Two first half goals from Luke Ingram earned Needham Market a deserved 2-0 win away to AFC Telford United.
Kevin Horlock's side made one enforced change to Saturday's 1-0 Emirates FA Cup victory at Hashtag United as Kyle Hammond was suspended and Dylan Williams starting in his place.
After Montel Gibson's tame low strike from distance was held by Marcus Garnham, Needham broke up the other end and scored a stunning goal to break the deadlock in the 4th minute. Luke Ingram opened his account for the season with a cracking left footed rocket of a strike into the top left-hand corner from distance, 1-0 Needham.
Although there wasn't much real clear cut action at either end, Needham enjoyed more of the possession in the first half, though Tevan Allen saw a fierce low shot, from the edge of the box, comfortably held by the goalkeeper on 22 minutes.
Needham meanwhile had the ball in the net again on 32 minutes, but was ruled out by the offside flag. Jacob Lay drove smartly onto the left-hand byline before crossing low across the face of goal finding Jake Dye sliding in at the back post, from a yard out, to tap home but for the assistant referee's flag.
Good play from the Marketmen, sporting their yellow away kit, saw the visitors go close to doubling their lead on 39 minutes. Goalscorer Luke Ingram leapt highest to flick on Marcus Garnham's long in-direct free-kick onto Jacob Lay, racing into the box, although the keeper rushed off his line to get there first, and gather the ball.
Needham meanwhile did double their lead on 45 minutes, Luke Ingram was again on hand to find the target as the forward timed his run neatly to latch onto Reece Harris' exquisite low right wing corner into the six yard box and poke it into the bottom right-hand corner, 2-0 Needham.
At the other end a brilliant double save from Marcus Garnham thwarted Telford from pulling a goal back in the 45+2nd minute. Montel Gibson looked to drive into Garnham's box down the left hand side but the Needham stopper was alert and out quickly to superbly dive across to his right-hand side smother the ball away. The rebound fell to Ricardo Dinanga whose attempted lifted shot over the 'keeper who reacted superbly to quickly beat the shot away well, before Remi Walker's shot on the right-hand side of the box was deflected behind well for a corner.
After the restart, it was Telford who arguably had more of the possession while Needham looked to break smartly on the counter.
Telford's Gibson had the first real opportunity of the second half as his 54th minute volley towards the right-hand corner was tipped over well by the diving Garnham, determined to keep his 8th clean sheet in 12 games (6 in 9 games in the league).
Reece Harris meanwhile cured a 25-yard freekick over the Telford crossbar on 58 minutes, while James McQuilkin's shot from range was fired over the top left-hand corner for the Bucks two minutes later.
Ingram then had a good chance to complete his hat-trick on 71 minutes, the striker intercepted possession from 30-yards out on the left hand side whose shot at goal was held by the back peddling 'keeper, diving down to his left-hand side.
Ingram meanwhile almost found the back of the net once again on 86 minutes, after releasing substitute Seth Chambers one on one with the 'keeper into the box, the striker's low shot was well saved by the onrushing goalkeeper before Ingram was threaded into space on the right-hand side of the box whose shot at a tight angle went just over the vacant net.
Needham then saw off the final ten minutes, including 6 minutes of stoppage time, which saw McQuilkin fire a 25-yard free-kick over onto the roof of the net at the death.
Needham return to Bloomfields on Tuesday, when they welcome St Ives Town (7:45pm).
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