TOUGH DAY ON THE ROAD

Needham Market's league unbeaten run ended with a 3-0 defeat at fellow promotion chasers Spalding United.

Tom Rothery's side made one change to Tuesday's win over Royston Town, Needham supporters' MOTM Ollie Saunders starting in place of Dan Morphew.

After a scrappy first ten minutes, Needham broke forward after some neat passing in the 13th minute but Ollie Saunders' shot from outside the box went over.

The hosting Tulips' had the better of the possession in the opening 18 minutes, but saw an effort following a throw in brilliantly blocked off the line.

At the other end (23'), Luke Ingram fired wide of the far post from 30-yards out, as Seth Chambers (24') vitally deflected away a Spalding left wing corner at the near post.

A neat turn from Chambers (26') won a free-kick on the left wing edge of the area, which Kyle Hammond (27') struck low at the near post which was held by the keeper.

Jake Dye (33') deflected a right-hand strike from distance over the top far corner, as the Tulips broke the deadlock a minute later.

The goal had arguably been coming, as the second successive corner was turned home at the near post, while the hosts (39') doubled their lead from a free-kick, just outside the area.

Myles Cowling (41') in reply drove forward onto the edge of the box, driving low at the near post whose effort was too hot for the keeper to handle, Needham kept the ball well from the corner as Keiran Morphew saw a shot deflected over.

Reggie Lambe replaced Smith just before the interval, before Spalding (45'+2') utilised acres of space at the far post to find the bottom corner from close range.

The home side (53') flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal safely, although Kyle Hammond (60') however saw a dangerous left wing corner, which the keeper missed, headed wide of the far post for another set-piece.

Great play (62') from Needham saw a brilliant low right wing cross towards Chambers was crucially turned just wide of the near post by a defender as Needham enjoyed a good spell of possession.

At the other end, a 65th minute shot was hit wide from the right-hand side at point blank range, before Lambe (68') was fed in space from 30-yards but curled his shot over.

Bradbrook (69') though brilliantly tipped a low near post strike back into play at his left-hand side, prior to Spalding (71') seeing two strikes from the right-hand side well blocked.

The Needham stopper then expertly dived across to palm away a strike from the right-hand side, before Needham created a good chance (73').

Great work from Appauh down the left wing saw the winger find Saunders between two defenders, the midfielder exploited space to drive into the middle and tee up Barker whose strike was blocked. Keiran Morphew picked up the rebound but fired low and wide of the far post.

A huge block (76') from Saunders denied a close range free shot at goal, prior to Hammond (79') firing wide of the far post.

A great right wing Needham cross (89') fell to Appauh who found Cowling at close range whose strike was blocked to sum up a frustrating afternoon for the Marketmen.

Needham are back on the road Tuesday, away St Bishop's Stortford (7:45pm).

Manager Tom Rothery said, "I'm really disappointed to be honest. Like I've just said to the lads, I was really looking forward to the game and just didn't think we turned up, to be honest. Didn't give ourselves an opportunity or a chance to get any points really, just for whatever reason, I'm not really sure why. Credit to them, I thought they were excellent, really front footed, really aggressive, exactly what I expected, trying to get loads of entries into our box. Despite us being aware of that, we just didn't deal with it and didn't really offer anything to give them something to worry about really. Like I said, at half-time, I'm asking for the lads to show pride and make sure it doesn't become embarrassing. There's one-sided as the first half was, so we were able to do that. You know, whether that's where they've dropped off slightly, I don't know, but we definitely showed pride and didn't allow it to become embarrassing because at half-time, you know, there was a little bit of fear that, especially when having to bring Tommy off and you're looking at a back four and obviously you've got Dan out and then Tommy out and you're three-nil down. So yeah, it could've become a really uncomfortable afternoon.

So I'm glad it hasn't. I just don't think we gave ourselves an opportunity by the way we played in the first half, to be honest.

"Ryan and Max came on and wanted to impact the game as they did on Tuesday night as well, in different circumstances, they came on and offered a bit and showed a little bit of threat. That's a positive. Like I said, and I've said that to the lads, you know, it is a positive that we haven't conceded any more in the second half, but it's a very small positive. It's just a disappointing day, really. I thought we came into it in good form and I was looking forward to see how we would match up against them. On the day, we just didn't lay a glove on them.

"At the end of the day, it's on me. I picked the team, so I don't know. I can't explain it, like I said, because I expected us to come here and threaten them. Look, I knew it would be a tough game. They play very front-footed. Like I said, they get a lot of entries into your box. I knew we had to deal with that.

That's exactly, you know, the lads are fully aware. That's what was coming as well. So there was no surprise about what they did. It was just surprising about what we offered. I can't explain it really. That's where I'll have to think about it. I'll always look at myself. So maybe it's the team I've selected. I really don't know. I can't really explain why the first half we were so passive. So, you know, like I said, I didn't think we got tight enough. I didn't think we got personal enough. We didn't try and stop what they were clearly going to do. The flip side of that is I didn't feel we threatened them at all. We didn't show anything really. Like I said to the players at half-time, the only time we really got on the ball and tried to play was reacting after the first goal and reacting after the second goal. That's not good enough. That's too little too late. So, yeah, I'm not sure really."

Rothery however is expecting a reaction on Tuesday at Bishop's Stortford, "obviously right a wrong from today, you know, that's what I've said to the players. You know, that's the beauty of football. Be disappointed, frustrated, whatever you are, and sometimes you don't want that next game to come around quickly, but I think when you've lost, it's a good thing that that game comes around quickly. I suppose the only negative is that we've picked up a few injuries or we're carrying a few injuries now. Joe's felt his hamstring. Tommy's obviously got, which we're hoping is just a dead leg, but he's not sure because he's felt, obviously, from the impact of the landing, he's felt like it was a dead leg, but his hamstring's feeling sore as well. Obviously, Dan's out today with a groin strain. So, yeah, it's not ideal. We'll assess and see what we can take and what we take to Bishop Stortford. We'll try and put in a better performance. That will certainly be the aim and the ambition for me."