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TWO FIRST HALF GOALS SEND NEEDHAM TOP AT BLOOMFIELDS


Needham Market go top of the Pitching In Southern League Central Premier Division table following a 2-1 nervy win over Leamington at Bloomfields.


Kevin Horlock's side were once again unchanged from Saturday's 2-1 win at Barwell, with the third placed Brakes making one change to their own starting eleven.


While Henry Landers saw a shot denied by Needham keeper Marcus Garnham early on, Dylan Williams' quick right wing throw in, near Leamington's box, fed Jacob Lay smartly who kept possession well who in turn returned the ball to Williams free on the byline whose dangerous cutback to Tevan Allen was cleared on 8 minutes.


The Marketmen though went in front on 18 minutes, a great ball over the top released Luke Ingram one on one on goal, who cleverly chipped the onrushing goalkeeper before beating him to make sure from point blank range to head into the net for his seventh league goal of the season.


The Brakes however drew level four minutes later as a left wing free-kick found Streete unmarked at the near post who peeled away well to glance home into the roof of the net.


Needham meanwhile went back in front on 27 minutes, which proved to be the winner, Quaynor pulled back Jacob Lay running through right on the left-hand edge of the box, with the resulting free-kick seeing Tevan Allen play it to Dylan Williams to trap it dead for the midfielder to smartly whip it over the wall, dipping into the bottom far corner for his 4th league goal of the season, and 7th in all competitions, before being substituted having already injured his shoulder.


The first half was a tight affair with very few clear cut chances, with Luke Ingram spotting the goalkeeper off his line on 31 minutes, although his 50-yard lob was claimed well by the goalkeeper.


After the restart, the Marketmen were forced to withstain a fair amount of pressure from the visitors, but did also create chances of their own, as Reece Harris swung an exquisite right wing corner across to the far post dangerously, albeit nobody was there to take advantage on 55 minutes. 


At the other end, Ewan Williams' cutback to ex-professional, and subtitute, Tyrone Barnett saw the latter just unable to control the ball from close range.


Kyle Hammond then picked up possession 30-yards out from the Brakes' goal, on the left-hand side, but his fierce shot was well held by the well positioned keeper at his top near corner on the hour mark, while Seth Chambers broke onto the left-hand edge of the box - two minutes later - only to curl and dip a sumptuous strike just wide of the top far corner.


A brilliant save from Marcus Garnham however thwarted the visitors' superbly in the 65th minute, a right wing cross picked out Barnett free from point blank range whose first time volley was brilliantly smothered by the quick reactions of the Needham goalkeeper, while Dylan Williams drove through the visitors' half before firing his shot narrowly over from distance after 69 minutes.


Kyle Hammond meanwhile picked up possession just inside his own half before running all the way through the visitors' half onto the right-hand edge of the box, where his fierce low shot across goal was comfortably held by the diving goalkeeper on 79 minutes.

 

At the other end, Barnett again went close for the away side on 87 minutes, the ball dropped kindly for the forward free outside the box whose volley went just wide of the bottom near, left-hand, corner, before a heroic block from captain Keiran Morphew thwarted the visitors from grabbing a point in the 89th minute, an unmarked shot in the box was arrowing into the bottom right-hand corner before the Needham defender launched himself in the way of the shot to keep it out. 


Barnett again went close for Leamington in the third minute of five added minutes, this time heading wide as Needham held on to record an important three points to go top in their first of three consecutive home matches, with 16th placed Suffolk Rivals Leiston at home on Saturday (3pm).

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