Alvechurch v Needham Market | 15.08.2026 | Lye Meadow | The Pitching IN Southern League Premier Central Division | Game 3 |
Two goals within a minute condemned Needham Market to a 2-0 defeat away to Alvechurch.
Tom Rothery's side made one change to the side that beat Hitchin Town 3-1 away in midweek, Dan Morphew returned from injury for his first appearance of the new season with Ollie Saunders dropping to the bench. New signing Josh Curry started on the bench, following the end of his suspension as Kell Fiddy played for the Reserves, and Joe Neal missed out with a calf injury.
The hosts meanwhile made 2 alterations from their 3-1 home victory over Worcester City on Tuesday, as Bavanganga and goalscorer Jamey Osborne started in place of Ben Stephens and Kieran Wakefield.
Luke Ingram had a header only just kept out prior to the first half drinks break, after which Manny Ilesanmi (26') and Osborn (27') struck in quickfire fashion to settle an otherwise uneventful encounter, with the other real noteable effort from either side being Kyle Hammond's strike hitting the post late on.
Alvechurch (1') broke through onto the left-hand side, but fired the shot narrowly over.
Many Ilesanmi (8') was then fed free at close range down the right-hand side but saw his effort deflected behind for a corner.
Needham (13') went close to breaking the deadlock, Tommy Smith's left wing throw saw Marcel Lewis feed Kyle Hammond to whip a dangerous cross in, finding Luke Ingram lurking at close range. The forward's stooping header though was denied by Redman Evans, who also just managed to thwart Ingram's follow up effort as the Church defence were able to scramble clear.
In an end-to-end fast paced beginning to the game, Keiran Morphew (22') was well placed at the far post to head an in-swinging right wing corner behind for another set-piece, with James Bradbrook claiming Jessy Bavanganga's far post header towards goal from the resulting corner.
The home side took a quick 2-0 lead, shortly after the drinks break. Manny Ilesanmi (26') squirmed a low shot into the bottom near corner from the right-hand side, prior to Jamey Osborne (27') scoring from the half-way line from the restart.
Ryan Miles (29') however smashed home low smartly across goal, but was ruled out by an offside flag, while Kyle Hammond (41') had a shot deflected just wide of the top far corner, from the right-hand edge of the box.
Hammond (43') hit a direct corner just agonisingly over off the top of the crossbar from the resulting set-piece.
A dull start to the second half saw Needham have the lion share of the possession, as Liam Pearce replaced Luke Ingram (55'), Jake Dye (56') then crucially blocked a shot at close range, while Josh Curry made his Needham debut in place of Dan Morphew (65').
Allen (67') met a right wing cross at the far post, only for Bavanganga's header upwards to be claimed by his keeper on the line, ahead of a double alteration saw Marcel Lewis and Ben Hunter withdrawn for Ollie Saunders and James Coton (69').
The changes did make an impact - albeit not on the scoreline - substitute Pearce (71') beat his man cleverly on the right wing to cross dangerously on the byline - but it just evaded James Coton unmarked at the back post.
James Bradbrook (76') then held a fierce right wing cross well on his line, prior to Liam Pearce's curling 85th minute right wing cross was plucked out of the air by Evans at the other end (85').
Needham though had the only real shot on goal - since the interval - Hammond (86') saw a ferocious strike tipped onto the inside of the right-hand post by Evans, who just about caught the rebound at the vital moment.
Jake Dye (94') thundered a brilliant volley just wide of the right-hand post, rather summing up a disappointing afternoon for the Reds who switch focus to Saturday's home encounter with Halesowen Town (3pm).
Alvechurch:- 1 Redman Evans, 2 Harry Reilly, 3 Jack Kelly, 4 Jamey Osborne, 6 Archie Crowther, 7 Sam Perry (C), 8 Jonny Ngandu (64' Phillips), 9 Miracle Okafor, 14 Callum Sullivan, 17 Jessy Bavanganga, 18 Manny Ilesanmi. Subs: 10 Ben Stephens, 15 Kieran Wakefield, 19 Gus Sanches, 21 Nick Clayton-Phillips, 23 Johan Rask. 68' 14 off 21 on. 87' Manny off Stephens on.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew (65' Curry), 7 Luke Ingram (55' Pearce), 10 Ryan Miles, 11 Tevan Allen (77' Barker), 16 Marcel Lewis (69' Coton), 17 Ben Hunter (69' Saunders). Subs: 8 Ollie Saunders, 12 Liam Pearce, 14 Josh Curry, 18 Eddie Barker, 19 James Coton.
Booked: Hammond (83').
Goals: Manny Ilesanmi ('26'), Jamey Osborne (27').
Needham MOTM: 3 Tommy Smith.
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