Needham Market 3 (Page 38' 55', Hunt 69')
Bromsgrove Sporting 0
A rampant Needham Market continued their unbeaten start to the league season, with a 3-0 win over Bromsgrove Sporting.
Two goals from Callum Page and one for William Hunt saw the home side claim all three points, in an action packed encounter that also saw two missed penalties and a sending off.
Sporting actually started the game brightly, with a quick Josh Quaynor free kick resulting in Jason Cowley having a one-on-one saved, from which the resultant corner saw Luke Ward have a header blocked on the line.
The lively Ben Fowkes had a trio of chances midway through the half for the Marketmen; the first of these, from a good position, was met with a Daniel Platt save. The next found the side netting and the third was a pop from around 20 yards that Platt saved smartly low down.
The 35th minute should have seen Needham take the lead. The ball was played into the area, from where captain Gareth Heath had a close range shot spectacularly saved by Platt - the rebound was blocked by a Bromsgrove defender and the passage of play finally came to an end, with Page blasting over.
The opener finally came three minutes later; Page had a shot from 20 yards which Platt got a good hand to but, unfortunately for him, the ball looped high into the air and found its way into the net.
Fowkes had another effort saved by Platt with two minutes of the half remaining but Sporting had a golden opportunity even deeper into the 45 to level proceedings.
Cowley was fouled in the box and the spotkick was taken by Bromsgrove captain Leon Broadhurst; he aimed very central to the goal, but Marcus Garnham stood his ground and was able to block it away.
Needham had chances early in the second half to double the lead; Byron Lawrence capped off a well worked corner routine with a shot that was blocked on the line, before Hunt had a close range shot blocked well by Platt.
This was quickly followed by a penalty for the home side; a header hit the crossbar, which caused a slight goalmouth scramble which resulted in a foul being committed. Upstepped Hunt, who knocked the ball towards Platt's left but the Sporting stopper met it with a strong palm.
However, the 55th minute saw the lead eventually increased to two. Fowkes hit the post with an effort from a fairly acute angle, with the rebound falling to Page, who tapped into an empty net for his second.
Sporting's Jack Wilson had a shot from the edge of the area that produced a decent save from Garnham just shy of the hour mark. Soon after, Platt was equal to a Fowkes drive from around 20 yards, while Quaynor and substitute Kieren Westwood had chances from range saved by the Needham keeper.
The result was put beyond any reasonable doubt in the 69th minute; a ball over the back of the Sporting defence was taken under control by Hunt, who coolly slotted home into the top corner.
Gift Mussa and Cowley both had efforts saved by Garnham afterwards, with Needham substitute Kai Fletcher almost adding a fourth from inside the box, were it not for an alert Platt making an instinctive block.
The afternoon ended on a slightly downbeat note for the home side, as full back Callum Sturgess was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Chris Lait in the 88th minute. But it was a stylish victory for the hosts, who could have scored more if it wasn't for the impressive string of saves from Platt in the Sporting goal.
Entertainment Rating: 4/5
Player of the Match: Ben Fowkes (Needham Market)
From the Needham Market Website:
Needham Market's impressive league start to the season continues with a 3-0 win over Bromsgrove Sporting.
Whilst clear cut chances were at a premium both sides created some good opportunities, with the first seeing Needham MOTM Callum Page's fierce volley from just outside the box blocked.
Bromsgrove put Needham under pressure in the first ten minutes and almost made it count had keeper Marcus Garnham not been alert to deny them from first a quick free-kick and header towards goal and then a corner in quick succession.
At the other end, Callum Page was involved in a lot of the hosts good play, notably forcing the keeper to make a good save at his near post on 14 minutes. Bromsgrove however were denied the opener on 20 minutes, after a low shot from a free-kick into the box was well blocked by Keiran Morphew. Platt then denied the Marketmen with some good goalkeeping two minutes later, Dye cut the ball back to Gareth Heath free whose dangerous ball in towards the danger area was well claimed by Platt.
The visiting keeper thwarted the hosts again on 26 minutes, Fowkes weaved through cleverly inside the box, holding off the defender but shot straight at the well placed keeper, before the forward then fired into the side netting from inside the box moments later.
Similarly, Fowkes was denied by the keeper again on 32 minutes, Platt this time down well to palm his latest strike behind for a corner, from which Page found Keiran Morphew but he couldn't direct it on target. Heath, who later admitted that he "should've scored" meanwhile was denied by an excellent reaction save by Platt, whilst his rebound attempt was denied by some great defending on 34 minutes.
Needham however weren't made to rue that missed opportunity as Callum Page's fierce strike was just too much for Platt to keep out as the ball looped up and into the net after a good save by Platt to give the Marketmen the lead after 37 minutes.
The goalscorer then fed Fowkes through inside the box but his shot was well blocked as the half drew to a close, although Garnham was forced into a strong save to deny Broadhurst's spot-kick just before the break.
Into the second half, Needham dominated the first 20 minutes as Byron Lawrence's cut in drew a good low save from Platt early into the half. Platt however had an excellent game for the visitors throughout, notably smothering Billy Hunt's close range strike well off his line.
Needham were relentless at the start of the second half, as the latest chance saw Ben Fowkes hit the post before Keiran Morphew won a penalty chasing the rebound. Like his opposite number though, Platt denied Hunt from the spot with a great diving save. But the Marketmen continued to probe for a second goal and got it on 54 minutes, the shot-stopper adding to his fine string of saves by thwarting Ben Fowkes' great strike from a tight angle though Callum Page was on hand to follow up with his second goal of the afternoon.
Fowkes then went close once more soon after, this time shooting an inch wide of the far post, whilst Hunt headed Sturgess' cross just over the bar, before Platt again got down well to deny another great shot from Fowkes on 61 minutes.
Quaynor however looked to get Bromsgrove back into the game, bending a dangerous strike towards goal but Garnham reacted well to swat it over the crossbar. Garnham then followed that up with an even better stop to deny Westwood on 66 minutes, flying across to beat behind his strike towards the top corner.
In the end, Needham were clinical in front of goal as they added a third goal on 69 minutes, Billy Hunt thumping home Callum Sturgess' ball over the defence past Platt and into the top corner.
The chances continued to flow for Needham though, whilst Joe Marsden shot just wide, 17-year old debutant Kai Fletcher's great strike was well smothered by the keeper who narrowed the angle well. Although the Marketmen held on to keep the clean sheet, the only blemish from a Needham perspective was Callum Sturgess' red card after picking up two bookings with 3 minutes remaining.
Needham Manager Kevin Horlock reflected on the game as the "complete performance," whilst also feeling "gutted" debutant Kai Fletcher didn't score, adding "I thought he was (going to score)." On Sturgess' red card Kev said: "I didn't see the first yellow. I'm a bit disappointed but it gives an opportunity for someone else to keep the shirt - if they do well, I'll stick to it."
Needham Market:
Garnham, Dye, Sturgess, Lawrence, K.Morphew, D.Morphew, Page (72' Ingram), Heath (capt), Hunt (82' Fletcher), Collard, Fowkes (80' Marsden). Unused subs: Mills, Elsdon.
Bromsgrove Sporting:
Platt, Spink, Wilson, Dowd, Ward, Broadhurst, Mussa, Quaynor, Cowley, Taylor, Lait.
Booked: Lawrence (20'), K.Morphew (49'), Mussa (52'), Cowley (66'), Quaynor (68'), Sturgess (81', 86').
Sent off Sturgess (86').
Goals: Page (37', 54'), Hunt (69').
