Wanderers took the lead on 56 seconds as a right wing corner was headed home into the roof of the net.
Needham were awarded a penalty on 4 minutes though as Luke Ingram chipped Kyle Hammond through down the right-hand side before being hacked down.
Luke Ingram duly dispatched home the spot-kick, smashing home into the bottom left-hand corner!
Ingram then broke onto a great long ball over the top clear on goal but fired his half-volley just agonisingly wide of the bottom left-hand corner on 16 minutes.
Joe Neal then made it 2-1 with another well taken finish on 21 minutes, the forward latched onto a great ball over the top beating the offside trap to expertly chip the onrushing Brand outside the box into the roof of the net.
Needham continued to dominate since conceding as two minutes later, Jake Dye latched onto a great through-ball down the right wing before picking out Myles Cowling free on the left-hand edge of the box whose fierce low shot was parried away by Brand at his bottom near corner.
Seth Chambers then saw a good strike at goal blocked on the edge of the box in the 29th minute.
Great link up play from Needham two minutes later saw Needham race into a 3-1 lead, Jake Dye's right wing throw in threaded Ingram through onto the byline whose driven cross was well controlled then smashed home into the bottom near corner from close range by Neal for his fourth goal in two games.
Needham remained on the front foot as Joe Neal smartly slipped Myles Cowling through on the left-hand side of the box whose shot was deflected behind the near post for a corner, which Kyle Hammond's resulting corner was on target but was well held by Brand on his line.
Kyle Hammond's right wing corner was headed brilliantly back across goal by Dan Morphew but just wide with Tom Dickens lurking.
Rothery then made four changes at the break, as Seth Chambers did find the bottom left-hand corner thirty seconds after the restart but the whistle had already gone for a foul.
Needham then went close on 52 minutes, substitute Eddie Barker broke down the right wing before picking out McGrath whose effort was blocked crucially behind for a corner, which Hammond found Ingram whose header looped narrowly over.
Needham were awarded another penalty on 56 minutes after a foul on Jamie McGrath, but Seth Chambers' spot kick was saved.
Chambers meanwhile latched onto a brilliant long ball over the top down the right-hand side just after the hour mark but saw his close range shot denied by Brand.
Needham then made several changes as Eddie Barker saw a shot saved by Brand off his line on 69 minutes, before a rather quiet nine minutes followed before Eddie Barker found space on the left-hand side of the box but saw his dangerous cutback intercepted and cleared.
Harlyn Palmer then squared a brilliant inviting ball across the face of goal at close range for Jamie McGrath but for a defender to intercept and clear on 82 minutes.
Two minutes later, a dangerous cutback following a surging run from Ollie Saunders onto the left-hand byline was well gathered by Brand off his line.
The Academy players then linked up nicely on 89 minutes as a good run from Brad Smith started the move as Kellen Fiddy then picked up possession whose defence splitting pass to James Coton just overran to Brand.
REACTION | Tom Rothery | Post Match Interview | Ipswich Wanderers V Needham Market| 15.07.2025
DK: Another good run out and a good performance would you say?
TR: Yeah I think there was a lot to like about the performance. As with all friendlies it can become a bit frantic with so many changes but I thought everyone who played for us came out of it with positives, no knocks so yeah pleasing.
DK: Having gone behind right at the start, you must be pleased with the reaction?
TR: Not the start I wanted but you can give them credit it was a good delivery and great run but yeh we need to do better with everything from the start and then the goal but I didn’t think it affected us. The lads knew what we wanted to do and I think they still stuck to that and really took control of the game after that start and again credit to Ipswich as they played with a real intensity which is what we expected.
DK: Another 3 well taken goals, two of which from the in form Joe?
TR: Yeah we created a bit so could have had a couple more if you’re being a little critical but in general I just want to see that intent from the team and I thought we showed that throughout. Whatever anyone else thinks I know what I’ve brought into the building with Joe so yeh it’s a good start from him but nothing that I didn’t expect he’s a top player.
DK: What pleased you most tonight?
TR: Aside from the goal against there wasn’t anything I didn’t like. I thought there was a nice intensity about us throughout against a good competitive side who have played a few more games than us. The pitch was difficult but I thought we handled that well too. Look I just like the intent we are playing with I feel like the lads are really in a good space.
DK: Next up, a trip to Whitehawk, what are you expecting from that and what kind of squad can we expect?
TR: It’ll be another good test, they are the same level as us it’s a bit of a sloping pitch so that adds another test and a bit of travel to add to that so it’s a good test for many reasons and it’ll be nice to spend some time with the lads after the game also and start building those relationships. Hammo and Dan are away but Ryan is back everyone else is there plus we will have Olly, Brad and James from the academy/reserves with us so we will go there with 18.
NMFC:- 1 James Bradbrook (66' Skinner), 2 Jake Dye (66' Brad Smith), 6 Dan Morphew (c), 16 Tom Dickens (66' Reynolds), 3 Tommy Smith HT' Saunders), 4 Kyle Hammond (66' Fiddy), 19 Reggie Lambe (HT' Hunter), 15 Myles Cowling (HT' Barker), 9 Seth Chambers (66' Coton), 10 Joe Neal (HT' McGrath), 7 Luke Ingram (66' Palmer). Subs: 14 Jamie McGrath, 17 Ben Hunter, 8 Ollie Saunders, 18 Eddie Barker, 1 Charlie Skinner, 15 Kellen Fiddy, 19 Harlyn Palmer, 5 Brad Smith, 12 Olly Reynolds, 11 James Coton.
Goals: (1'); Luke Ingram (5'pen), Joe Neal (21', 32')
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