Southern League Central Premier Division side Needham Market did themselves proud despite a 2-0 defeat at Sky Bet EFL League One basement side Burton Albion.
Needham manager Kevin Horlockade two changes for the biggest game in the club's history, which saw 370 away supporters made the trip, captain Keiran Morphew returned from a month out injured at the heart of the defence in place of Hugh Cullum, while midfielder Noah Collard started in place of forward Jamie McGrath. Archie Exworth and Finlay Shorten bolstered the substitutes bench, with both teams able to make 5 changes from a maximum of nine substitutes.
Despite the four divisions difference, the Marketmen defended well and were arguably unlucky to lose 2-0, though captain Keiran Morphew felt his side 'rushed possession' at times.
While Jake Dye's blocked pass earned the Marketmen an early throw-in after 38 seconds, Patrick Brothers took no prisoners as the midfielder accidentally snapped the corner flag in the process of preventing a corner at the expense of a throw-in in the 5th minute.
Deji Oshilaja meanwhile had the first chance of real note for the hosts after 8 minutes, Tom Hamer's dangerous right wing long throw picked out the home captain free inside the box, though his glancing header went just wide of the top far corner.
A strong challenge from ex-Manchester United Academy player Cameron Borthwick was arguably lucky to escape a booking after 10 minutes, whilst a dangerous Needham right wing cross into Viljami Sinisalo's six yard box was well claimed by the home shot-stopper, two minutes later.
The Marketmen kept the higher league Brewers at bay well, with the Suffolk side donning a one off Red and Black souvenir kit, with the player's names on the back of their individual shirts, having a good opportunity on 14 minutes.
Kyle Hammond won back possession with a sliding challenge down the right wing before playing a neat one two with Ross Crane, only for his low cross to be well cleared.
Two minutes later both sides had a decent chance, first Patrick Brothers' headed flick on nearly released Jacob Lay through one on one with goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, although the latter was off his line well to intercept and gather possession.
Burton then broke down the other end, as Adeboyejo's low cross in was cleared away by Keiran Morphew.
And in the eighteenth minute, Needham goalkeeper Marcus Garnham thwarted the hosts with a superb save - Adeboyejo exploited space down the left-hand side of the visitors' penalty area, having been picked out by Charlie Lakin's left wing cross, to fire a good low strike across goal from close range, drawing a big diving stop from Garnham, with Dan Morphew on hand to crucially clear the rebound off the line.
Garnham again denied the home side with another good piece of goalkeeping in the 21st minute, a long left wing throw in was flicked on into the danger area at the near post by Deji Oshilaja, though Garnham was alert to claim the ball well.
The Needham number 1 was at his best twice more, keeping Burton at bay with 2 great stops in the space of a minute.
Lakin's left wing cross found Deji Oshilaja in acres of space on the edge of the box, though his rasping strike on the half-volley was tipped over well by Garnham, after 30 minutes. Lakin himself then found space on the left-hand edge of the box, but his fierce low shot, which was creeping into the near post, was matched by a brilliant quick diving stop by the 'keeper.
The League One side did break through the resistant Needham defence however in the 34th minute.
Keillor-Dunn's cross was partially headed away by Kyle Hammond, but only as far as Deji Oshilaja, whose close range strike was well smothered by the advancing Garnham, albeit falling back to the Brewers' captain to smash home his third goal of the campaign, and first ever in the FA Cup, on the rebound into a gaping net, 1-0 Burton.
Terry Taylor then found space down the left-hand side of the Needham box, only to blast his shot well over the bar on 38 minutes.
It was clear to see how the Marketmen had only conceded one goal in the FA Cup this season, prior to this tie, with the visiting defence proving a sturdy test for Burton to break down. Smith found space on the edge of the box but for his shot to be deflected behind for a corner.
The resulting set-piece meanwhile was headed away by Keiran Morphew, albeit only as far as Lakin whose 30-yard shot with the outside of his right foot dipped just over the top far left-hand corner after 39 minutes.
The home side again tested the home defence a minute into first half stoppage time, Smith broke into space down the centre only to bend a good low strike just wide of Garnham's near post from the left-hand edge of the box.
In the second half, the Reds remained well and truly still in the game, keeping their hosts to just the one goal until the very last kick of the game, with Borthwick-Jackson's low shot from just outside the box being blocked behind the near post for a corner by some good defending, just after the restart.
The Marketmen did have a good chance on the other hand after 55 minutes, Ross Crane was threaded through dangerously before cutting inside onto the edge of the box, only to see his low shot well blocked.
At this point, the visitors were enjoying a good spell of possession, but just couldn't quite find an equaliser.
At the other end, Oshilaja was threaded through one on one with Garnham down the left-hand side of the box, but fired his shot wide of the bottom far corner on 63 minutes.
Needham then broke quickly, winning a corner, though Crane's set-piece, swung dangerously into the six yard box, was claimed by the goalkeeper on his goal-line.
Five minutes later, Luke Ingram found space to fire a good strike from 30-yards out, but his fierce effort was well blocked, while Burton saw a low shot well blocked by captain Keiran Morphew, with the rebound effort fired miles wide of the bottom near corner after 70 minutes.
Sam Hughes then towered highest to meet a Burton right wing corner, two minutes later, but his header towards goal was blocked.
Garnham was on hand again to deny Burton in the 85th minute, Adeboyejo broke through into space down the left-hand side of the box only to see his effort was well smothered behind for a corner.
At the other end, the Marketmen had a brilliant double chance to grab a late equaliser on 90+4 minutes, Garnham's long ball was flicked onto FA Cup debutant Seth Chambers, who was in acres of space, albeit the striker's low on target shot was blocked. The loose ball then fell perfectly for the advancing Jake Dye whose goal-bound effort was crucially blocked, with Needham earning another corner.
Christian Frimpong met the set-piece at the far post, but could only agonisingly shoot over from close range.
Burton however hit Needham with a sucker punch second goal to seal their spot in the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup, a dagger blow for the Reds saw the hosts break on the counter with Powell threaded through on goal, with just the advancing Garnham to beat, before cooly finishing into the bottom left hand corner, 2-0.
That was the last kick of a fairly entertaining cup tie, though ending in a valiant defeat for the visitors who put in a good performance in front of 370 loud and proud Needham supporters in the biggest game in their history.
It's a quick turnaround for the Marketmen, who return to Southern League Central Premier Division action when they welcome league leaders Tamworth on Tuesday (8th November, 7:45pm) to Bloomfields.
Burton Albion:-
24 Viljami Sinisalo
3 Cameron Borthwick-jackson
4 Deji Oshilaja (c)
5 Sam Hughes
8 Adrian Mariappa (71' Onyango)
10 Davis Keillor-Dunn (61' Powell)
11 Jonny Smith
14 Victor Adeboyejo
19 Charlie Lakin (61' Carayol)
23 Terry Taylor
37 Tom Hamer
Subs:
24 Ben Garratt
7 Joe Powell
12 Tyler Onyango
21 Mustapha Carayol
25 Ciaran Gilligan
38 Michael Mancienne
39 Bobby Kamwa
Needham Market:-
1 Marcus Garnham
2 Kyle Hammond
3 Jake Dye
14 Christian Frimpong
5 Keiran Morphew (c)
6 Daniel Morphew
7 Jacob Lay (58' Bennett)
8 Noah Collard (58' Fitzgerald)
9 Luke Ingram
10 Patrick Brothers (78' Chambers)
11 Ross Crane (89' Knights)
Subs:
12 Hugh Cullum
15 Harry Knights
16 Tom Fitzgerald
17 Kaan Bennett
18 Taylor Clark
19 Seth Chambers
20 Jamie McGrath
21 Archie Exworth
13 Finlay Shorten (GK)
Attendance: 1989 (370 NMFC).
Goals: Oshilaja (34'), Powell (90'+6').
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