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MARKETMEN RETAIN PREMIER CUP FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT SEASON


Needham Market win the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup for the fourth year in a row after a 2-0 win over Felixstowe + Walton United at Bury Town.


Kevin Horlock's side reverted to the exact same team that beat Royston Town a week and a half ago, to seal the Southern Central Premier Division title, and it was the Marketmen who got the crossbar early on.


Luke Ingram's second minute cross was headed away as far as Tommy Smith, free on the left-hand edge of the box, whose audacious curling cross-shot, towards the far post, rebounded back into play off the face of the crossbar.


Three minutes later, the Marketmen had another good chance, Tevan Allen's flick on was headed away as far as Jamie McGrath, just inside the box, who chested the ball down smartly to volley narrowly over.


At the other end, Josh Mayhew latched onto possession free on the right-hand edge of the box, but saw his low volley shovelled away by Marcus Garnham, guarding his near post in the 9th minute. 


Needham, sporting their yellow away kit, went close on 13 minutes, a great ball over the top saw Seth Chambers free on the edge of the box, the striker beat goalkeeper Danny Crump to the ball but saw his audacious lobbed shot go just wide of the far, right-hand, post. 


Kyle Hammond saw a fierce shot on the edge of the box blocked on 23 minutes, while Mayhew's 18-yard header at goal lacked power and went straight into Garnham's chest. 


Sam Ford then drove into space on the left-hand byline before seeing a dangerous low cross go just wide of the bottom far corner on 32 minutes.


The Marketmen, who arguably had the better chances in an end to end first half, had another good chance on 36 minutes, Luke Ingram found space to shoot on the edge of the penalty area - only to fire narrowly wide of the bottom left-hand corner.


Three minutes later, Kyle Hammond was slipped into space free on the right-hand side of the box, whose dangerous low squared cross was turned behind for a corner, before Needham saw a header cleared off the line on 43 minutes.


Hammond's right wing cross found Seth Chambers, surrounded at the back post, whose great header from close range towards the bottom right-hand corner was cleared off the line.


Jamie McGrath then saw a cross go just over onto the roof of the net two minutes later, as both sides went into the break deadlocked. 


The Marketmen, who have regularly went onto to win games on a professional manner after being level at the break did so again, though a fierce shot towards the left-hand corner was bravely headed behind for a corner by a Needham defender on 47 minutes.


After being booked for a foul in the first half, Josh Hitter was sent off moments later for Felixstowe for dissent, with Needham going agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 49th minute.


Ingram was fed free down the right-hand side of the box before picking out Jacob Lay unmarked at the far post, inside the six yard box with a great low cross, but the midfielder could only turn it over the crossbar.


More great play from the Marketmen saw the step 3 Champions almost find the breakthrough on 56 minutes, Ingram fed Hammond free on the right wing overlap whose sumptuous cross picked out Chambers, from point blank range, whose downward header bounced just over the crossbar. 


Tevan Allen then tried his luck, firing narrowly over the top far left-hand corner, from outside the box on 61 minutes, before Needham were awarded a penalty three minutes later.


Seth Chambers was in pursuit of the ball down the left-hand side when goalkeeper Crump raced off his line and brought down the striker. 


Up-stepped Luke Ingram, who sent Crump diving to his right before slotting his fourteenth goal of the season into the low middle of the net, and open the scoring, 1-0 after 65 minutes. 

Needham then made a double change, Jacob Lay and Seth Chambers making way for Reece Harris and Adam Mills, with the latter almost setting up a second goal on 69 minutes.


The winger's audacious low left wing cross just evaded McGrath sliding in a yard out at the back post, though the forward did double his side's lead two minutes later.


Tommy Smith raced onto the left-hand byline before picking out McGrath, with a brilliant low cross, from close range to turn home his eighteenth goal of the season, past Crump into the vacant net.


Mills meanwhile was threaded into space outside the box, but saw his half-volley go just over the top near, left-hand, corner on 79 minutes, before Felixstowe shot straight into Garnham's chest two minutes later. 


Hammond however released Mills into the box with a great right wing low cross, although the latter saw two close range shots blocked, with the second going behind for a corner on 92 minutes.


The full-time whistle followed three minutes later, as Needham lifted the first trophy of two this week, with the league title presentation following the Marketmen's home clash with Mickleover on Saturday.


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