MARKETMEN RECORD FOURTH WIN OVER BRAKES TO SNEAK INTO PLAY OFFS

Leamington v Needham Market | 17.10.2026 | The Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division Game 12 | Our Co-Op Community Stadium |

Assistant Manager Nathan Munson, Luke Ingram and double goalscorer MOTM Ryan Miles discuss the 2-1 win at Leamington.

 

Needham had won 3 of their 4 previous meetings with Leamington, 2 of those victories away 1-0. Jamie McGrath (74') away on Saturday 24th February 2024, after Luke Ingram (18') and Tevan Allen (27') secured a 2-1 win on Tuesday 5th December 2023 as both sides won promotion to step 2. The two met again in that division with Ingram (61'pen) securing a win on the road on Tuesday 26th November 2024, ahead of a 1-1 draw at home on Tuesday 25th February 2025 - Reggie Lambe (68') on target that evening.

Needham went into the fifth meeting between the two sides in ninth position, just outside the play-off places by two points (17 points with 5 wins in 11 games), while the hosts sat 15th (10 points from 11 matches with 2 wins). Leamington had won once in five home league outings in 2026/27, drawing 3 (goal difference of 8-5), while Needham had 3 wins from 5 league away trips picking up 9 points (goal difference of 13-9).

Tom Rothery named an unchanged team that smashed Bury Town 5-0 away on Tuesday, with the only alterations seeing Jake Dye and Reserves captain Harry Hopkins on the bench, and Ollie Saunders drop out through injury.

GOALS/RED CARDS/FLOW OF GAME
MOTM Ryan Miles' (2') seventh goal of the campaign gave Needham the lead early on, though Chris Wreh (18') looped a shot in to equalise for the Brakes.

Ryan Miles (20') however pounced on poor defensive judgement to double his and Needham's tally to make it 2-1 to the Suffolk side, who went into the interval 2-1 up after an even opening 45 minutes.

The game ended with ten men as Dan Morphew (58') was dismissed for a last man trip for the Marketmen, while Chris Wreh (77') was shown a red card for the Brakes after a foul on Kyle Hammond. Needham arguably remained the better side throughout and held on for a 2-1 victory and a fourth in fifth meetings.

The Markemen (2') won an early right wing corner through Liam Pearce, which created the opening goal of the game. Tevan Allen's set-piece was flicked by Dan Morphew leaping freely at the near post onto an unmarked Ryan Miles to glance home his 7th league goal of the campaign into the bottom far corner with the first attack of the afternoon.

James Bradbrook (6') held onto a shot straight at him, as a long ball towards Luke Ingram was claimed by Brian Okonkwo (9') slightly off his line.

Luke Ingram (17') was well placed to block Owen Farmer's ferocious low volley destined to find the bottom right-hand corner wide via the post, though the Brakes levelled from the folowing set-piece (18').

Chris Wreh looped a downward header over Bradbrook and into the roof of the net.

Netting his third goal in two games, Ryan Miles restored Needham's lead almost instantly (20'), defender slips receiving a pass at the back inviting Miles in as he sends the keeper early to slide into an empty net, 2-1 Needham!

Tommy Smith was forced off with injury (28') as Jake Dye was introduced, though Owen Farmer (30') met a left wing cross on the far side but volleyed wide, of the bottom right-hand corner, into the side-netting.

Keiran Morphew (33') was the first recipient of a caution, after a foul which prompted fury from the Brakes, while Luke Ingram (34') lashed a low strike - from in space on the right-hand edge of the box - narrowly wide of the bottom far corner.

Leamington (40') whipped a dangerous right wing cross in that flashed and dipped just wide of the bottom far corner, in an even and end-to-end first half.

After Nathan Kabeya slid in dangerously on Pearce (43'), advantage was cleverly played as Miles drove onto the edge of the box but for Nat Kelly to get in the way and block the well hit hat-trick opportunity.

Raj Palit (45'+1') fired over from just outside the area, as Needham led 2-1 at the break courtesy of Ryan Miles' brace (2', 20').

After the restart, Owen Farmer (48') dragged his shot low and narrowly wide of the far, left-hand, corner after being teed up in space.

At the other end, after neat play from Liam Pearce, Allen (49') jinked into space on the left-hand edge of the area, but lashed his low shot just wide into the near side-netting.

Raj Palit (51') was fed free outside the box, following captain Finn's run and low delivery, only to skew his shot wide, as Kyle Hammond (52') saw a 20-yard shot blocked.

Ryan Miles (53') was booked, while an injury to Ben Hunter saw Marcel Lewis (55') take his place.

Leamington fired wide (57'), while Dan Morphew was sent off a minute later for a trip on the edge of his own box.

James Bradbrook (60') stepped smartly across to his far, left-hand, corner, to hold the free-kick.

Bradbrook (67') held Tonge's glancing header towards the far corner from a left wing cross, as Ryan Miles (68') raced into space down the left wing reaching the near byline close to goal dangerously to pull the ball back on a plate for a certain goal, though no Navy Needham shirt was around to capitalise.

Despite the man disadvantage, Needham still posed a threat. Substitute Marcel Lewis drew the keeper out to tee up Liam Pearce (70'), who was denied by the onrushing Brian Okonwo, while his follow up effort was blocked on the line by Flanagan.

Harlyn Palmer replaced Ryan Miles (72'), although the home side were also reduced to ten men on 77 minutes.

Leamington goalscorer Chris Wreh was dismissed for a foul on Hammond by the Needham dugout inside his own half.

Ingram (80') was booked, while Harlyn Palmer (86') whipped a first time right wing cross towards the six yard box but into Okonkwo's chest.

Needham (91') went close twice in quick sucession. Pearce drove forward to slip Lewis through on the left whose shot was blocked by the advancing Okonkwo, though the winger curled narrowly wide of the top far corner moments later.

A good stop from Bradbrook (93') denied the hosts an equaliser, the stopper dived expertly low to his far, left-hand, corner to hold onto a low strike across goal from distance,

Needham, who sneak into the final play-off spot (7th) secured aa hard fought second straight away win inside a week, also making it three wins away at Leamington, with Ryan Miles' first half brace the difference!

Needham host Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday (7:45pm) in the first of three consecutive games at Bloomfields in all competitions.

Leamington:- 1 Brian Okonkwo, 3 Callum Cockerill-Mollett, 4 Nat Kelly, 7 Kai Tonge, 9 Chris Wreh, 10 Kyle Finn (C), 11 Owen Farmer (72' Arthur), 15 Iddriss Fuseini, 16 Josh Flanagan, 20 Raj Palit, 21 Nathan Kabeya (76' Wright). Subs: 6 Cameron Eubank, 8 Luke Pennell, 14 Koby Arthur, 19 Kyle Belmonte, 24 Andre Wright.

Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 3 Tommy Smith (28' Dye), 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram, 10 Ryan Miles (72' Palmer), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 17 Ben Hunter (55' Lewis), 19 Kell Fiddy. Subs: 2 Jake Dye, 14 Harry Hopkins, 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 18 Harlyn Palmer.

Booked: Keiran Morphew (33'), Nathan Kabeya (43'), Ryan Miles (53'), Luke Ingram (80').
Sent Off: Dan Morphew (58'), Chris Wreh (77').
Goals: Chris Wreh (18'); Ryan Miles (2', 20').
Needham MOTM: 10 Ryan Miles. 

RUTHLESS MARKETMEN PEARCE BURY HOME RECORD IN FIVE GOAL DEMOLITION

Bury Town v Needham Market | 13.10.2026 | Southern League Central Premier Division Game 11 | OCS Ram Meadow Stadium |

MOTM Liam Pearce discusses his hat-trick, while Manager Tom Rothery looks back on an empathic away win.

 

Needham Market returned to winning ways with a statement 5-0 win away at Suffolk Rivals Bury Town.

Tom Rothery made two changes from Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Anstey Nomads - Dan Morphew and Ryan Miles returned to the starting eleven in place of Ollie Saunders and Marcel Lewis (both on the bench).

Liam Pearce continued his red hot scoring streak, with a hat-trick (4', 45'+1', 78'), taking his Needham goal tally to eleven in ten appearances - with six goals in league matches. Luke Ingram (17') - with his second league goal of the campaign - and Ryan Miles - who now has four goals in as many games, six all together in the league and seven in total - completed an outstanding performance and result in West Suffolk.

The Blues had won all four of their prior league outings at the OCS Ram Meadow Stadium, sitting second in the league table with one prior defeat in ten outings before Tuesday night, while the Marketmen had won four of their ten games.

Needham raced out of the blocks, with Ryan Miles creating mayhem down the Bury right-hand side.

After muted penalty appeals from the winger's first dart dangerously into the area (2'), Miles ('3') raced onto the Needham left-hand side to cutback to an unmarked Liam Pearce - who weaved into space but his shot was deflected crucially behind by Lewis O'Malley.

MOTM Liam Pearce swiftly opened the scoring (4'), and netted his fourth league goal of the season totalling 9 goal in his last ten Needham appearances to mark a dominant front foot start from the Marketmen.

The forward latched onto the loose ball, with Miles again involved, to expertly unleash a powerful half-volley brilliantly into the far corner, to make it 1-0 Needham!

Pearce (6') then rifled narrowly over from the edge of the box, unopposed.

Needham remained on top (15'), Ben Hunter drove into space outside the box but saw his shot blocked away by Tommy Smith.

17' INGERSS!!!!!!

The Reds made their possession and threat count, doubling their lead in the 17th minute. An excellent long ball over the top threaded Luke Ingram through on the right-hand side to beat the defender - drawing Beckwith off his line only to poke past the keeper and into the far corner via the inside of the post!

Hammond (18') fired just wide of the left-hand post from distance, catching Beckwith off his line, ahead of the midfielder (19') forcing a big save from the Bury goalkeeper.

Hammond's ferocious 25-yard free-kick was tipped just wide by Beckwith sharply up to his right-hand corner.

Tommy Smith (22') fired just wide from close range on the right-hand side, as Needham remained relentless.

Bury meanwhile had a good spell of possession (23'), drawing two big saves from James Bradbrook, with Needham otherwise restricting Bury to very few major chances.

Bradbrook quickly dived down smartly at his near, left-hand, post to thwart Bury at the expense of a corner, followed by another important save from the Needham stopper.

A mistake at the back invited Tommy Hughes to drive through but his attempted dink over the onrushing Bradbrook was excellently swatted away.

A crucial defensive block (43') preserved Needham's 2 goal advantage as the interval beckoned, which Liam Pearce made the visitors' lead even more comfortable with his second goal of the night just prior to half-time (45'+1').

Tevan Allen broke onto the right to tee up the forward in space to jink closer to the edge of the area and wrap an exquisite finish into the top far corner for Needham's third of the night.

After going into the break with a commanding lead, Needham still looked to inflict more damage on their high flying hosts.

After Ally Conway (56') blazed a free-kick comfortably wide of the far post, Needham netted a fourth goal on 64 minutes.

Ryan Miles marked a fine performance by latching onto a great ball down the left-hand side, expertly nutmeg the onrushing Beckwith to pick out the near corner!

The winger nearly repeated the feat two minutes later, though this time - from an even acuter angle and closer range - saw his shot beaten behind by Beckwith guarding his near post.

The home stopper then thwarted Dan Morphew (71') from poking home following a corner, just clawing it away on the goal-line, with his opposite number James Bradbrook soon on hand to deny ex-Needham Academy graduate and 100 appearance maker Seth Chambers from getting a consolation goal for Cole Skuse's side (73').

The striker raced through close to goal, only for James Bradbrook to narrow down the angle and smother his shot.

Needham withdrew Keiran Morphew and Luke Ingram (75') for Marcel Lewis and Harlyn Palmer, shortly before Liam Pearce (78') went close to a hat-trick.

The forward twisted into space to shoot albeit Ethan Mayhew deflected his strike just wide of the near, right-hand, post, into the side-netting.

Moments later, from the resulting set-piece, Liam Pearce completed his hat-trick, rifling home into the bottom left-hand, near, corner to make it 5-0 to Needham.

James Coton replaced Ryan Miles (80'), as Needham picked up a third league win in six matches, and a first league victory in three outings, with a third away success in five games.

Needham travel to Leamington (15th) on Saturday (3pm).

Bury Town:- 1 Charlie Beckwith, 2 Joe White, 5 Tommy Smith, 6 Lewis O'Malley (55' Carroll), 7 Max Maughn, 8 Tommy Hughes (33' Jolland), 9 Ollie Canfer (C) (55' Chambers), 10 George Quantrell (72' Flowers), 12 Ally Conway, 14 Ethan Mayhew, 15 Jamie McGrath (68' Ford). Subs: 3 Joe Carroll, 4 Ryan Jolland, 11 Tayos Flowers, 16 Seth Chambers, 17 Sam Ford.


Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C) (75' Lewis), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram (75' Palmer), 10 Ryan Miles (80' Coton), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 17 Ben Hunter, 19 Kell Fiddy. Subs: 8 Ollie Saunders, 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 18 Harlyn Palmer.

Booked: Lewis O'Malley (19'), Kyle Hammond (59').

Goals: Liam Pearce (4', 45'+1', 78'), Luke Ingram (17'), Ryan Miles (64').

Att: 982.

Needham MOTM: 12 Liam Pearce.

SECOND HALF COMEBACK SECURES DRAW FOR WOMEN

Cambridge City Women v Needham Market Women | 11.10.2026 |

A late Anna Sullivan strike salvaged a brilliant come back point in a thrilling 3-3 draw away at Cambridge City.

It has been tough start to the season for the team and that looked to continue as they found themselves 3-1 down at the break thanks to goals from Jess Morley, Tilly Almeida-King and Sophie Billing.

Skipper Mia Etheridge-Golding had pulled one back at 2-0 before the second half comeback that was started by Chloe Brame before Sullivan’s late intervention earning a deserved point.

As has been the trend so far this season, Needham started slowly and found themselves behind after only a few minutes again, with captain Morley converting an early spot kick given for handball against Lexie Debenham.

The lead was doubled within the first 10 minutes as Almeida-King was played through and she made no mistake as like last week the task was becoming a tall order so early on. 

But Needham did settle into the game without further damage and got themselves a foothold thanks to Etheridge-Golding scoring a captain’s header from a pinpoint Ella Edwards corner.

They were back into it for about a minute and then conceded again as Billing was played through this time and scored proving you can be most vulnerable when you have just scored yourselves.

But from that point the away side took more control of the game and could have reduced the arrears just before the break when Chelsea Brett was denied from range.

Needham were in the same position as last week and needed an early goal to avoid the same result and they went close early when the keeper denied Edwards.

But the pressure was growing and it eventually told from a brilliant ball from Etheridge-Golding that Brame got to first and managed to chip over the on-rushing keeper into the empty net.

Chances came and went and it looked like another week where the slow start was going to be too much to get back.

But not this week as Sullivan picked up a second ball at the edge of the area and on the turn, she smashed one high into the top right-hand corner to spark euphoric celebrations on the touchline. 

Although it wasn’t a winner the comeback showed great strength of character and could well be the catalyst for Needham to well and truly start making a move up the table. 

The development team got a resounding 7-1 league cup win against Suffolk championship side Ipswich Wanderers at Bloomfields.

Progression to the next round was emphatic thanks to braces from Eve Boggis and Lola Hunting with further goals for Montana Smith, Rhianna Kiwomya and Megan Mcrae-Robinson as she continues her comeback from injury.