NEEDHAM MARKET F.C. INTERVIEWS
Interviews and End Of Season Q&As with Needham Market F.C. players and coaching staff.
Saturday, 26 September 2026
RESERVES WIN AT WHITTLESEY
HAMMOND STUNNER HELPS MARKETMEN PROGRESS IN TROPHY
Interviews:-
Tom Rothery made one change to the team that faced Braintree Town on Tuesday, as Luke Ingram replaced Jake Dye.
Needham started on the front foot, forcing a good save from goalkeeper Hughes early on (3'), Pearce drove freely onto the left-hand side but his close range strike was smothered by Hughes, though Pearce looked to beat the keeper to the rebound going down, but the ref deems the keeper just got a touch on the ball beforehand as the midfielder went down.
Kyle Hammond (5') meanwhile gave Needham an early breakthrough, the defender was fed into space on the left-hand edge of the box to curl a stunning strike into the top far corner, making it 1-0 to the Suffolk side.
Ben Hunter (7') was picked out, in space outside the area on the right, but volleyed straight at Hughes, the hosts (10') right wing cross was headed at goal from the far post, but Bradbrook comfortably held at close range.
The Marketmen, firmly on the front foot were denied by the crossbar (12'). Excellent football from the Marketmen led to Luke Ingram being released through on the right wing to square dangerously across goal for Pearce whose close range strike went agonisingly over off the top off the bar.
Pearce (13') then drifted inside his man to shoot, from the right-hand edge of the box, but the keeper again held at his far post.
Needham (20') remained dominant and forced another stop from Hughes. Liam Pearce again latched onto onto a great long ball down the left to beat his man smartly on his way into the area to cutback for Ingram, whose low 10-yard shot across goal was held by Hughes.
The Reds continued to play great passing football, Ollie Saunders (23') is slipped through onto the left byline after neat passing between Lewis and Smith, but the former's excellent ball across goal was crucially turned just wide of the near post by a defender
Pearce headed straight at the onrushing keeper (25'), while Canvey were reduced to ten men (26') after Jack Cawley was sent off for a last man challenge on Pearce just outside the box.
Tevan Allen (27') curled over from the free-kick, though James Bradbrook (31') was off his line sharply to thwart Evans Kouassi close to goal as he twisted close to goal down the right-hand side.
Needham went close again on 38 minutes, a surging run from Ingram saw the winger break onto the right-hand byline to cutback dangerously, which saw Marcel Lewis' shot cleared out to Ben Hunter whose ferocious strike was excellently palmed away by Hughes, high to his right.
Kyle Hammond (41') lashed a great strike, after a neat one-two into sspace just outside the area, just wide of the bottom right-hand corner, prior to adamant handball penalty appeals from Needham being waved away (42'), as Hughes (43') intercepted a great ball through to Saunders.
Hammond (44') was blatantly shoved down in the area from behind, but nothing was given.
Dan Morphew (45'+2') shot over from a bicycle kick, as Needham led at the break.
Kyle Hammond (48') drove freely onto the left only for his low strike to be held by Hughes at the near post.
Bradbrook (51') swatted away a left wing free-kick, swung at goal, with the Needham defence blocking the following shot from inside the area.
Ollie Saunders (56') made way for Ryan Miles, as Canvey (59') headed a golden chance at point blank range straight at Bradbrook, after meeting a left wing cross unmarked.
Hughes (60') beat away a dangerous Needham 60th minute left wing free-kick, after McDaid was cautioned for fouling Ingram, who was replaced by Harlyn Palmer (65').
Needham went close (70'), Allen wrapped a great right wing cross into the towering Dan Morphew who headed narrowly wide of the far post.
Canvey shot narrowly wide (71'), as Needham remained on the front foot, in control of possession.
Dan Morphew (73') threaded Marcel Lewis baring down clear on goal, but the winger shot just wide of the bottom right-hand corner, while Needham (75') deservedly doubled their lead on 75 minutes.
Marcel Lewis raced through on goal, after Palmer's defence splitting pass to bundle home past the keeper!
James Coton replaced Pearce (78'), ahead of the woodwork denying Needham a third (81').
Ben Hunter's excellent run saw the midfielder cleverly play a good one-two with Lewis only to rattle the face off the crossbar with Miles' half-volley blazed narrowly over.
Kell Fiddy and Josh Curry (81') meanwhile replaced Kyle Hammond and Dan Morphew in Needham's final two changes.
Harlyn Palmer (83') then delivered a great right wing cross for Ryan Miles but the forward shot just wide of the bottom far corner.
Miles (85') shot low but straight at Hughes, who was then fed free close to goal (88') only to shoot agonisingly just wide of the bottom right-hand corner.
Lewis (91') fired straight at the keeper from the rebound after Coton's low cross was partially cleared.
Miles (92') deservedly netted a third goal for the Reds, the substitute was slipped through one-on-one down the left-hand side, by Lewis, the forward cleverly chipped the keeper into the far corner!
Needham return to Southern Central Premier Division action, after a 17 day break from league duties on Tuesday at home to Stamford AFC (7:45pm).
Canvey Island:- 1 David Hughes, 2 Rowan McDaid, 3 Dom Bobrovskij, 4 Charlie Panton, 5 Elliott Ronto (C), 6 Jack Cawley, 7 Ernest Okoh, 8 Conor Hubble, 9 Ross Wall, 10 Mitchell May, 11 Evans Kouassi (73' Akouty). Subs: 12 Jack Walker, 14 Ziggy Akouty, 15 Michael Finneran, 16 Philip Boyland, 20 Kasey Clarke.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 4 Kyle Hammond (81' Fiddy), 3 Tommy Smith, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew (81' Curry), 7 Luke Ingram (65' Palmer), 8 Ollie Saunders (56' Miles), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce (78' Coton), 16 Marcel Lewis, 17 Ben Hunter. Subs: 10 Ryan Miles, 14 Josh Curry, 15 James Coton, 18 Harlyn Palmer, 19 Kellen Fiddy.
Booked: Charlie Panton (18'), Conor Hubble (45'+1'), Rowan McDaid (60'), Ernest Okoh (64'), Tommy Smith (64').
Sent Off: Jack Cawley (26').
Goals: Kyle Hammond (5'), Marcel Lewis (75'), Ryan Miles (92').
MOTM: 4 Kyle Hammond.
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
MARKETMEN EXIT FA CUP
Reaction from Tom Rothery
Three second half goals knocked Needham Market out of the Emirates FA Cup, as Anisius Lewis' brace guided Braintree Town to a 3-0 victory.
Tom Rothery named an unchanged team from Saturday's 3-3 draw, with the Marketmen ultimately ruing big chances not falling their way with the home side taking full advantage at the other end.
Needham had a third minute long ball held by Barrett, while good run from Marcel Lewis (8') onto the left wing, deep in the Braintree half, saw the winger's dangerous cross low across the area cleared.
Needham went close in the 16th minute, Marcel Lewis broke smartly onto the left-hand byline whose excellent squared ball across the face of goal was turned just wide by Pearce, sliding in at the near post.
At the other end, Braintree (19') forced a good stop from James Bradbrook. Fletcher Hubbard drove onto a through-ball onto the right-hand side, though his near post strike was tipped over by the alert Bradbrook.
Braintree (20') had an effort from the corner deflected just wide of the bottom right-hand corner for another corner, before Kyle
Hammond's (31') left wing free-kick was creeping under the crossbar, albeit George Barrett claimed at his far post.
While Braintree had slightly more possession, Needham had the better chances.
George Evans (34') looked to latch onto a long ball close to goal, but the ball ran too close to Bradbrook to gather.
After a foul by Ben Hunter around 30-yards from his own goal, which prompted a caution, Afi Adebayo (36') fires the free-kick straight into Bradbrook's chest.
The Marketmen went agonisingly close again, Liam Pearce's (41') wrapped strike from the right-hand edge of the box wemt just wide of the bottom far corner.
The best chance at either end in the first half fell to Needham (43'),
Kyle Hammond's exquisite left wing cross was met by the towering Tevan Allen whose excellent header towards the top near corner was swatted away brilliantly by Ipswich Town loanee George Barrett.
After the restart, Marcel Lewis (47') weaved freely onto the left-hand edge of the box but shoots low and straight at Barrett.
Alex Bolovan (50') saw a dangerous free-kick blocked by the wall, while Liam Pearce (51') went agonisingly close.
Pearce was threaded clear on goal, in acres of space but shot AGONISINGLY just wide of the bottom right-hand corner.
The home side broke the deadlock (53'), harsh on the Marketmen who recieved a sucker punch having just gone close themselves, after cutback to Bolovan on the edge of the box wass wrapped home first time into the bottom far corner.
Braintree went close on 55 minutes Anisius Lewis (55') raced through but fired just wide of the bottom far corner.
Luke Ingram (56') replaced Marcel Lewis, moment before Liam Pearce again drove into the area but saw his shot blocked behind. Hammond's effort goes wide.
Needham created another good chance (60'), Keiran Morphew drifted onto the left-hand byline but his excellent cutback to Hammond was cleared.
The game was end to end until the Iron doubled their lead (63'). Anisius Lewis picked up a misplaced pass to spin through on goal and cooly finish low past Bradbrook in clinical fashion.
Ryan Miles (65') replaced Ollie Saunders, prior to Bradbrook producing a big save at full stretch across waist high to his right on 67 minutes.
Bradbrook (68') then denied a close range header from a clipped cross, a minute before Lewis netted his second goal of the night.
Anisius Lewis (69') hared down the right-hand side to fire home low into the net to pick up a quickfire brace.
Needham withdrew Dan Morphew and Pearce for Josh Curry anf James Coton (71'), ahead of Ben Hunter receiving his marching orders (73') for a second yellow card.
Bradbrook however held the resulting free-kick at his near post.
Louie Johnson (77') was fed free close to Bradbrook's right-hand post, only for the keeper to comfortably save.
Alfie Matthews (78') meanwhile latched onto the ball unmarked in the area with a golden chance to score, but his lobbed effort was weak as Bradbrook claimed.
Kell Fiddy (79') replaced Hammond, while Bradbrook dived expertly low to his right (87') to palm a shot behind, a feat he replicated mere moments later.
Needham (90') had a low shot held by the keeper, though ten man Needham exited the FA Cup following a 3-0 defeat at National League South opponents Braintree Town, but switch focus to Saturday's FA Trophy trip to Canvey Island.
Braintree Town:- 1 George Barrett, 2 Idreess Namisi, 6 Jet Dyer, 7 Courtney Senior, 8 Louie Johnson, 9 Anisius Lewis (C), 11 Fletcher Hubbard (84' Goredema), 15 Alex Bolovan (80' Okunowo), 16 Alfie Lewis (75' Swann), 20 George Evans (57' Matthews), 21 Afi Adebayo (80' Brown). Subs: 4 Reuben Swann, 10 Alfie Matthews, 12 Jacob Goredema, 18 Luis Brown, 22 Emmanuel Okunowo.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond (79' Fiddy), 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew (71' Curry), 8 Ollie Saunders (65' Miles), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce (71' Coton), 16 Marcel Lewis (56' Ingram), 17 Ben Hunter. Subs: 7 Luke Ingram, 10 Ryan Miles, 14 Josh Curry, 15 James Coton, 18 Harlyn Palmer, 19 Kellen Fiddy, 13 Charlie Skinner (GK).
Booked: Ben Hunter (35', 73'), Courtney Senior (74'), Alfie Matthews (89'),
Sent Off: Ben Hunter (73').
Goals: Alex Bolovan (53'), Anisius Lewis (63', 69').
MARKETWOMEN EXIT FA CUP
Needham Market’s FA Cup journey was brought to a shuddering halt by Eastern Regional Premier League side Haringey Borough, who delivered a 9-0 defeat at Bloomfields.
Needham competed well for the first 15 minutes but fell behind when Nia Garwood opened the scoring. Although the hosts had chances to level, a quickfire double from Connie Wakeford and Garwood gave Haringey a commanding lead before Mia Obeng added a fourth late in the half.
The goals continued to flow for the visitors after the break, with Wakeford, Renea Jarrett and Emily Pickard all finding the net before a late Bo Payne double took Haringey to the brink of double figures.
The opening stages had been competitive, with Needham looking organised defensively and threatening on the break with pace going forward.
Haringey created the early chances and began to build pressure down Needham’s left, which eventually allowed Garwood to beat two players, cut inside and drill a low finish under Danni Clarke.
The visitors threatened again, but Needham then carved out two excellent opportunities to equalise after fine work from Keira Topple. Annie Posnett was first denied by the goalkeeper before firing another effort over the bar.
As the half progressed, Needham looked firmly in the contest and would have been good value for an equaliser. However, a defensive mistake allowed Wakeford to run into space and double Haringey’s lead.
Suddenly, the game began to slip away. Garwood claimed her second with a long ball over the top, beating her marker for pace and making it 3-0 within seconds of the restart.
That quickfire double left Needham with a mountain to climb, and the task became even tougher when Obeng tapped home from close range just before the break.
Needham had gone into the tie as underdogs, and their aim for the second half was to find positives to build on. However, another mistake proved costly when Clarke spilled a shot and Wakeford reacted quickest to score her second on the rebound.
The visitors were now in full control, cutting Needham open for Jarrett to add a sixth before Pickard struck from long range to make it seven as the afternoon grew increasingly difficult for the home side.
Substitute Payne then came on and added a late brace with two composed finishes to complete the scoring.
With a few minutes remaining, Needham introduced young development midfielder Kim Stock for her first-team debut.
Needham can take positives from the game, but defensive frailties ultimately made an already difficult contest even harder.
Saturday, 19 September 2026
ALFIE OFF THE MARK FOR RESERVES IN SUFFOLK SENIOR CUP WIN
LAST MINUTE DYE EQUALISER SETS UP REPLAY AT BRAINTREE
Interviews with Jake Dye, Dan Morphew and Tom Rothery
Jake Dye's last minute header ensured that Needham Market's Emirates FA Cup tie with Braintree Town would go to a replay on Tuesday night after a pulsating 3-3 draw at Bloomfields.
Needham reverted to the same team that started against Worcester City last weekend, in which Dan Morphew's penalty just before the break gave the home side a thoroughly deserved 1-0 lead.
In truth, the Reds should've arguably been further in front at half-time, although the National League South visitors quickly took the lead after the restart.
Louie Johnson (55') and George Evans (63') made it 2-1, but for Liam Pearce (72') to burn past the defence restore parity with his seventh goal in 4 games.
Fletcher Hubbard (81') regained the Iron's lead with a well hit strike for a 3-2 lead.
With it looking like the Marketmen would rue missed chances, up stepped Jake Dye to head home in the dying embers to keep Needham in Monday's draw.
Kyle Hammond (3') whipped a great strike just wide of the far, right-hand, post.
Needham's bright start (5') saw Liam Pearce drive forward, exchanging a neat one-two with Marcel Lewis, whose neat flick round the corner but it was intercepted at the crucial moment.
George Evans' (7') left wing dangerous cross to the far post was nodded behind by Tommy Smith for a corner, ahead of Liam Pearce (9') drifting unmarked onto the left-hand byline but his smart back-heeled cut-back just evaded Marcel Lewis.
Liam Pearce (11') again looked to be a nuisance for the Iron's defence, his latest attempt to drive into the box, was just read by the defence to clear.
Needham (12') forced the first save from either keeper, Tevan Allen ran free down the left-hand side but saw his fierce tight angled strike well saved by Ipswich Town loanee George Barrett at his near post.
Marcel Lewis (14') then looked to thread Kyle Hammond through one on one, but Barrett advanced out to just beat the midfielder to the ball.
At the other end, a big save from James Bradbrook (16') denied a dangerous free-kick from 25-yards out, as Alfie Matthews' swerving set-piece was smothered away by the chest of Bradbrook.
The Marketmen (26') had the ball in the net, albeit ruled out for offside, Liam Pearce drove clear on goal, before finding the bottom far, right-hand, corner expertly.
Needham (27') remained firmly on top, Pearce was fed through into space on the left-hand edge of the box by Lewis but fired narrowly over.
Tevan Allen's (29') low driven shot from range is initially spilt by Barrett, while Kyle Hammond (30') hammered a strike at goal from the left-hand edge of the gbox but it was defelected narrowly wide.
Keiran Morphew (31') mopped up after Braintree pounced on a loose pass in the Reds' defensive area, before Lewis (32') curled a low dangerous 25-yard free-kick, from the left-hand side, round the well only for Barrett to hold at his near post.
Liam Pearce (40') raced free down the right wing, prompting a reckless sliding challenge from West Ham loanee Luis Brown - who received the first caution of the afternoon.
From the resulting free-kick, Needham were awarded a penalty (41'). Captain Keiran Morphew's header towards goal was blocked out to Dan Morphew - who lashed a shot towards goal, albeit also blocked, with Kyle Hammond fouled on the follow up.
Dan Morphew (42') put Needham into a deserved lead at the break, rifling home into the middle of the net.
Needham kept searching for a second (45'+2'), Ben Hunter wrapped a 40-yard effort narrowly wide of the near post, though the Marketmen went even closer a minute later (45'+3').
Lewis hared onto the left-hand side, only to see his low strike beaten away by Barrett at full stretch, which fell to Ollie Saunders who skewed his low shot just agonisingly wide.
Needham were full value of their lead at the interval, though Braintree made a triple switch at half-time, and fed Anisius Lewis free just outside the area whose first time volley flew over.
Braintree started the second half with a point to prove, but good defending from Tommy Smith (51') glanced Adebayo's inviting 25-yard free-kick wide of the far post for a corner.
James Bradbrook (54') claimed a cross on his line at the near post well, though Braintree equalised a minute later (55').
Substitute Louie Johnson broke free at point blank range, at the right-hand post, to find the far corner.
Braintree (63') turned the game on its head to take a 2-1 lead, pouncing on a defensive mistake at the back by the hosts, George Evans converted into an empty net.
There was action at both ends, first Needham (67') looked to get back into the game as Hammond whipped an effort into Barrett's hands.
Bolovan (67') forced Bradbrook into a sharp reaction stop, low to his right-hand side to beat a close range strike wide, as Coton (69') replaced Saunders.
The hosts however equalised on 72 minutes, Liam Pearce continued his red hot scoring form, netting his seventh goal in 4 games with a cracking strike. A long ball released the forward racing through, twisting and turning past the defence to spin and fire home brilliantly into the bottom right-hand corner!!
Braintree (75') then lofted a dangerous right wing delivery into the box from the right that bounced off a white shirt and just wide of the near post at close range.
Luke Ingram (78') was introduced for Marcel Lewis, prior to the visitors retaking the lead (81'), Fletcher Hubbard curled a stunning strike into the top left-hand corner to make it 3-2 to the higher league Irons.
Ingram (83') was threaded clear on goal but for Barett to smother away his strike, ahead of a Needham change (83') saw Harlyn Palmer replace Allen.
Ingram (92') went agonisingly close to equalising late on, the winger beat Barrett to a long ball but his looping header crashed agonisingly over off the top of the bar, ahead of Bradbrook (93') standing firm at his near, right-hand, post to block Anisius Lewis' point range strike behind.
Hubbard (96') bared down on goal but for his long range chip to be held by Bradbrook, before Jake Dye earned Needham a well deserved draw moments later.
Hammond's left wing cross back into the area was nodded home by Jake Dye ghosting in at the far post at point blank range to secure a 3-3 draw.
Both teams will therefore be in Monday's 3rd Qualifying Round draw, with the replay to take place in Essex on Tuesday (7:45pm), meaning the Marketmen's Southern League Central Premier Division trip to Leighton Town will be re-arranged for another date.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 8 Ollie Saunders (69' Coton), 11 Tevan Allen (83' Palmer), 12 Liam Pearce, 16 Marcel Lewis (78' Ingram), 17 Ben Hunter. Subs: 7 Luke Ingram, 10 Ryan Miles, 14 Josh Curry, 15 James Coton, 18 Harlyn Palmer, 19 Kellen Fiddy, 13 Charlie Skinner (GK).
Braintree Town:- 1 George Barrett, 2 Idreess Namisi, 19 Vladimir Paternoser (63' Lewis), 6 Jet Dyer, 18 Luis Brown (HT' Senior), 4 Reuben Swann, 22 Emmanuel Okunowo (HT' Bolovan), 10 Alfie Matthews (HT' Johnson), 21 Afi Adebayo, 20 George Evans (77' Hubbard), 9 Anisius Lewis (C). Subs: 11 Fletcher Hubbard, 7 Courtney Senior, 15 Alex Bolovan, 16 Alfie Lewis, 8 Louie Johnson.
Booked: Luis Brown (40').
Goals: Dan Morphew (42'pen), Liam Pearce (72'); Louie Johnson (55'), George Evans (63'), Fletcher Hubbard (81').
Needham MOTM Sponsored by Match Sponsors The Windscreen Company: 3 Tommy Smith.
Att: 410.
Friday, 18 September 2026
YOUNG MARKETMEN COMFORTABLY PROGRESS IN FA YOUTH CUP
Thursday, 17 September 2026
MARKETMEN THRASH LOWESTOFT TO PROGRESS IN PREMIER CUP
Academy graduate James Coton gave the Marketmen the lead early on (12'), netting his first senior goal for the club.
The Marketmen quickly raced into a 2-0 advantage, as Liam Pearce (15') netted his 4th goal in 3 games, before Marcel Lewis (28') saw Needham romp into a dominant lead.
Needham added a fourth (35') through Marcel Lewis for his hat-trick, ahead of further goals from Liam Pearce (37') and Marcel Lewis (40') for their second goals of the night.
Needham led 6-0 at the break, and made two substitutions with Liam Pearce and Tommy Smith replaced by Harlyn Palmer and Academy defender Tyler Wright, on for his senior debut.
Marcel Lewis netted his fourth and the seventh goal for the Reds early into the second half, with Charlie Skinner also making his senior Needham debut in place of goalkeeper James Bradbrook.
Tevan Allen meanwhile got in on the act to complete an 8-0 victory, setting up a trip to Haverhill Rovers in the second round - with the date to confirmed in due course.
Reserves captain Harry Hopkins was introduced for his senior First Team debut late on, to cap off a fantastic night for the club.
Meanwhile, the Marketmen host Braintree Town on Saturday (19th, 3pm) in the Second Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Needham:- 1 James Bradbrook (60' Skinner), 2 Jake Dye (C), 3 Tommy Smith (HT' Wright), 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Kellen Fiddy, 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce (HT' Palmer), 14 Josh Curry, 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 17 Ben Hunter. Subs: 13 Charlie Skinner, 7 Harry Hopkins, 8 Tyler Wright, 6 Dan Morphew, 18 Harlyn Palmer.
RESERVES WIN AT WHITTLESEY
Whittlesey Athletic v Needham Market Reserves | 26.09.2026 | Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties First Division North | Henry Vieira and an specta...
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Ben Smith | 2025/26 Q+A #8 | 11.05.2026 | Reserves defender Ben Smith looks back on the season. DK: How did you find the season from a pers...
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Needham Market Under-18's remain unbeaten in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Youth League Central Division, with a 5-2 win over Walsha...
