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