U18S REACH THE FIRST ROUND PROPER OF THE FA YOUTH CUP

Needham Market Under-18’s advanced to the First Round Proper of the FA Youth Cup for the second time in their history, following a 4-0 win over Billericay Town at Bloomfields.

The young Marketmen arguably had the better of the possession in the opening forty-five minutes, and led 1-0 at the break thanks to a well taken run and finish from Harlyn Palmer shortly after the half-hour mark.

Luke Betts’ side struck twice in ten second half minutes to all but seal a spot in the first round as James Coton (58’) swept home the second, ahead of Kellen Fiddy wrapping home a well taken third.

Evan Gledhill tapped in a late forth to wrap up passage to Friday's draw.

Needham started brightly, going close twice in the first 3 minutes. First Harlyn Palmer breaks down the right wing, albeit his smart cross just evades Evan Gledhill close to goal at the far post in the second minute, while Gledhill turned a low delivery into the six yard box just wide of the bottom far, right-hand, corner at close range a minute later.

Palmer meanwhile weaved inside, jinking smartly into space down the right wing, though his low ball towards goal is comfortably held by Strang on 6 minutes.

Billericay however enjoyed a good spell of possession and created their first chance of the night on 16 minutes, a low right wing cross just evaded a Blue shirt sliding in as Skinner collected possession.

Two minutes later, Needham went close again. Flynn Bobby was threaded through into space down the left-hand side to fire a great low strike across goal which the keeper tipped just past the post.

James Coton then drove into space in the visitors’ half, in the 20th minute, cleverly setting Palmer through on the right wing whose good low cross was cleared.

Palmer curled an effort wide of the top far corner soon after, before Tom Walker curled a first time 25-yard shot over three minutes later.

Billericay however forced the first real save of the night on 28 minutes, George Milton-White broke into space from 30-yards out to curl a stunning strike towards goal which Skinner watched all the way to expertly tip over his crossbar.

Captain Olly Reynolds then looped his header from a corner just over from close range on the half-hour mark, while Billericay fired narrowly wide of the right-hand corner a minute later.

The young Reds meanwhile broke the deadlock on 32 minutes, a great run from Harlyn Palmer saw the winger drive onto the right-hand side of the area before wrapping his shot into the bottom near corner!

Charlie Skinner claimed Reiss Lowe’s 38th minute left wing cross comfortably on his line, followed by a good right wing cross for the visitors being met at close range only to be shot narrowly over at an awkward height 5 minutes later.

After the restart, Needham won two corners in quick succession inside the first two minutes, the first of which Olly Reyolds headed off target, but earned a corner off the keeper.

Samuel Black on the other hand headed a right wing 48th minute cross off target, with Harlyn Palmer seeing a rasping low strike from the right-hand edge of the box go just wide moments later.

Great defending from Needham on 56 minutes saw Flynn Bobby and Brad Smith both deflect two dangerous balls away from goal, although the latter’s came at the expense of a corner which Skinner punched clear.

The hosts added a crucial second goal two minutes later, with great football from Needham resulting in Brad Smith’s excellent right wing cross being chested across to James Coton in acres of space to cooly find the bottom left-hand corner.

Charlie Skinner read play well to intercept a low through-ball prior to also holding onto a overhit pass on 63 minutes, although Joe Davis rifled a low unmarked strike against the front base of the near post 2 minutes later.

The away side remained keen to get the next goal of the game, forcing Skinner to dive down to hold onto an effort at goal.

Needham broke forward after that good spell for the away side, netting a key third goal on 68 minutes. Kellen Fiddy was fed inside the box to neatly turn and wrap a sumptuous strike into the bottom right-hand corner.

Superb passing play from Needham on 74 minutes almost resulted in a fourth goal. Gledhill threaded Coton clear on goal to unselfishly release Flynn Bobby one-on-one with goalkeeper Strang, but for the winger to shoot wide.

Coton was fed onto the left-hand side seconds later, only to curl just wide of the bottom far corner.

Skinner (76’) held onto a well hit low strike, while Needham added a fourth sixty seconds later. A surging run down the right wing was squared on a plate across the face of goal for Gledhill to turn home at point blank range.

Joe Davis hit the crossbar in the 79th minute, with Bobby Benmore curling narrowly over on 82 minutes.

Skinner spilt an 88th minute free-kick, though the shot from a yard out was scooped over.

The 4-0 victory also coincides with the team only conceding one goal in the competition so far.

Goalscorer Kellen Fiddy reflects on last night's win.

"Really buzzing. First time in 12 years the under-18s have got to the first round of the FA Youth Cup, so yeah, we can't be more pleased than we are. It's a real privilege. I think this group of lads is capable of doing anything and writing the history for this club, which is a really good thing."

Asked if last season's defeat in the 3rd Qualifying Round acted as a catalyst to go one better this season the midfielder said, "unfortunately, I didn't get to play last year because of an injury, but this time, yeah, contributing to getting through to the first round is such a nice feeling.

We're only going to kick on from here. We had a chat in the changing rooms after the game, said we're not a number in the first round. We want to push ourselves to get through as far as we can.

"A lovely feeling scoring in the FA Youth Cup. It never gets boring and you just want to make the most of every single game you get on there and be positive and brave, and good things come from it when you make positive decisions. And yeah, sort of took a touch, sat down my man and then slotted it in.

"(An) unreal team performance. The lads really dug deep today. It was always going to be tough getting to the first round, but I think every single round we've played, we've had good standards throughout. Only conceding one goal into the first round is a really good thing.

Having a positive start to the season, with both the Under-18's and Reserves Fiddy added, "Yeah, I mean, a good year's experience for us is always going to help and it's just mainly about kicking on now and keeping them standards high every day in training. And yeah, good things will come from it if we work hard for it. We've got Parson Drove away (for the Reserves on Saturday), never played there, but heard from the lads, the general message is that it's going to be a tough game like everyone in that league. We've just got to build on from today and get recovery in tomorrow and work hard to make sure the shape and everything's right for Saturday."

Fiddy however is hoping for a home game in the First Round Proper, wanting to have the Needham supporters there behind them. "We'd love to play at home, get the Needham Market fans down and put on a good show for them again, as we have done throughout, but anyone, we'll take it to them, no matter who it is. Just, the team we play on the day is the team we're going to beat."

On how much of a boost tonight will be going into Saturday's game, he replied, "massive. Just the morale when you come in the next day is just so high and it really brings the team closer together. Even though we are so tight, it just brings us, yeah, a lot closer together."