Needham Market decisively struck twice in two first half minutes in clinical fashion to defeat Bishop's Stortford 2-1 at Bloomfields, for a third successive league victory, moving up to fifth after 13 matches.
Three changes from the 2-1 win at Leamington, Jake Dye came in for the injured Tommy Smith, Ollie Saunders returned in place of Keiran Morphew and Marcel Lewis started for Tevan Allen. Dan Morphew captained the side. Returning loanee Jake Watkiss started on the bench, as Academy players Tyler Wright and Josh Tennial completed the bench with Reserves captain Harry Hopkins with the young Marketmen away at Newmarket Town Reserves.
The two sides exchanged a win apiece last season, as 7th in the current table faced 17th (3 wins from 11 games and 7 defeats). Stortford won 4-0 at Bloomfields in September 2025 (goals from Obidinma Onyeagwara 3', Jake Dye 13'og, Cole Dasilva 52'pen, Scott Kashket 80'), while Needham got revenge in a 2-1 victory away from home two months later - MOTM Myles Cowling (45', 90'+1') responded to Fabio Virciglio's 24th minute opener.
Stortford had won 1 lost four of their previous five away league outings, sitting 17th in the away table. The visitors had lost their last 3 league outings - with a 3-1 loss at Redditch United (top-scorer Baker with 4 goals) sandwiched between defeats at home to Bury Town (2-1, Norris) and a 4-2 loss at home Racing Club Warwick lost time out (Baker and Wellens, with Thompson sent off).
Needham meanwhile, with 6 wins from 12 outings, and unbeaten in their last 4 games - 2 from 6 with 2 draws at home, sit 11th in the home table, but are unbeaten in their last four home outings. A thrilling draw with Peterborough Sports, followed by wins over Worcester City and Stamford, ended with an even 1-1 affair with Anstey Nomads last Saturday. That home draw was succeeded by two away victories last week - as top scorer Ryan Miles struck 3 of the 7 goals across those two matches, netting both on Saturday at Leamington in a 2-1 win while Liam Pearce's hat-trick and Luke Ingram secured a 5-0 win over Bury Town. Needham, who are fourth in the overall form table, with 4 wins, a draw and a defeat at Rushall Olympic, while Stortford sit 12th.
After Dan Morphew's clearance was tipped over by James Bradbrook and Luke Ingram saw a shot tipped wide by Barnes, Kyle Hammond (36') put Needham in front just as they grew into the ascendancy.
Luke Ingram's long range powerful strike was spilt by Barnes, Hammond's initial effort at point blank range was denied by the keeper only for the midfielder to head home over the line at the second attempt.
Within no time, Needham League top goalscorer Ryan Miles (38') doubled the Reds' lead with a fine low strike into the far corner to give Needham a 2-0 goal lead, with his ninth goal in the Division.
The visitors' top goalscorer Tyrone Baker (78') halved the deficit in search of an equaliser, though Tom Rothery's side held on for another big 3 points.
A good start from the Marketmen saw Jake Dye (8') fed free down the right wing to cross low to Luke Ingram, arriving 8-yards out from goal at the near post, who poked narrowly wide.
The visitors meanwhile created a good chance on 17 minutes, a long cross-field ball to the right-hand side was whipped dangerously across goal but Dan Morphew's looping clearance was tipped over by James Bradbrook.
Needham suddenly sparked into the life (20'), James Bradbrook's free-kick, midway through his own half on the right-hand side, threads Dye through down the right wing who crossed low for Ingram whose close range low strike was tipped wide by Calum Barnes.
Luke Ingram (21') then smashed narrowly wide of the bottom near corner from the left-hand edge of the box, before Needham went close again (26'). Ben Hunter drove in from a partially cleared corner, but his low driven strike towards the bottom far, left-hand, corner was doubled deflected away.
Needham began to grow in control, Marcel Lewis (31') latched onto a long kick, the winger weaved into the centre outside the area but his deflected effort is gathered by Calum Barnes.
Stortford top-scorer Tyrone Baker (35') weaved into space outside the area but blazed narrowly over, though Needham raced into a quickfire two goal lead.
The Marketmen - who struck twice in two minutes - broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. Luke Ingram's 30-yard venomous strike was shovelled away by Barnes, as far as Kyle Hammond (36') running in whose his initial effort was saved but headed home the rebound, for his fourth league goal of the campaign.
Ryan Miles (38') doubled the Reds' lead with his ninth league goal with an excellent finish. Ingram again the creator, after a back-heel found the Needham number 7, he released his fellow winger down the left to rifle home into the bottom far corner!!
Liam Pearce (45'+3') raced free down the left-hand side only to flash a great strike narrowly wide of the bottom far corner, in the final action of the first half as Needham led 2-0 at the break.
At the break, Needham withdrew Ollie Saunders for Jake Watkiss for his second Needham debut - on loan from Hemel Hempstead, as Ingram went close (56').
The winger was fed free on the right-hand side but lashed narrowly wide of the bottom far corner at an acute angle, while Lewis (58') crossed into a dangerous area on the left but just evaded the head of Ingram arriving at point blank range.
James Bradbrook (59') produced a smart save to deny Stortford, as the away side (63') crossed low from the right wing but saw their unmarked close range cushioned effort saved comfortably by Bradbrook.
Harlyn Palmer (66') replaced Marcel Lewis, as Powell (71') shot straight at Bradbrook's chest guarding his near, right-hand, post.
Watkiss (74') crossed for Palmer free at the far post, albeit the fellow substitute thundered his volley - at an acute angle - into the near side-netting.
Stortford shot over, while Miles (76') drove down the left but saw his low dangerous cross cleared.
Stortford (78') halved the deficit, Tyrone Baker netted his fifth goal of the season, free down the right-hand side to fire home low across goal.
The visitors (84'), buoyed by the goal, forced Dan Morphew to bravely head clear among high feet to deny a point blank standing overhead hook at goal, in a very nervy end to the game.
Stortford (89') shot just wide, as James Coton replaced MOTM Miles.
In stoppage time, James Bradbrook was alert to deal with a swerving Stortford strike from distance, to swat the ball over the crossbar (93'), in the final action in a game of very few major chances.
Needham held on to record a third straight league win, ahead of a home Isuzu FA Trophy First Round Proper clash with Wingate and Finchley (3pm).
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 4 Kyle Hammond, 6 Dan Morphew (C), 7 Luke Ingram, 8 Ollie Saunders (HT' Watkiss), 10 Ryan Miles (89' Coton), 12 Liam Pearce, 16 Marcel Lewis (66' Palmer), 17 Ben Hunter, 19 Kell Fiddy. Subs: 3 Tyler Wright, 11 Josh Tennial, 14 Jake Watkiss, 15 James Coton, 18 Harlyn Palmer.
Bishop's Stortford:- 1 Calum Barnes, 3 Aaron Powell, 4 Tye Barton (52' Njie), 5 Jake Thompson (C), 7 Tyrone Baker, 9 Frank Norris, 10 Bradley Russell, 11 Alfie Wellens (53' Virciglio), 14 Jack Smith (64' Colletti), 15 Nikolay Zlatev (53' Greene), 16 Scott Simmons. Subs: 2 Joe Nardelli, 12 Fabio Virciglio, 17 Aaron Greene, 22 Gibou Njie, 20 Dylan Colletti.
Goals: Kyle Hammond (36'), Ryan Miles (38'); Tyrone Baker (78').
Att: 244.
Needham MOTM chosen by match sponsor John Grose Group: 10 Ryan Miles.
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