STALEMATE AT STANWAY FORCES TUESDAY REPLAY AT BLOOMFIELDS

 Stanway Rovers v Needham Market | 05.09.2026 | Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round |

https://youtu.be/tgX3HnLdm-A?is=bd0lGo99nOPInHlq

 

A goalless draw with very few clear cut chances at Stanway Rovers, requires a replay at Bloomfields on Tuesday to see who will make it to the Second Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Captain Keiran Morphew, Luke Ingram and Joe Neal missed out through injury, while Harlyn Palmer dropped out through illness, as Dan Morphew, Ben Hunter and Ryan Miles returned to the starting eleven.

While Stanway started the brighter, Needham (5') grew into the game quickly, a good long ball from Josh Curry earned a throw, which Ollie Saunders broke forward into space but his cross was headed away.

Great defending from Dan Morphew headed Holly's shot at goal after working space to shoot (7').

At the other end (8'), Liam Pearce droves onto the left-hand byline, though a perfect sliding challenge cuts it out for a corner, though Hammond's corner (9') was headed wide by Morphew at the far post.

In a game of very few clear cut chances, Bradbrook (10') advanced off his line smartly to claim a long ball into the box.

Charlee Hughes (17') was booked for a foul on Dan Morphew.

Needham (20') grew on top, Liam Pearce's left wing long throw at goal was punched away by Curtis-Henry on his line, ahead of Josh Curry (23') meeting Kyle Hammond's right wing free-kick into a great area but couldn't turn it goal-wards.

The Marketmen (24') worked the ball around smartly, Curry looked to stab the ball home from close range but for a crucial defensive block.


The Reds kept creating good chances, great play from Tevan Allen and Miles (26') retained possession high in the Rovers half, Ben Hunter fed Allen down the right wing whose great low cross was turned over by Pearce.

Pearce teed up Hammond (33'), whose low first time strike looked destined to find the bottom right corner, albeit the home defence blocked.

Stanway (36') weaved into space to shoot but fired wide of the bottom left-hand corner, before Hammond (37') opened space on the right-hand edge of the box only to fire narrowly wide of the bottom far corner.

A flurry of good chances fell to the visitors (40'), Liam Pearce's long throw - this time on the right wing - was again punched away by Curtis-Henry, falling to Ollie Saunders just outside the area whose low driven strike was blocked as far as Dan Morphew who lashed a ferocious strike just over.

While Needham dominated possession, and looked the likelier to score, no team had provided a shot on target at the interval, Lewis replaced Smith.

After the break, Marcel Lewis' (53') left wing free-kick on the edge of the area was punched away by Curtis-Henry - launching off his line - while Lewis skewed a shot low and wide moments later.

Holly (60') was booked, as Curtis-Henry rushed off his line to scoop a great defence splitting pass ahead of the arriving Red shirt.

Great football from Needham (65') saw the Suffolk side create another good opportunity, in a game that still lacked a cutting edge at either end. Dye was threaded free down the right wing to find Allen, the midfielder teed up Lewis but again the low strike was blocked.

The Marketmen forced the first save of real note (69'), Pearce was slid through onto the left-hand side whose great strike at close range was beaten away by Curtis-Henry.

Ryan Miles (75') fired over from just outside the box, before winning a penalty moments later.
The winger bared down on goal down the right-hand side, drawing Curtis-Henry out to save, who then took out the forward with his outstretched hand as he looked to latch onto the loose ball.

Curtis-Henry (79') however made amends, diving sharply to his left-hand side to beat away Dan Morphew's spot-kick.

Coton (80') replaced Miles, as Pearce (82') drove into space on the right outside the area, but his shot was blocked.

After Pearce (83') was offside as his shot was charged down by the keeper, play was pulled back for a foul on Lewis, which Hammond's resulting 30-yard free-kick, from the left, picked out Dan Morphew unmarked (84') who glanced his looping header over.

Ryan Charles (87') then jinked onto the left-hand side, forcing an important block from Jake Dye, as Noah Hayes (92') had a curling free-kick held by Bradbrook after a caution for Dye.

Needham went agonisingly close in the third minute of additional time, Marcel Lewis' looping effort dipped agonisingly back into play off the top off the crossbar, with the tie ending goalless, meaning that the two teams will face each other again at Bloomfields on Tuesday (7:45pm).

The draw for the 2nd Qualifying Round will take place at 1pm on Monday.

Stanway Rovers:- 1 Dion Curtis-Henry, 5 Kenedi Dirari, 3 Will Hayes, 8 Sam Carter (50' Cutbush), 7 George Holly, 11 Matthias Fanimo (C), 9 Charlee Hughes, 10 Ryan Charles, 14 Noah Monsanya, 6 Hedley Ogrebor, 2 Josh Parker (63' Heard). Subs: 4 Fraser Heard, 12 Jude Carolan, 15 Alfie Cutbush, 16 Joe Paxman, 17 Harley Curtis, 18 Noah Hayes, 19 Oliver Corps. 70' 16 on ft, 71 11 off Curtis on

Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 3 Tommy Smith (45'+1' Lewis), 4 Kyle Hammond, 6 Dan Morphew (C), 8 Ollie Saunders, 10 Ryan Miles (80' Coton), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 14 Josh Curry, 17 Ben Hunter. Subs: 13 Charlie Skinner (GK), 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 19 Kellen Fiddy.

Booked: Hughes (17'), Holly (60'), Dye (91')
Goals:

CHANDLER'S LATE WINNER SENDS NEEDHAM THROUGH TO FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND OF THE FA YOUTH CUP

Needham Market U18 v Soham Town Rangers U18 | 03.09.2026 | Bloomfields | FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round |


Aden Chandler's 87th minute winner sent Needham Market Under-18's through to the First Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup, after an entertaining 3-2 victory over Soham Town Rangers at Bloomfields.

Soham led at the half-time break after an early goal (7'), following a goal-line clearance and hitting the crossbar.

Top scorer Dawson Coldwell (49'), who now has 5 goals in his last 3 games, levelled proceedings shortly after the restart, reacting quickest after his initial shot was saved. Kyle Roper's stunning low curling finish (64') gave the young Reds a 2-1 advantage, but for Max Green (67') to soon equalise one on one.

Aden Chandler (87') promptly settled the tie, to avoid a penalty shoot-out, slotting home neatly after Alex Breeden's shot was saved by the goalkeeper.

The visitors however started on the front foot, Vincent Miller (2') saw an early shot well blocked by Tyler Wright, as Oscar Kaloo's (4') half-volleyed shot on the left-hand side was well blocked and cleared.

Soham (5') swiftly broke the deadlock, the visitors' left wing corner was pushed away by Jake Bloom, off his line, the following header was hooked off the line expertly by Grimmer, as the rebound cannoned back off the top of the crossbar only to be turned home at point blank range.

Soham (11') went close to a second, Max Green spotted Bloom off his line but his clever 30-yard chipped strike went just wide of the top right-hand corner.

At the other end, Needham had a half-chance (15'), a great cross-field ball picked out Aden Chandler on the right wing to drive into space to shoot low at the near post, which Owen Taylor held after initially spilling.

Needham gradually grew into the game, Josh Tennial (21') worked space to shoot from 20-yards out but his effort was blocked.

Tyler Wright and Alex Breeden combined smartly down the left wing (29') as the latter earned a corner, whch just evaded Dawson Coldwell unmarked at the far post at close range.

Alex Breeden (33') then weaved past two markers, although he was dispossessed just before he could thread Coldwell through on goal, as Leyton Coote had an effort blocked a minute later.

Aden Chandler (35') drove into space onto the right-hand edge of the box, only to skew his shot narrowly wide of the bottom far corner, while Breeden's (38') left wing cross-shot was diverted behind by the keeper.

Needham shot narrowly wide on 39 minutes, while a big stop from Jake Bloom (43') thwarted Green.

The winger drove through onto the left-hand side albeit his fierce strike was expertly beaten behind, with Bloom on hand to hold following the corner.

Oscar Kaloo (45') was fed just outside the box but his low shot was straight at Bloom, before Soham (45'+1') fired just wide of the bottom right-hand corner in the penultimate touch before the interval, at which Soham led by a goal to nil.

After the break, Needham quickly got back on level terms, good shielding from Fenton Grimmer (49') to hold off his man to allow Bloom to gather, the goalkeeper kicked a brilliant ball over the top to release Coldwell through one on one whose initial shot was saved by the onrushing keeper, but was on hand to net the rebound, finding the bottom right-hand corner.

Swiftly after, the home side went close (50'), Aden Chandler ghosted free down the left-hand byline but the ball just evaded Coldwell.

Galvanised by the goal, Luke Betts' side went close again (51'), Josh Tennial was the latest to break through on the left byline to square dangerously across goal but the ball flashed away, as Tennial then watched an effort deflected away from goal.

The young Reds continued to create a flurry of chances, Alex Breeden (54') met a left wing corner at the far post but Taylor parried it away from close range, ahead of Bloom (55') denying Soham.

The Needham stopper was down expertly at his near, right-hand, post to smother a cross-shot behind at a tight angle.

Needham took the lead with a great finish in the 64th minute. Captain Max Roper exploited space just outside the area to wrap an excellent strike into the bottom right-hand corner.

Soham however responded quickly in an explosive second half, equalising on 67 minutes, Max Green was released through one on one to find the bottom corner.

Jake Bloom (76') was forced into a huge save, the keeper stood firm to beat away an 8-yard volley following a corner.

Tennial was booked for a foul (78'), as Finlay Brock (79') drove onto the left-hand byline, only to see his dangerous cut-back cleared.

Alfie Mark (80') meanwhile directed a looping header from a good right wing cross just over onto the roof of the net, prior to Leyton Coote's (84') 30-yard free-kick being deflected off the wall.

Finlay Brock (86') drove clear on goal and was about to shape to shoot until Drayton's perfectly timed sliding challenge prevented a clear shot at goal from 8-yards out.

Luke Betts' side restored their lead, and grabbed what proved to be the match-winner on 87 minutes.

Alex Breeden's low strike was denied by Taylor, low to his left, but only as far as the onrushing Aden Chandler, on hand to slide home the rebound to make it 3-2 to Needham.

Soham nearly sent the tie to penalties in the fifth added minute, with the final major chance of the evening, though the visitors rifled a powerful strike on the half-volley, from just outside the area, just wide of the top right corner.

Needham Market progress to the 1st Qualifying Round, and look ahead to a third home League game on Thursday (10th September, 7:45pm) against Framlingham Town.

MOTM and match-winner Aden Chandler said, "yeah, buzzing, obviously, 3-2 game. We weren't happy with the performance in the first half, we came out slow, second half a massive improvement. The desire to win the ball back every second ball we were there, shouting for the balls, making the team positive."

On responding from a goal down at half-time, "obviously, we knew we had it in us to come back and score more goals and it came out that we did. As I said in the first bit, we weren't happy with what we'd done, so we wanted to prove to people that we were going to do what we did.

"Three brilliant goals. One came from Kyle, edge of the box, hit it nicely. First one, Dawson, desire to win the ball back after the keeper spilled it and finally my one at the end that secured the win."

On netting the winner, "buzzing. Obviously, it's late in the game, if someone's got to score, it's going to penalties. Luckily, I was there at the right moment, right time, slot it back in the net, enjoy it with the boys, celebrating. That was my second late winner. In the under-16s, we had a cup final, scored last-minute winner to secure the win, so it always feels good.

"It is joyous (in the changing room). The speaker was dead, but we found a new one, so we're buzzing with that so we can celebrate."

Looking ahead to a home league fixture against Framlingham Town the attacking midfielder said, "yeah, obviously we need to recover, get training back in, practise on some more things, get an even better performance next week."

Needham Market:- 1 Jake Bloom, 2 Leyton Coote, 3 Tyler Wright, 4 Fenton Grimmer, 5 Jack Nunn, 6 Riley Parker, 7 Aden Chandler, 8 Josh Tennial, 9 Dawson Coldwell, 10 Kyle Roper (C), 11 Alex Breeden. Subs: 14 Alfie Mark, 15 Charlie Fox, 16 Ellis Beech, 17 Danylo Konik, 18 Dan Thompson, 19 Finlay Brock, 1 Freddie Foreman (GK).

Soham Town Rangers:- 1 Owen Taylor, 5 Ashton Blunt, 4 Daniel Drayton, 15 Archie Coogan, 16 Archie Briggs, 8 Archie Ashton, 6 Reuben Geach, 11 Finley Sayward, 9 Vincent Milner, 17 Oscar Kaloo, 7 Max Green. Subs: 13 Max Williams, 10 Emile Kwiecien, 12 Miguel Misipo, 18 George Newell.

Booked: Wright, Tennial (78').
Goals: Coldwell (49'), Roper (64'), Chandler (87'); (5'), Green (67').
Needham MOTM: 7 Aden Chandler.
Att: 82.

WOMEN BEATEN IN LEAGUE CUP

Needham Market have been knocked out of this year’s Eastern Regional League Cup 4-2 against Enfield at Bloomfields. 

Enfield had the best of the early chances and on 13 minutes Rhylee Cadwallender put them ahead with further goals from Sam Malyon and Charlotte Dance being separated by Chelsea Brett.

The second became a lot tighter but was sparked into life in the final minutes when Annie Posnett pulled another back to make it a barnstorming finish, but Chelise Fleming made sure in stoppage time.

Needham came into the game buoyed by their first league win of the season but found the early stages tough against Enfield from the South division.

Amy Brunning, who made her club debut in the FA Cup, returned to goal and made a couple of big early saves but was unable to stop Cadwallender from opening the scoring as her shot kissed off the post into the corner of the net.

Enfield continued to dominate and doubled the lead thanks to a Fleming cross being converted by Malyon.

But a quickfire response from the home side suddenly raised hopes of a comeback as Brett moved forward and took advantage of some poor positional play from the goalkeeper to pass into the unguarded gap in the goal.

Like London buses Needham were level within a minute thanks to Ella Edwards, but the joy was short lived because of the linesman’s flag for offside.

The home side pushed for a leveller before the break but were undone by a Dance header from a corner after Brunning had made a smart save to deny Fleming seconds earlier.

It was a bitter blow with the break looming but neither side could wrestle any momentum for long periods of a less eventful second half. 

But there was another late twist with Posnett smashing a superb 30-yard free kick that flew into the left-hand top corner.

Needham pushed hard for an equaliser to keep the tie alive but in doing so had to take risks and sadly for the home faithful it led to Enfield wrapping up the tie as Fleming raced through on goal and finished the game. 

SIX GOAL THRILLER AS MARKETMEN HELD AT HOME

Needham Market v Peterborough Sports | 31.08.2026 | Bloomfields | Pitching In Southern League Central Premier Division Game 6 |

https://youtu.be/IShZ6gb4jgI?is=6qxGsgrlgWoa-FN3

Interviews:-

Goals arguably against the run of play see Needham Market forced to take a point at home to ten-man Peterborough Sports after a 3-3 draw.

Needham responded from a 1-0 half-time deficit after Leon Lobjoit's opener (34'), coupled with a red card for Turbines' goalkeeper Thomas Jackson (41'), to blister into a 3-1 lead.

Tevan Allen (57'), Ryan Miles (62') and Dan Morphew (77'pen) gave Needham a two goal lead, but the Marketmen conceded twice within the final ten minutes to surrender two points after captain Carl Mensah (81') and Lobjoit (88') rescued a point for the away side.

Tom Rothery made 4 changes to Saturday's win at Stratford Town - Tevan Allen, Liam Pearce, Josh Curry - making his full debut at home - and Marcel Lewis started in place of Dan Morphew, Luke Ingram (who drops out of the squad, due to a calf injury), Ryan Miles and Ben Hunter.

The Marketmen (6') started brightly, having an early goal ruled out for offside. Great play saw Joe Neal drive through onto the right-hand side to cut-back for an unmarked Liam Pearce, albeit offside, to turn underneath Jackson from 5-yards out.

Hart (8') in reply for Sports fired a good strike narrowly wide of the top left-hand corner from just outside the area.

Allen (9'), after smart play from Neal to slide the ball past his man to Marcel Lewis who picked out Jake Dye with a stunning ball out to the right wing and in turn fed Tevan Allen, saw his cross cut out for a throw, which was flashed dangerously across goal but nobody in Red to capitalise.

Ollie Saunders (12') was then found free on the right-hand side to work space to see his effort towards goal deflected into an inviting area but for a visiting shirt to be well placed to clear.

Needham's dominant start continued (17'), Saunders this time drove down the left wing to cross in, but for Jackson to claim awkwardly on his line, as Joe Neal fired a good low strike at the keeper, who held well, a minute later.

Marcel Lewis (20') was then picked out by a great long ball forward onto the right-hand side whose neat flick into the danger area was cleared.

At the other end, James Bradbrook (23') read play well to rush off his line and gather the ball, while Needham had another good opportunity on 25 minutes.

Kyle Hammond's superb left wing corner picked out Liam Pearce at the far post whose header back into the danger area was directed goal-wards by full home debutant Josh Curry but Thomas Jackson gathered with Joe Neal lurking. 

Allen picked up the loose ball in space (28'), only for his low strike to be blocked, prior to another good chance on 29 minutes.

Smith feeds Lewis who jinks past his man to set Saunders through onto the left-hand side with a great reverse pass but the latter skews his shot wide.

Pearce worked space to shoot on the right-hand edge of the box (31'), but fired over.

Needham then looked to thread Allen clear on goal (32, but just before he could shape to shoot a crucial defensive intervention prevented the ball from reaching him as Needham remained firmly on top.

The Turbines broke the deadlock against the run of play (34'), harsh on the home side as a right wing cross was glanced home by Leon Lobjoit.

Lewis' clever low dipping free-kick was held by Jackson (37'), 

Sports were reduced to ten men (41') Thomas Jackson - who had been playing well - raced out just outside his area to meet Joe Neal, who expertly spun his marker, but fouled the striker and was sent off.

Outfielder Richens went in goal, Lewis (45') hit the wall with the free-kick.

Tevan Allen (45'+1') meanwhile went agonisingly close. The attacking midfielder's fantastic trivella shot on the right-hand edge of the area whistles just past the top far corner, as the Marketmen were unfortunate to trail at the break.

Ryan Miles replaced Ollie Saunders at half-time, as Needham (51') again started the restart on the front foot. Lewis' excellent ball through threaded Pearce onto the left-hand side whose cross was turned behind for a corner.

Ben Hunter (54') replaced Dye, as Needham deservedly equalised (57').

MOTM Tevan Allen exploited space to drive onto the right-hand side to brilliantly fire home into the bottom far corner.

Hunter (61') fired just wide, as Harlyn Palmer - fresh from his first senior goal and match-winner Saturday - replaced Pearce.

The Marketmen (62') took the lead courtesy of another well worked goal. Kyle Hammond's long range left wing free-kick set substitute Ryan Miles through down the left-hand side to smartly find the bottom far corner.

Dan Morphew (70') was introduced in place of Joe Neal, just after Miles had shot just wide.

Needham tested Richens in goal (72'), Smith broke down the left wing whose low cut-back was met by the arriving Lewis whose first time low shot was held by the stand-in stopper (73. 

Kell Fiddy replaced captain Keiran Morphew.

Needham were awarded a penalty on 76 minutes, a silky run in acres of space from substitute Harlyn Palmer looked to tee Hammond up to shoot from 8-yards out but was brought down.

Substitute Dan Morphew (77') duly converted from the spot, low into the middle of the net to extend the Reds' lead to 3-1.

In a thrilling encounter, Sports (81') again struck against the run of play top reduce the deficit to 3-2. Lewis Hilliard's pinpoint right wing free-kick was met by captain Carl Mensah at the far post to bullet head home.

Palmer (86') whipped a cross behind for a goal-kick.

An astounding encounter saw Lobjoit equalise (88') at close range.

Needham though almost regained their lead (90'), Hammond's deep left wing free-kick was swung brilliantly to the unmarked Josh Curry whose close range header went narrowly over in a massive chance for the home side.

Lewis (92') looked to thread Miles clear on goal but Richens advanced to gather, Richens (95') held onto a right wing cross from six yards out.

In the end a share of the spoils each in a frenzy 3-3 draw, in which Needham pick up 4 points from 6 over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye (54' Hunter), 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C) (73' Fiddy), 8 Ollie Saunders (HT' Miles), 9 Joe Neal (70' D.Morphew), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce (61' Pearce), 14 Josh Curry, 16 Marcel Lewis. Subs: 6 Dan Morphew, 10 Ryan Miles, 17 Ben Hunter, 18 Harlyn Palmer, 19 Kellen Fiddy. 

Peterborough Sports:- 1 Thomas Jackson, 3 Connor Wood (73' O'Boyle), 5 Jordan Cooke, 6 Carl Mensah (C), 8/1 Michael Richens, 10 Leon Lobjoit, 15 Ben Beresford (64' Brown), 16 Harry Vince, 17 Luca Miller (HT' Burgess), 18 Ben Hart (68' Williams), 21 Lewis White (45' Hilliard). Subs: 4 Joe Burgess, 7 Lewis Hilliard, 11 Jevani Brown, 14 Finn O'Boyle, 19 Harvey Williams.

Goals: Tevan Allen (57'), Ryan Miles (62'), Dan Morphew (77'pen); Leon Lobjoit (34', 88'), Carl Mensah (81'),

Sent Off: Thomas Jackson (41')

Att: 469

MOTM Chosen By Match Sponsor Peter Forster: 11 Tevan Allen. 

PALMER NETS FIRST SENIOR GOAL AS MARKETMEN OVERTURN HALF-TIME DEFICIT

Stratford Town v Needham Market | 29.08.2026 | Arden Garages Stadium | The Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division Game 5 |

Video Reaction from MOTM Jake Dye, Assistant Manager Nathan Munson and match winner Harlyn Palmer

Two second half goals earn Needham Market a second win of the season, overturning a half-time deficit to beat Stratford Town 2-1 away from home, as Needham jumped up five places in the table to eleventh, with the Bards still winless from five outings.

Both sides went into the game having lost their last two matches, with Needham now only losing once in their last 5 meetings with the Bards - winning 7, losing 3 and drawing 1 of last 10 (13 total) meetings).

Tom Rothery made two changes from last weekend's defeat at home to Halesowen Town, Kyle Hammond and Joe Neal returned to the starting eleven as Tevan Allen and Liam Pearce started on the bench. 

A lively start from both teams saw both teams create a good chance within the first minute. 

Just 15 seconds were on the clock when Jack Bearne arrived to meet a right wing low cross at the far post only to shot straight at James Bradbrook.

Joe Neal, eighteen seconds later, raced down the right wing to cross low for Hammond, but for the defender's hashed clearance to rebound off the forward towards goal but for Weaver to importantly gather.

Head tennis inside the Needham box (8') resulted in Hawker hooking his shot over from close range, while Needham went close in the eleventh minute. 

A great run from Jake Dye fed Neal down the right wing, Dye then picked up the loose ball to cross low, a sliced clearance saw the ball bounce off Hammond but Weaver was able to catch. 

Needham went close (20'), Hammond's clever right wing corner was met by the unmarked Luke Ingram at the far post who headed over from 8-yards out. 

The Marketmen (24') forced a save from Weaver soon after, albeit fairly routine. After excellent build-up play, Smith and Miles exchanged multiple passes following a brilliant cross-field pass, the former's cross was glanced towards goal by Neal but Weaver was able to catch at his near post. 

The Bards (27') though broke the deadlock when Kory Roberts scored from a corner.

Ingram made way for Liam Pearce through injury as Needham, in reply (29') saw Kyle Hammond's right wing free-kick into the six yard box was claimed by Weaver, as Bradbrook (30') was off his line sharply to pounce on a through-ball.

A clever effort from Hammond (31') saw Needham go agonisingly close to an equaliser.

The midfielder spotted Weaver off his line whose 50-yard effort is dipping underneath the bar but the back peddling keeper gets back to tip it over. 

Needham (32') saw appeals for a trip on Dan Morphew inside the Bards' area dismissed, while Tommy Smith fed Kyle Hammond (41') in space to cleverly play Ollie Saunders in on the left whose low wrapped cross into a good area was cleared away.

After the break, Needham went close on 49 minutes. Dye was threaded through dangerously onto the right-hand byline, whose brilliant cut-back was met by Hammond at close range. Hammond's shot was smothered by a defender. Neal was first to the loose ball to turn and shoot but his shot was also blocked. 

The home side meanwhile (52') flashed an inviting low left wing cross across goal but narrowly wide of the far post.

Needham duly equalised (56'), which arguably was deserved. Keiran Morphew glanced a long range free-kick past the onrushing Weaver, creeping towards goal as MOTM Jake Dye made sure.

The Marketmen dominated the second half, Kyle Hammond (62') turned into space only to fire over from range.

The visitors went close to taking the lead six minutes later, Hammond's dipping left wing corner was destined to creep underneath the crossbar forcing a defender to glance a header looping into his own far post but for a teammate to bail him out and head it vitally over. 

Needham (69') had adamant appeals for a penalty waved away as Kyle Hammond's left wing cross back in saw Dye and Neal both have shots blocked in quick succession a minute later.

Wave after wave of attacks from the Suffolk side (72') led to Tev Allen being released clear by a great long ball to exploit space down the left wing to cross low on a plate for Miles which was marginally cleared.

Lewis replaced Hammond, while Academy graduate Palmer - making his second senior league appearance - replaced Miles.

Needham struck the decisive blow in the 82nd minute. Substitutes Marcel Lewis and Harlyn Palmer concluded a sublime move as the former was slipped free on the left-hand side to square across for Palmer to turn home his first senior goal. 

An incredible stop from Weaver (85') thwarted Allen from what would've been a stunning third goal.

Substitute Liam Pearce beat his man on the left-hand side to feed Marcel Lewis, who teed up Tevan Allen to thunder a shot at the top right-hand corner, which Weaver sensationally tipped

Josh Curry was brought on for Ben Hunter, as Needham recorded an important away win ahead of a Bank Holiday Monday (31st August, 3pm) clash with Peterborough Sports.

Stratford Town:- 1 Jacob Weaver, 2 Daniel Vann (74' James), 3 Finlay Brennan, 4 Joshua Hawker (75' Mitchell), 5 Paul McCone (C), 6 Kory Roberts, 8 Reece Flanagan, 10 Daniel Lafferty (83' Morris), 11 Jack Bearne, 14 Jack Storer (65' Mitford), 16 Kevin Bastos (62' Manning). Subs: 7 McKauley Manning, 9 Tre Mitford, 12 Bo Morris, 17 Owen James, 19 Cuba Mitchell. 

Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond (74' Lewis), 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram (29' Pearce), 8 Ollie Saunders, 9 Joe Neal, 10 Ryan Miles (76' Palmer), 17 Ben Hunter (87' Curry). Subs: 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 14 Josh Curry, 16 Marcel Lewis, 18 Harlyn Palmer. 

Goals: Kory Roberts (27'); Jake Dye (56'), Harlyn Palmer (82').

Needham Market MOTM: Jake Dye