MARKETMEN EXIT THE FA TROPHY AFTER PENALTY SHOOTOUT

Needham Market exited the Isuzu FA Trophy on penalties despite a good performance away at Isthmian Premier high flyers Chatham Town. 

Ipswich Town winger Jackson Nsofor was given his first start as Seth Chambers started on the bench. 

Needham had the first chance in a lively start on 6 minutes. Myles Cowling was slipped onto the right-hand side to work space to shoot low at the near post whose great strike was turned behind for the game's first corner by the keeper.

Tommy Smith meanwhile timely intercepted as Stanley Oldfield looked to break into the area on 10 minutes, with Jackson Nsofor fed on the counter who beat his man but was fouled just inside his own half.

Samuel Sene-Richardson however saw his 13th minute left wing free-kick from range comfortably held low by James Bradbrook.

At the other end, Needham enjoyed most of the possession and created the better opportunities, Jackson Nsofor was fed down the left wing on 19 minutes before weaving smartly into space inside the area whose low shot across goal was well blocked by a defender sliding across.

The Marketmen hit a close range shot just wide of the near, right-hand, corner on 21 minutes, while James Bradbrook commanded his area well to meet a dangerous left wing cross into a packed six yard box and claim the ball three minutes later.

Needham played more neat football on 27 minutes, great defending from Ben Hunter won back possession before feeding Tommy Smith whose excellent cross-field ball released Luke Ingram down the right-hand side whose superb right wing cross just evaded Nsofor at the far post at close range.

Bradbrook then punched away a dangerous left wing long throw on 34 minutes, Keiran Morphew cleared the loose ball away before Tommy Smith deflected away a shot from inside the box.

The visitors went close on 41 minutes, brilliant play saw Jake Dye fed into acres of space down the right-hand side whose dangerous low ball across the face of goal collected by the keeper with Nsofor lurking.

Chatham though had a good spell of possession towards the end of the first half, which the Suffolk side had the better of the chances.

Needham again started the restart brightly, Ryan Miles replaced Nsofor at the interval, with the offside thwarting the Marketmen. Jake Dye arrived to meet a left wing cross on the far side of the box whose header looped into the top left-hand corner.

Dye then met the loose ball from a slightly more central area whose great half-volley towards goal was headed off the line a minute later.

Fadahunsi towered high only to head a right wing cross wide of the far post in acres of space on 57 minutes, while Ingram was found in a neat two touch passing move two minutes later but whipped his effort well over witj the outside of his foot.

Cowling drifted into the area in possession on 62 minutes, albeit could only block the clearance straight to the goalkeeper.

Ingram and Neal were withdrawn for Seth Chambers and Reggie Lambe, before Kyle Hammond was introduced in place of Ollie Saunders.

Needham went agonisingly close on 74 minutes, Seth Chambers broke through cleverly past the defence before driving onto the left-hand side whose fierce low strike across goal was smothered away well by the keeper.

Jamie McGrath was brought on in place of Cowling, while game saving defending from Needham kept it goalless on 81 minutes.

The hosts weaved into the area following a right wing cross, forcing a great low save sandwiched between some excellent defensive blocks in quick succession with Morphew putting his body on the line to block a low shot at goal away from goal thrown in for good measure.

Chambers then headed a Hammond left wing cross wide on 86 minutes as penalties loomed.

Lambe picked up the loose ball on the left-hand side in the final minute of normal time only to see his low shot turned wide from a tight angle, while Hammond's resulting direct corner needed to be tipped over.

The crossbar then thwarted the away side a minute into five added minutes, Hammond's right wing corner was met by Dan Morphew at the far post whose powerful header cannoned onto the line off the woodwork.

The frenzied end to the game however resulted in a similarly dramatic penalty shootout.

Bradbrook got the shootout underway, diving expertly low to his right-hand side to deny Fadahunsi, while Dan Morphew made it 1-0, ruthlessly smashing home into the top right-hand corner - sending the keeper the wrong way.

Bradbrook then read the second penalty, holding onto Jordan Robins' low spot-kick across to his right, albeit Chambers' effort was blocked away by the keeper, low to his right-hand side to keep it 1-0 Needham after 2 apiece.

Kian Moynes equalised though, sending Bradbrook the wrong way to wrap home into the bottom left-hand corner, though Reggie Lambe smashed home well into the top right-hand corner, sending the keeper the wrong way for 2-1 after 3 kicks each.

Kofi Anokye-Boadi sent Bradbrook the wrong way, finding the bottom right-hand corner for 2-2, though Kyle Hammond fired over as it remained level after the fourth round.

Reece Butler scored the decisive penalty, curling into the top right-hand corner, while Ryan Miles' low strike to the keeper's left was beaten away to send Chatham through to the next round.

Needham travel to Weston-super-Mare next Saturday in the 4th Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup (3pm).

Manager Tom Rothery discusses Saturday's defeat on penalties. 

DK: Harsh way to lose on pens? 

TR: Yeah, really tough to be honest, especially when Bradders has saved the first two. I certainly thought from that position we were going to win, but we missed the second penalty. That was probably crucial, and then obviously the fourth penalty. It is a lottery as they say with the penalties, so it is what it is. We've got to take it on the chin and move on. 

DK: It's one of those where after the performance it's a kick in the teeth really.

TR: Yeah, I thought the performance overall was good. It was tough for both teams, the wind was really tough for both teams, but I thought both teams tried to play. I thought we were really disciplined in our shape defensively, and I thought that nullified a lot of their threat. I thought we had some big chances as well, especially in the second half. We had one in the first half with Jackson, where they defended it really well. We had the second half where it was a bit of a pinball, where Bradders and defenders have done really well to keep it out, and then Reggie's had a good chance, Seth's had a good chance, and obviously Dan's hit the bar as well. Somehow they managed to scramble it clear from that as well. I think on another day, I think we've done enough to win the game personally, but we haven't, so that is unfortunate. 

DK: It sums up Cup football, the fact that you play so well and then end up losing.

TR: This is what I said last week, and this is what I just said to the lads in the changing room as well. That is what Cup football is all about. Last week we weren't brilliant, but we got through, and that was the main thing. I know a few people are moaning about last week, how we performed and all the rest of it, but what's the point of performing well and going out? Obviously you want to perform well and go through, but the main thing is that you go through. So unfortunately today the performance hasn't been met with a victory. So obviously that means we're now out of the trophy. So we're focused on what we're left in now with the FA Cup next week and then the League and the Suffolk Cup still. 

DK: In the fact that the performances aren't quite reflected in the results would you say it sums up the season so far? 

TR: Yes, probably, if you say it like that. I definitely think we're certainly creating chances. I think we're guilty of not taking them at the moment, and I think that's probably what's costing us the results, if I'm honest. I think we're certainly sitting on less points than we should have, but that is definitely a factor. We're certainly not being clinical enough and not being ruthless enough, but again, I think, like I've said in previous weeks, if you're at the games and you're watching us play, I think we're playing well. So clearly we've got to get results off the back of that. It's no good just playing well and not getting results. So yes, we've certainly got to be more clinical and take the chances that we're creating because otherwise it'll end up being very frustrating, which it is today and it has been so far this season, really. 

DK: We spoke about how good our performance was, but also when they had chances, we've kept them at bay with some key blocks and saves. 

TR: Yes, I think defensively, the core of the defenders have been together for a long time, so they understand each other's game. Defensively, I think, generally speaking, we are really strong. They made, like I said, in that 81st minute incident, where Bradders have made a save and we've made a couple of really good blocks. You know, we always do that, and I just think for us at the moment and this season so far, we just haven't scored enough when we're on top in the Games. And that is costing us at the moment. 

DK: Next week away to, I believe, second in the National League South, Western Super Mare, a tough trip. Is that one where we're going into it without pressure on us? A Free hit?

TR: I don't believe in free hits. It's a tough game. There's no doubt about it. The draws in general have been quite kind for us so far this season, up until these last two. Obviously, Chatham away is tough, as it's proved, but again, we've proven that we could come here and certainly compete. And I would say we're unfortunate not to get the result, and next week will be tough as well, but I don't think anything's a free hit. We want to go through to the first round and I'm sure they do. So we'll prepare and be the best that we can be and hopefully refine some of those things that we're not quite doing at the moment, which is lack of touch from being a bit more clinical and being more ruthless. If we can do that, then hopefully it gives us a chance, but it's not going to be easy. If they're second in the league above, that tells you they're a very good side.

Goalkeeper James Bradbrook reflects on our Trophy defeat on penalties. 

DK: A harsh one to take that? 

JB: Yeah, definitely. Especially when we got a good start to the penalty shootout. With two pen saves, but positive as well, we kept a clean sheet away from home, but yeah, a bit frustrating to lose, but fair play to the lads that stepped up. 

DK: Yeah, to put in that kind of performance and still come away with a defeat, even on pens, is one that doesn't really sit right. 

JB: No. No, it doesn't. Like I said, frustrating, but, on another day, we got on to win that game. I think we had better chances in the second half. Dan hit the bar late on. Reggie had a chance as well, but it's just gone over the bar. Penalties a lottery really, isn't it? 

DK: Having started it perfectly with you saving the first two, you'd have been forgiven for thinking that we'd go on to win it. 

JB: Yeah, I think maybe it's one of them where, because I saved two early doors, I maybe thought we'd already won it. It's not easy to take pens. Especially when it's all very windy.

DK: What was going through your mind during that shootout?

JB: I chatted with Ollie. Ollie's said to me if I saved two, we'd win the game. I didn't know where any of the chatting players were going. It was a guessing game really. 

DK: Would you say that kind of sums up our luck this season? 

JB: A little bit. I think maybe at the end when Dan hit the bar, it didn't fall to any of our players. It's been a bit like that this season, but I think our luck's turned. I think we defended really well again today. I think that's something we can build on for next week. I think we defended well pretty much every game really, but it's good to get clean sheets today and build on for next week.

DK: Yeah, building that momentum with not just positive results, but clean sheets is important.

JB; Yeah, definitely. I think that's the fourth clean sheet now this season. Probably could have got a couple more already this season, but four's alright.

DK: Next week away at Weston-Super-Mare, a league above us, which will be a tough test. 

JB: Yeah, it will be tough. I think we'll give anyone a good game, at our level or the league above. So I think we'll give them a good game. Just look at Witham last week when they came to us and they made it scrappy and they made it very difficult for us. 

DK: Do you enjoy it more as the underdog? 

JB: Yeah, well, I think there's less pressure being an underdog, and like, all the pressure was on us last week when we were playing Witham, and Witham were the underdogs, they just went out there and made it tough for us. I wouldn't say I enjoy it more, but it's just a lot less pressure, more pressure for them.