Needham Market finish off pre-season with a 2-2 draw at lower league step 3 side AFC Sudbury.
The Marketmen, who now switch focus to their first ever Vanarama National League North game at Curzon Ashton next weekend, started brightly.
A great long ball released Jamie McGrath one on one with goalkeeper James Bradbrook, outside of his box, though his shot deflected off the 'keeper's shoulder before being cleared away by the defender to prevent it finding the bottom right-hand corner in the sixth minute.
The Marketmen soon took the lead a minute later, Bradbrook gave possession straight to goalscorer Luke Ingram on the right-hand side of the box, who cooly found the bottom far corner, for his fifth goal of the summer.
The Marketmen continued to press, hunting for a second goal as Tevan Allen's right wing corner was flicked on by Keiran Morphew to Jamie McGrath, whose header was straight at Bradbrook in the 12th minute.
Four minutes later, Kyle Hammond spotted the Sudbury goalkeeper off his line, and so tried his luck at goal with a free-kick on the halfway line, which was creeping into the top left-hand corner until Bradbrook moved across to take the catch.
The Marketmen then doubled their lead in the 19th minute, Tevan Allen clipped a great ball over the top for Jamie McGrath, racing through, clear on goal, before lobbing it over the onrushing Bradbrook into the roof of the empty net.
Ben Hunter meanwhile broke through the left-hand byline, before seeing a low shot from a tight angle well saved by Bradbrook. The midfielder, against his former club, then squared the rebound to McGrath 3-yards out, whose shot was denied by a crucial goal saving block on 25 minutes.
Marcus Garnham then dived across well to his right-hand side to hold onto Simeon Jackson's low shot a minute later, while Sudbury were awarded a penalty on 29 minutes.
Ollie Peters broke through onto the right-hand side of the box before Tommy Smith was deemed to have not got the ball and just the man. Up stepped ex-Needham striker Joe Neal to send Garnham the wrong way and find the bottom right-hand corner.
The Marketmen, who had all of their squad except Dylan Williams and Harley Curtis available, made regular changes in a fairly action packed second half.
Just a minute after the restart, Jamie McGrath was found free on the right-hand side of the box, although Adam Mills could only fire his shot, first time on the half-volley, narrowly over.
Sudbury however equalised in the 50th minute, Jessup's back pass was intercepted by Josh Allen down the left-hand side of the box, who beat Marcus Garnham before slotting into the net - despite the best efforts of Dan Morphew.
Two minutes later, Peters found space to shoot on the right-hand side only to see his shot was saved by Garnham off his line. The rebound fell to Josh Allen, but he shot just over the bar.
Luke Ingram then raced down the right wing, in response, finding Jamie McGrath with a great low cross, albeit the latter's shot was tipped over the top right-hand corner by Bradbrook on 53 minutes.
Luke Ingram then saw a fierce shot blocked bravely by a defender, after Jake Dye was fed through down the right-hand side, on the hour mark, before Hammond smashed a volleyed shot wide of the bottom corner two minutes later.
Callum Page, also ex-Needham, curled a shot comfortably over the bar on 65 minutes, while an excellent save from Marcus Garnham kept the scores level seven minutes later.
A dangerous ball squared across the six yard box, from the left-hand side, saw a shot brilliantly denied by the diving 'keeper, prior to Jackson seeing a shot deflected wide on 77 minutes.
Good strength from Seth Chambers saw the forward break through onto the left-hand side of the box, but shot agonisingly just wide of the bottom far corner ten minutes later, while Tevan Allen saw a shot well blocked on 88 minutes.
Cam Jessup was then adjudged to have brought down Callum Page inside the box a minute later, but a world class double save from Marcus Garnham thwarted Simeon Jackson. The Needham keeper got across sharply to his bottom left-hand corner to beat away the spot-kick, before reacting brilliantly to dive back across and beat away Jackson's rebound effort.
Needham now look ahead to their first ever step 2 league fixture, away to Curzon Ashton on Saturday (3pm).
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