we brought players in. So, really pleased for Seth that having brought him in from the start. He did well. He backed well first half. Did well for that goal, and, of course, he did really well for the penalty second half. He's gone past players. He's brought down a clear penalty. So, really pleased for him.

DK: Luke extended his record by another three as well.

NM: Luke, yeah. Quite a fine wine. Just ages beautifully. He was excellent again today. You know, if you look at him, the first half, the goals were clinical. In the second half, his touches, again, were calm and composed. And he just always has time, which is a sign of a really good player, and that's what he is.

DK: Could there be any improvements, really, from today, or is it just the progression that's the main thing?

NM: No. I mean, I think definitely we'll look at the first 45 and think that was our levels. That was us.

That's the standard that we want to set for ourselves. The second half, the penalty, but we didn't really control that moment as well as we might have done. So, we'd have a look at that, and then, of course, Bradders and I'll speak. He'll be disappointed that he didn't do a little bit better on the goal, but yeah, it's probably the time to make it when you're sort of four and up. Goalkeepers, they live and die by the sword, don't they? Normally, if you make a mistake, it ends in the back of your net and happens. I said, so the best time to do it is when you're four and up. But he's a strong-minded character, so he'll come back again.

DK: Back to league next week with a home game against Stamford.

NM: Yeah, of course, we've got the draw to look forward to on Monday, which starts to get a little bit exciting about now, doesn't it? So, we'll look forward to anybody at home. And then league form, an important game, a really important game against Stamford at home, but we'll go with great confidence from the result that we got today and the goals we got today.

Goalscorer Tommy Smith reflects on today's win.

DK: A good win in the FA Cup, you must be delighted.

TS: Yeah, yeah, yeah. The only thing that really matters is the result in Cup competitions.

So yeah, nice to get the job done and into the hut for Monday.

DK: Another goal under the belt for yourself?

TS: Yep, a goal, a very good team goal actually, so it was nice to finish it off.

DK: Yeah, a good run from Seth to pick you out.

TS: Yeah, it was really good, yeah. A little link up down the left side and then cut back right to the pass, so it was quite an easy finish in the end.

DK: Is that something that perhaps we might not have done so much of recently?

TS: I think we've been playing really well and I think them opportunities have always been there, to be fair, on both sides. I just think today was, for many circumstances, especially in the first half, we had quite a lot on the ball and I felt we could do that today.

DK: In the first half, when it was thundering lightning and pouring down, how was that to deal with?

TS: Fine, to be fair. I thought we were well in control. I thought the game was pretty much done in the first half, to be fair. I thought everyone was playing brilliantly. I thought we were very much in control and dictated the game, so I don't think that affected it at all, to be honest.

DK: Yeah, it kind of allowed you a lot to play some very crisp football and passing.

TS: Yeah, we always say we like playing on slick surfaces, with a little bit of rain. That really helped our playing style today, so I thought it was quite a solid first half.

DK: At the end of the day, into the hat and hopefully get another home tie?

TS: Yeah, that's the main thing. We'd love another home tie. Like I said, it's only about the results and cup competitions. To then eventually get to the big games, you've got to beat every team you come up against, so that's what we've done today.

DK: Back in the league Saturday, we host Stamford.

TS: Yeah, another tough game. They're always tough in the league. I don't think Stamford are in, and probably have started as well as they wanted to, but we'll be coming here like we always do and try and win the game.

Hat-trick hero Luke Ingram discusses today's win.

DK: Another good win in the Cup and another treble to add to your tally?

LI: Yes, it's the FA Cup and all we've got to do is get to the next round. Probably made it hard for ourselves, but at the end of the day, you've got to do your job to get through to the next round.

DK: A variety of goals from you as well?

LI: Yes, left foot, right foot, header, so always pleasing. I'm trying to get in and around the goal a bit more, try and have some more goals, so pleasing.

DK: When you get that perfect hat-trick, does it make it more satisfying?

LI: To be honest, I couldn't care less. It's three goals, however it goes in, it goes in. As long as I score, I'm happy.

DK: Is it mainly the fact that you're holding that bottle of wine (after being named MOTM)?

LI: Yes, sparkling wine, Argentina. If I drink some of this tonight, I might play like Messi next week.

DK: I thought you were already playing like Messi today?

LI: No, I was playing like... Philogene that was me.

DK: With the FA Cup run, the start of the season has been maybe a bit disjointed in the league, but does that make it look a bit better?

LI: No, I think they're separate. Obviously, I think we've played well enough to have another four points on our tally in the league. If you have them four points, then people aren't getting the jitters and moaning and stuff like that. At the end of the day, we're only seven games through the league, so if anyone thinks that's got anything to do with where we're going to end up in the season, then I'd say they're deluded.

DK: The main thing to take is that we're still creating chances, and like today, we're able to deal with absolute bonkers conditions.

LI: Yes, I'd say we could have had more goals today. Everyone knows we haven't scored enough goals, so we're working on it. We're trying, but sometimes you do need a little bit of luck. I could say we had a tiny bit today with some of our goals, but at the end of the day, in the league, we haven't had the rub of the green, so I know it will turn, but everyone just needs to chill out and stick with it.

DK: How did you find the conditions first half?

LI: I thought it was lovely, mate. A bit of rain, pitch was slick. I don't know what more you want when you're playing football, really. You can't have an umbrella, can you?

DK: You weren't afraid of the lightning coming to strike you then?

LI: No, mate. I was driving my lorry and I was standing on the top. Yesterday, I was were in my crane and that was lightning then, so if I'm standing under the metal crane there, I think I'll be all right on a football pitch.

DK: Next up in the league, Stamford at home.

LI: Yes, big game. They've had a bad start. At the end of the day, we're coming here to try and get three points. Three points will probably take us close to the players. That's what we're going for. Like I say, we're seven games in and we're still in the FA Cup. What's to worry about?