HEARTBREAK AT WORCESTER

A late sucker punch goal condemns Needham Market to a second straight defeat, as Worcester City leapfrog their visitors into eight.

Reggie Lambe and Brad Smith (on the bench) dropped out for the returning Tommy Smith and Kyle Hammond, as Fiddy and Coton returned to the Reserves, with Ollie Saunders returning to the bench.

Needham worked a good chance on 8 minutes, Joe Neal slipped Myles Cowling through in the area, who worked space to shoot but for a crucial intervention to prevent a clear shot at goal, in a lively end to end encounter.

Ben Hunter (19') bravely put his body in the way to block a 25-yard powerful strike, while Neal (21') lofted a great ball over the defence to release Marcel Lewis down the right-hand side - though the goalkeeper surged out to intercept with a free-kick given in favour of the home keeper, despite appeals from the visiting players.

Great play from Kyle Hammond saw the midfielder pick out Jake Dye surging down the right wing with an exquisite ball, which the full back (26') latched onto and broke onto the byline to win a corner.

Soon after, it was from the second straight corner (28') that Needham forced the first save of the afternoon - promptly livening the game up.

Hammond's right wing set-piece was taken short to Cowling, smartly finding Lewis inside the area whose great low wrapped effort was held by the full stretch goalkeeper.

At the other end (29'), Worcester countered - firing a low strike from distance across goal, towards Bradbrook's left-hand side, who produced a great stop to tip it wide.

Needham again forced a good stop from Derby County loanee Sam Kane (31'), Hammond was found in space on the right-hand side to hammer low at goal, but for the diving keeper to save with his foot.

Ben Hunter tried his luck at goal (43'), only to fire wide as the interval loomed.

Cowling went down under the challenge of a defender, following a great defence splitting-pass from Neal onto the right, but appeals for a penalty were waved away a minute into first half stoppage time.

Needham started the second half brightly, Ingram (47') was fouled from 27-yards out, which Hammond's (48') thunderous free-kick towards the top right-hand corner was beaten away well by Kane.

Hunter was booked for stopping a promising attack (51'), though Bradbrook expertly commanded his area to claim Rowe's long range free-kick towards the far post (52').

Rowe (60') was cautioned, while Max Appauh (66') replaced Lewis.

Appauh (68') was quickly into the action, weaving into space to earn a free-kick high on the left wing after a trip from Lockett as he looked to weave into the area, although Hammond's set-piece floated just wide of the far post, evading all Red shirts.

Worcester (76') saw appeals for a penalty dismissed as Ben Hunter once more bravely jumped in the line of the ball to block a ferocious shot following a scramble from a long throw.

Chambers (86') replaced Neal, before great football saw Hammond feed Cowling (88') in space outside the area whose smart turn and great low strike went just wide of the bottom right-hand corner.

Kane (91') tipped Hammond's 50-yard strike behind, albeit Worcester snatched all three points late at the death.

Very much against the run of play, Sibanda - after appeals for offside - was fed through on the left outside the box whose low shot across goal was excellently tipped away by Bradbrook only for Smalley to turn home into the bottom far corner.

Needham (97') shot wide, as the full time whistle blew.

Needham return to Suffolk on Good Friday, when Bromsgrove Sporting travel to Bloomfields (3pm).