Needham kicked off on a mild October evening with the Notcutt’s Park pitch looking in good condition. Both sides spent the first quarter of an hour moving the ball about well on a slick surface and it was Woodbridge who had the first opportunities with Jones saving from Goddard in the 9th and 14th minutes. Phillips fired wide from 18 yards after 15 minutes and Joshua failed to test Jones after 23 minutes before Needham went in to a two goal lead with their first two shots on target. The first goal came after 28 minutes when DANNY THROWER converted a Harrop pass from 14 yards and DANNY PHILLIPS doubled the lead within a minute when he slotted home from 8 yards after an interchange of passes with Parker. It was all Needham now and after Wilson had to push away a Harrop volley after 34 minutes another Needham goal looked imminent and it came a minute later when CRAIG PARKER headed home a Harrop corner. Parker shot high and wide after 39 minutes and Agricole could have done better from close in with two minutes to play before the break.

H/T WOODBRIDGE TOWN 0 NEEDHAM MARKET 3

Woodbridge’s hopes of a comeback were dashed three minutes in to the second half when RHYS BARBER collected a Butler header after Woodbridge failed to clear a corner and slid the ball passed the advancing Wilson to open his account for the season. Goddard was replaced by Jay Churchyard after 51 minutes with Rea replacing Pratt five minutes later and Wilson made a point blank save from Parker following a Thrower corner after 62 minutes. Both sides were still pinging the ball about but chances were few and far between with Bethell replacing Thrower after 67 minutes and Buckle joining the fray in place of Parker four minutes later. Woodbridge introduced Baldry for Morphew with 15 minutes to play followed by the final substitution of the match in the 77th minute with Smy replacing Harrop.Needham were now pressing hard for their fifth with a three minute spell of efforts from Buckle,Butler,Bethell and Smy starting in the 80th minute. The Fifth and Sixth goals did follow in the 84th and 85th minutes with first RHYS BARBER making his 200th appearance for the club scoring his second of the match with a header from an Evans corner and DANNY SMY converting Phillip’s cross. The last action of the match was a Bethell effort being deflected after he linked up well with Smy in the 88th minute.

F/T WOODBRIDGE TOWN 0 NEEDHAM MARKET 6
 

Woodbridge Team: Adam Wilson, Seb Brimstead, Grant Monaghan, Chris Pratt (Sean Rea 60), Craig Stuart, Ben Miller, Tom Trevivian, Dan Morphew (George Baldry 78), Ben Goddard (Jay Churchyard 55), Marcus Josiah, Aaron Churchyard

www.needhammarketfc.co.uk