Interviews with Jake Dye, Dan Morphew and Tom Rothery
Jake Dye's last minute header ensured that Needham Market's Emirates FA Cup tie with Braintree Town would go to a replay on Tuesday night after a pulsating 3-3 draw at Bloomfields.
Needham reverted to the same team that started against Worcester City last weekend, in which Dan Morphew's penalty just before the break gave the home side a thoroughly deserved 1-0 lead.
In truth, the Reds should've arguably been further in front at half-time, although the National League South visitors quickly took the lead after the restart.
Louie Johnson (55') and George Evans (63') made it 2-1, but for Liam Pearce (72') to burn past the defence restore parity with his seventh goal in 4 games.
Fletcher Hubbard (81') regained the Iron's lead with a well hit strike for a 3-2 lead.
With it looking like the Marketmen would rue missed chances, up stepped Jake Dye to head home in the dying embers to keep Needham in Monday's draw.
Kyle Hammond (3') whipped a great strike just wide of the far, right-hand, post.
Needham's bright start (5') saw Liam Pearce drive forward, exchanging a neat one-two with Marcel Lewis, whose neat flick round the corner but it was intercepted at the crucial moment.
George Evans' (7') left wing dangerous cross to the far post was nodded behind by Tommy Smith for a corner, ahead of Liam Pearce (9') drifting unmarked onto the left-hand byline but his smart back-heeled cut-back just evaded Marcel Lewis.
Liam Pearce (11') again looked to be a nuisance for the Iron's defence, his latest attempt to drive into the box, was just read by the defence to clear.
Needham (12') forced the first save from either keeper, Tevan Allen ran free down the left-hand side but saw his fierce tight angled strike well saved by Ipswich Town loanee George Barrett at his near post.
Marcel Lewis (14') then looked to thread Kyle Hammond through one on one, but Barrett advanced out to just beat the midfielder to the ball.
At the other end, a big save from James Bradbrook (16') denied a dangerous free-kick from 25-yards out, as Alfie Matthews' swerving set-piece was smothered away by the chest of Bradbrook.
The Marketmen (26') had the ball in the net, albeit ruled out for offside, Liam Pearce drove clear on goal, before finding the bottom far, right-hand, corner expertly.
Needham (27') remained firmly on top, Pearce was fed through into space on the left-hand edge of the box by Lewis but fired narrowly over.
Tevan Allen's (29') low driven shot from range is initially spilt by Barrett, while Kyle Hammond (30') hammered a strike at goal from the left-hand edge of the gbox but it was defelected narrowly wide.
Keiran Morphew (31') mopped up after Braintree pounced on a loose pass in the Reds' defensive area, before Lewis (32') curled a low dangerous 25-yard free-kick, from the left-hand side, round the well only for Barrett to hold at his near post.
Liam Pearce (40') raced free down the right wing, prompting a reckless sliding challenge from West Ham loanee Luis Brown - who received the first caution of the afternoon.
From the resulting free-kick, Needham were awarded a penalty (41'). Captain Keiran Morphew's header towards goal was blocked out to Dan Morphew - who lashed a shot towards goal, albeit also blocked, with Kyle Hammond fouled on the follow up.
Dan Morphew (42') put Needham into a deserved lead at the break, rifling home into the middle of the net.
Needham kept searching for a second (45'+2'), Ben Hunter wrapped a 40-yard effort narrowly wide of the near post, though the Marketmen went even closer a minute later (45'+3').
Lewis hared onto the left-hand side, only to see his low strike beaten away by Barrett at full stretch, which fell to Ollie Saunders who skewed his low shot just agonisingly wide.
Needham were full value of their lead at the interval, though Braintree made a triple switch at half-time, and fed Anisius Lewis free just outside the area whose first time volley flew over.
Braintree started the second half with a point to prove, but good defending from Tommy Smith (51') glanced Adebayo's inviting 25-yard free-kick wide of the far post for a corner.
James Bradbrook (54') claimed a cross on his line at the near post well, though Braintree equalised a minute later (55').
Substitute Louie Johnson broke free at point blank range, at the right-hand post, to find the far corner.
Braintree (63') turned the game on its head to take a 2-1 lead, pouncing on a defensive mistake at the back by the hosts, George Evans converted into an empty net.
There was action at both ends, first Needham (67') looked to get back into the game as Hammond whipped an effort into Barrett's hands.
Bolovan (67') forced Bradbrook into a sharp reaction stop, low to his right-hand side to beat a close range strike wide, as Coton (69') replaced Saunders.
The hosts however equalised on 72 minutes, Liam Pearce continued his red hot scoring form, netting his seventh goal in 4 games with a cracking strike. A long ball released the forward racing through, twisting and turning past the defence to spin and fire home brilliantly into the bottom right-hand corner!!
Braintree (75') then lofted a dangerous right wing delivery into the box from the right that bounced off a white shirt and just wide of the near post at close range.
Luke Ingram (78') was introduced for Marcel Lewis, prior to the visitors retaking the lead (81'), Fletcher Hubbard curled a stunning strike into the top left-hand corner to make it 3-2 to the higher league Irons.
Ingram (83') was threaded clear on goal but for Barett to smother away his strike, ahead of a Needham change (83') saw Harlyn Palmer replace Allen.
Ingram (92') went agonisingly close to equalising late on, the winger beat Barrett to a long ball but his looping header crashed agonisingly over off the top of the bar, ahead of Bradbrook (93') standing firm at his near, right-hand, post to block Anisius Lewis' point range strike behind.
Hubbard (96') bared down on goal but for his long range chip to be held by Bradbrook, before Jake Dye earned Needham a well deserved draw moments later.
Hammond's left wing cross back into the area was nodded home by Jake Dye ghosting in at the far post at point blank range to secure a 3-3 draw.
Both teams will therefore be in Monday's 3rd Qualifying Round draw, with the replay to take place in Essex on Tuesday (7:45pm), meaning the Marketmen's Southern League Central Premier Division trip to Leighton Town will be re-arranged for another date.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 8 Ollie Saunders (69' Coton), 11 Tevan Allen (83' Palmer), 12 Liam Pearce, 16 Marcel Lewis (78' Ingram), 17 Ben Hunter. Subs: 7 Luke Ingram, 10 Ryan Miles, 14 Josh Curry, 15 James Coton, 18 Harlyn Palmer, 19 Kellen Fiddy, 13 Charlie Skinner (GK).
Braintree Town:- 1 George Barrett, 2 Idreess Namisi, 19 Vladimir Paternoser (63' Lewis), 6 Jet Dyer, 18 Luis Brown (HT' Senior), 4 Reuben Swann, 22 Emmanuel Okunowo (HT' Bolovan), 10 Alfie Matthews (HT' Johnson), 21 Afi Adebayo, 20 George Evans (77' Hubbard), 9 Anisius Lewis (C). Subs: 11 Fletcher Hubbard, 7 Courtney Senior, 15 Alex Bolovan, 16 Alfie Lewis, 8 Louie Johnson.
Booked: Luis Brown (40').
Goals: Dan Morphew (42'pen), Liam Pearce (72'); Louie Johnson (55'), George Evans (63'), Fletcher Hubbard (81').
Needham MOTM Sponsored by Match Sponsors The Windscreen Company: 3 Tommy Smith.
Att: 410.