FINAL DAY DEFEAT

Needham Market's journey in the Vanarama National League North drew to a close with a battling 3-1 defeat at Darlington. 

Tom Rothery's side made three changes to Monday's home game against King's Lynn as Josh Blunkell and Kyle Hammond Jamie McGrath replaced club legend Marcus Garnham (who left the club following Monday's game), Jacob Lay and the suspended Teddy Collis.

Darlington broke the deadlock in the third minute, Cedric Main found Will Hatfield in space from 25-yards to curl home into the bottom right-hand corner. 

At the other end, Needham created a good chance in the tenth minute, a great right wing cross picked out Jake Dye free at the far post post whose header was straight at Jameson. 

Two minutes later, Will McGowan broke into the penalty area but was smartly thwarted by goalkeeper Josh Blunkell, while Kyle Hammond's 15th minute long range free-kick nearly caught out the home 'keeper who got across to his top left-hand corner to take the catch. 

Needham grew into the game well, creating a couple of good chances in the 20th minute - first Reggie Lambe's low driven shot was blocked before Luke Ingram wrapped a left wing cross narrowly wide of the top far corner. 

Josh Tomlinson then headed Tevan Allen's left wing corner just off target two minutes later, before Cedric Main weaved into space to shoot inside the box but dragged just shot wide of the bottom far corner on 23 minutes. 

Man Of The Match Blunkell meanwhile tipped over Jack Maskell's free header from Kelly's right wing cross four minutes later, as Needham arguably enjoyed more of the possession. 

Maskell then fired over another cross from Kelly moments later

Kyle Hammond was then sent off on the half-hour mark for bringing down Cedric Main inside the box, which Main dispatched - sending Blunkell the wrong way to double the lead, finding the bottom left-hand corner.

Kelly raced down the right wing to whip a first time cross to Maskell on 35 minutes, who looped his header narrowly over. 

Maskell, albeit appearing to be in an offside position, saw a low strike well held by Blunkell diving low to his right-hand side on 45 minutes, with the striker only able to glance Griffiths' right wing cross wide of the far post in the only minute of added time. 

Matty Cornish then curled a shot wide of the top corner two minutes after the restart, as Needham introduced Ollie Fraser soon after. is the

Eddie Barker replaced Jake Dye before Ollie Fraser broke through one on one with the keeper with the referee waving away appeals for a penalty in the 61st minute. 

Blunkell meanwhile was alert to smartly get across to his left to deny a low shot before holding onto Main's shot on the rebound two minutes later. 

Luke Ingram tested the keeper with a venomous shot on 65 minutes, although his 30-yard strike was hit straight at the stopper, while Tom Platt smashed a first time shot over in the 68th minute.

Tevan Allen however put his body on the line well to block Maskell's close range shot two minutes later, before the former pulled a goal back for the Marketmen on 72 minutes. The midfielder broke into the box on the end of a great ball over the top to fire a shot across goal that took a deflection enroute to nestling into the bottom far corner. 

Main though restored the hosts' two goal advantage, wrapping a shot over Blunkell from Ben Hedley's through-ball on 76 minutes. 

Matty Cornish smashed his shot comfortably over on 79 minutes, while the hosts glanced a diving header just wide if the far post a minute later.

Cedric Main then saw a deflected 87th minute shot well held by Blunkell. Blunkell then held a free header from a corner well on 94 minutes as the season drew to a close with a 3-1 defeat. 

Manager Tom Rothery reflects on the final day defeat at Darlington.

DK: A disappointing end to the season? 

TR: Yeah, I thought we played okay, especially considering the decision just before half-time for the penalty. Again, ridiculous red card. Never, ever been a red card. That's three games on the bounce now where we've incorrectly been given a red card. It's hugely frustrating. I actually thought first half we were really good, but again, the two goals we give away, it's definitely a penalty, there's no doubt about it. I just don't think it's a red card. But the two goals that we give away, again, are poor. And then you're always chasing and then obviously going down to 10 men makes it then really tough, but I thought we battled really well second half and stuck to our task. And that's kind of what we tried to do all season. But again, at the end of the day, we've just not had enough this season, and that's why we are where we are. 

DK: Yeah, the goal from Tev to make it 2-1 gave us a little bit of a chance of getting a point, but unfortunately wasn't to be. 

TR: Yeah, yeah. Like I said, that sort of showed that we were, you know, we did well in the second half. Even one of their players didn't come off so that's how well we've done. So yeah, the goal gives us a little bit of hope. And then obviously Keiran has to come off, he's feeling his hip, and then within about a minute of Keiran coming off, we concede another. That is another poor goal. Simple as that. So like I've said previously, we've got a lot of work to do in the summer.

There's no doubt about that. But like I've just said to the players a little bit, I felt a bit emotional after the game really because, you know, I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed in myself ultimately because we've ended up being relegated. So, you know, but I'm really determined, really driven and really keen to put what I feel this season's wrongs right and get it right next season. So I always work hard anyway. I think I've worked harder than I've ever worked this season.

The amount of travel we've done and everything else, but ultimately it's ended in failure. And I'm really determined to put that right next season. And like I've just said to the players, you know, I need the players behind me. I feel I've got that. And anyone coming into the club will need to be on that mindset as well. Because like I said, I am really determined and really driven and going to try my utmost to get this season right. Simple as that. And next season, I want next season to be a positive season. Yeah, it's one of those where we can, we've said it, money is time. We can take pride of it. 

DK: And another positive is Oli Reynolds' debut. 

TR: Yeah, look, it's tough when you're down to ten men, you're looking at the young lads.

Obviously, you want to get them onto the pitch because you want to give them experience. You want to make their effort and their travel worthwhile, and, you know, but you can't give free minutes to anyone.

You know, it has to be earned and it has to be deserved. So I thought all the four young lads that came on. So Ollie Fraser added something when he came on. Luca did really well when he came on. I think Luca is a really promising central midfielder. Ed Barker did well when he came on, and Olly Reynolds, that was his first taste of it and like we've just said to him in the changing room, they'll get opportunities at this football club. It's proven historically. That's proven with young players. Obviously, Charlie Wood's another great example of that now. So, you know, young players will get opportunities at this club, and they've just got to have that mindset and that mentality like I'm asking for the first team players. Want to improve, want to get better and want to get success for this football club.

Because, you know, we need to bounce back from this season now and get success back to this football club, and that isn't going to be given to us for free. So we're going to have to work hard to get that. 

A big thank you to the supporters who have travelled far and wide to back us this season. We understand it’s been a tough season and we’ve come up short but trust me nobody will work harder and is more determined than me to make next season a positive season. Thank you to every one of you who has supported us. Stick together, we will be back.