Needham Market picked up their first win of the 2026/27 season with a 3-1 win at Hitchin Town.
Tom Rothery made 2 changes to Saturday's defeat at home to Bromsgrove Sporting, Ingram and Saunders in for Neal and Pearce.
The Suffolk side's first away trip of the new season got off to the perfect start when Ollie Saunders (5') and Kyle Hammond (7') smartly found the net as the visitors dominated the first 25 minutes.
The Canaries however responded, halving the deficit a minute later as Rio Deall poked home to make it 2-1 to Needham at the interval.
Hitchin arguably had the better of the possession during the second half, until Kyle Hammond (85') netted his second of the night direct from a corner to seal a 3-1 victory on the road - Needham's 9th in 13 league meetings with Hitchin, scoring 34 goals, having also won the previous 3 meetings between the two clubs.
Ollie Saunders marked his first start of the new season with an instant impact, opening the scoring in the fifth minute.
The midfielder effortlessly lobbed the keeper into the top far left-hand corner, despite the best efforts of the defender.
Kyle Hammond (7') quickly doubled Needham's advantage, driving through with ease on the left-hand side, after being threaded through by Ingram, to cooly slide home underneath the onrushing goalkeeper into the bottom far corner.
Needham remained on the front foot as Marcel Lewis (10') saw his cross well claimed by the keeper, while Ryan Miles' (14') darting run onto the left-hand byline forced a corner.
Luke Ingram (17') weaved into space just outside the box to shoot, but for his fierce strike to be deflected away, falling to Allen in turn finding Lewis then Smith whose well hit low strike was also deflected.
The away side went close to a third, Keiran Morphew (21') glanced a great ball into the area onto Ingram to break onto the byline and square a great ball across the face of goal that just evaded Miles.
Hitchin halved the deficit however on 26 minutes, the hosts' first real attack of the evening saw Callum Kane's left-hand dipping strike towards the top far corner cannon back in off the upright before being turned home on the rebound by Rio Deall.
At the other end, Ryan Miles (28') raced free onto the right-hand byline but saw his cross clip the top of the crossbar.
Keiran Morphew (41') was cautioned for a foul, though Bradbrook was on hand to hold onto the swerving low free-kick.
After the restart, Saunders (47') raced onto the right-hand byline to smartly cut-back to Marcel Lewis at close range, the latter's close range initial strike was blocked with his follow up effort smothered by the keeper.
Kyle Hammond then whipped a clever left wing free-kick just outside the area just wide of the top far corner (50'), as Ryan Miles (54') weaved into space after intercepting a clearance only for his low strike to be blocked.
Kye Tearle (55') hit the face of the crossbar from 25-yards, as Needham withdrew Luke Ingram and Ollie Saunders for Joe Neal and Liam Pearce moments later.
Both sides went close in quick succession, Liam Pearce's effort was handled by a defender on the left-hand wing-edge of the area, Marcel Lewis' (69') excellent free-kick into the penalty area was diverted narrowly wide by Keiran Morphew at close range.
The Canaries at the other end (70') created a golden chance, but the shot went wide at close range.
Barker replaced Lewis, before Hammond netted a brace to restore the Marketmen's two goal lead on 85 minutes, wrapping a powerful left wing corner in off the near post into the top near corner.
Coton was introduced for Miles (87'), as Fiddy entered the action soon after.
Needham travel to Alvechurch on Saturday (3pm), with coach travel available HERE.
Hitchin:- 1 Jack Mason, 2 Rio Deall, 3 Callum Kane, 4 Blue Joy, 5 Toby Syme (76' 12 Simeon Olarerin), 6 Ciaren Jones, 7 Daniel Stokoe, 8 Kavan Cotter, 9 Temi Akinbusoye, 10 Kye Tearle, 11 George Morrall (70' 16 Diogo Freitas-Gouveia). Unused Subs:
Needham: 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond (89' 19 Kell Fiddy), 5 Keiran Morphew (c), 7 Luke Ingram (56' 9 Joe Neal), 8 Ollie Saunders (56' 12 Liam Pearce), 10 Ryan Miles (87' 14 James Coton), 11 Tevan Allen, 16 Marcel Lewis (84' 18 Eddie Barker), 17 Ben Hunter. Subs: 9 Joe Neal, 12 Liam Pearce, 14 James Coton, 18 Eddie Barker, 19 Kell Fiddy.
Booked: Bradbrook (33'), K.Morphew (41'), Hammond (60').
Goals: Rio Deall (26'); Ollie Saunders (5'), Kyle Hammond (7', 85').
Att: 677.
Tom Rothery made 2 changes to Saturday's defeat at home to Bromsgrove Sporting, Ingram and Saunders in for Neal and Pearce.
The Suffolk side's first away trip of the new season got off to the perfect start when Ollie Saunders (5') and Kyle Hammond (7') smartly found the net as the visitors dominated the first 25 minutes.
The Canaries however responded, halving the deficit a minute later as Rio Deall poked home to make it 2-1 to Needham at the interval.
Hitchin arguably had the better of the possession during the second half, until Kyle Hammond (85') netted his second of the night direct from a corner to seal a 3-1 victory on the road - Needham's 9th in 13 league meetings with Hitchin, scoring 34 goals, having also won the previous 3 meetings between the two clubs.
Ollie Saunders marked his first start of the new season with an instant impact, opening the scoring in the fifth minute.
The midfielder effortlessly lobbed the keeper into the top far left-hand corner, despite the best efforts of the defender.
Kyle Hammond (7') quickly doubled Needham's advantage, driving through with ease on the left-hand side, after being threaded through by Ingram, to cooly slide home underneath the onrushing goalkeeper into the bottom far corner.
Needham remained on the front foot as Marcel Lewis (10') saw his cross well claimed by the keeper, while Ryan Miles' (14') darting run onto the left-hand byline forced a corner.
Luke Ingram (17') weaved into space just outside the box to shoot, but for his fierce strike to be deflected away, falling to Allen in turn finding Lewis then Smith whose well hit low strike was also deflected.
The away side went close to a third, Keiran Morphew (21') glanced a great ball into the area onto Ingram to break onto the byline and square a great ball across the face of goal that just evaded Miles.
Hitchin halved the deficit however on 26 minutes, the hosts' first real attack of the evening saw Callum Kane's left-hand dipping strike towards the top far corner cannon back in off the upright before being turned home on the rebound by Rio Deall.
At the other end, Ryan Miles (28') raced free onto the right-hand byline but saw his cross clip the top of the crossbar.
Keiran Morphew (41') was cautioned for a foul, though Bradbrook was on hand to hold onto the swerving low free-kick.
After the restart, Saunders (47') raced onto the right-hand byline to smartly cut-back to Marcel Lewis at close range, the latter's close range initial strike was blocked with his follow up effort smothered by the keeper.
Kyle Hammond then whipped a clever left wing free-kick just outside the area just wide of the top far corner (50'), as Ryan Miles (54') weaved into space after intercepting a clearance only for his low strike to be blocked.
Kye Tearle (55') hit the face of the crossbar from 25-yards, as Needham withdrew Luke Ingram and Ollie Saunders for Joe Neal and Liam Pearce moments later.
Both sides went close in quick succession, Liam Pearce's effort was handled by a defender on the left-hand wing-edge of the area, Marcel Lewis' (69') excellent free-kick into the penalty area was diverted narrowly wide by Keiran Morphew at close range.
The Canaries at the other end (70') created a golden chance, but the shot went wide at close range.
Barker replaced Lewis, before Hammond netted a brace to restore the Marketmen's two goal lead on 85 minutes, wrapping a powerful left wing corner in off the near post into the top near corner.
Coton was introduced for Miles (87'), as Fiddy entered the action soon after.
Needham travel to Alvechurch on Saturday (3pm), with coach travel available HERE.
Hitchin:- 1 Jack Mason, 2 Rio Deall, 3 Callum Kane, 4 Blue Joy, 5 Toby Syme (76' 12 Simeon Olarerin), 6 Ciaren Jones, 7 Daniel Stokoe, 8 Kavan Cotter, 9 Temi Akinbusoye, 10 Kye Tearle, 11 George Morrall (70' 16 Diogo Freitas-Gouveia). Unused Subs:
Needham: 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond (89' 19 Kell Fiddy), 5 Keiran Morphew (c), 7 Luke Ingram (56' 9 Joe Neal), 8 Ollie Saunders (56' 12 Liam Pearce), 10 Ryan Miles (87' 14 James Coton), 11 Tevan Allen, 16 Marcel Lewis (84' 18 Eddie Barker), 17 Ben Hunter. Subs: 9 Joe Neal, 12 Liam Pearce, 14 James Coton, 18 Eddie Barker, 19 Kell Fiddy.
Booked: Bradbrook (33'), K.Morphew (41'), Hammond (60').
Goals: Rio Deall (26'); Ollie Saunders (5'), Kyle Hammond (7', 85').
Att: 677.
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