Bromsgrove Sporting 0

An exquisite free kick from Marcel Lewis was the difference between Needham Market and Bromsgrove Sporting at Bloomfields on Good Friday.

The talented Lewis, recently signed from fellow Southern League Premier side AFC Sudbury, scored 15 minutes in - a rare moment of inspiration in what was an otherwise drab encounter.

The strike, from around just under 25 yards out, hit the underside of the crossbar before finding the top of Sporting stopper Rory Brown's goal.

Moments later, Sporting's Jack Kelly had a header saved before Charlie Trustram had a strong penalty claim ignored after appearing to have been brought down in the area.

Joe Neal hit the side netting for the home side in the 29th minute, before he had a shot from close range saved by Brown 22 minutes into the second half.

Other than that effort, the second half was devoid of any real clear cut chances, on an afternoon where the ball spent a lot of time being ferociously blown around in the Suffolk air. Luke Benbow, Shay Willock and Kian Ryley were all brought off the bench for Sporting, but to no avail.

For Needham, these three points kept their hopes of obtaining a play-off place alive whilst, for Bromsgrove, it was as they were in the fight to stay in the league, with nearest rivals Stamford, St Ives and Barwell all losing on the afternoon - having all been leading at half time.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Entertainment Rating: 2/5
Reporter's Player of the Match: Marcel Lewis (Needham Market)

Attendance: 383
Sporting Player of the Match, as chosen by chairman Rod Brown: Jack Kelly

Report: Max Banner