POST MATCH REACTION FROM MOTM LIAM PEARCE AND MANAGER TOM ROTHERY (LINK)
Rushall Olympic inflicted a first league defeat in five matches on Needham Market, in a 5-3 defeat for the Marketmen, after the Pics had lost 3 of their last 4 games and last match prior to the clash at Dales Lane.
Tom Rothery made two changes to Tuesday's 4-0 home win over Stamford, Jake Dye (ankle) and Marcel Lewis (on the bench) made way for Luke Ingram and Ben Hunter.
Luke Yates (6'), Lewis Corbett (24') and Osaze Okuonghae (41') gave the Pics a 3-0 lead, albeit Luke Ingram from the penalty spot (44') reduced the deficit at the break.
Yates on the other hand restored Rushall's three goal advantage, which Liam Pearce (53') cancelled out with a poachers finish for 4-2.
Dan Morphew (83') was sent off to compound more disappointment on the Marketmen with home captain Liam McAlinden (84') hitting a fifth goal from the spot. Needham MOTM Liam Pearce (91') continued his red hot scoring run by netting his eighth Needham goal to round off proceedings with a 5-3 defeat for the Suffolk side.
James Bradbrook (30 seconds) held a low shot at his near left-hand post, ahead of claiming a right wing cross on his line in the fifth minute.
Rushall though (6') broke the deadlock as Luke Yates finished low at close range.
Rushall (9') forced a good stop from Bradbrook. Alcock drove onto the right forcing the Needham keeper to block the shot well at his near left-hand post, as the rebound was headed at goal only for Dan Morphew to head off the line. The linesman's flag went up on the follow up as Bradbrook made another sharp save at his near post.
Bradbrook meanwhile (13') picked out Ryan Miles with a great long ball to flick Kyle Hammond through but his effort goes over.
Hammond (16') nearly latched onto a great defence splitting pass but for keeper Taylor to just get there first to clear.
Needham began to find their rhythm (20'), patient build-up play saw Tevan Allen found on the right-hand edge of the area only to fire over.
More neat passing from the Suffolk side (22') saw Hammond look to set Pearce through into the area but a touch off a defender meant the ball fell to Ollie Saunders - from 20-yards out - whose low shot at the bottom right corner was held by the home goalkeeper.
The Pics (24') doubled their lead though as Lewis Corbett headed home a cross at close range.
The hosts (28') were denied again by Bradbrook, a right wing cross (28') found Liam McAlinden in the area whose low header across goal was held smartly by Bradbrook.
Carter Lycett was fed in space on the left-hand edge of the box (31'), but curled over the top far corner.
Tommy Smith (34') was cautioned, as Pearce and Ingram (38') linked up only for the latter to fire high and over from just outside the area.
The Pics made it 3-0 on 41 minutes,after a left wing free-kick was headed back across goal and headed home by Okuonghae.
Needham (44') reduced the deficit back to 2 goals after a handball.
Luke Ingram cooly fired into the right-hand corner from the spot!
Rushall (50') restored their 3 goal advantage, a right wing corner was met by Luke Yates to head home his second goal of the afternoon at the far post.
The Marketmen responded almost instantly (53'), Ben Hunter raced into the area whose deflected effort fell to Liam Pearce lurking to stab home at point blank range!
Rushall (57') glanced a left wing cross just wide of the near post, who fed a man free (62') on the left-hand side only to curl narrowly over the bar.
Needham then made a double change (64') Miles and Saunders were withdrawn for Marcel Lewis and Kell Fiddy.
Tommy Smith (72') worked space to shoot in space on the left-hand edge of the box but fired straight at Taylor, as Lewis lashed narrowly wide moments later.
McAlinden (79') crossed straight at Bradbrook, prior to Needham introducing Harlyn Palmer and James Coton (82') for Ben Hunter and Luke Ingram.
Allen and Alex Moore (81') were both booked, while the Suffolk side (83') were reduced to ten men after Dan Morphew (83') was sent off for a foul in his own area, which McAlinden (84') converted into the bottom left-hand corner - despite Bradbrook getting to the ball, restoring the hosts' 3 goal lead for 5-2.
Bradbrook (87') denied the hosts at point blank range following a low left wing cross, although Needham refused to give in and grabbed a third goal, albeit another consolation.
MOTM Pearce (91') picked up another brace - making it eight goals in eight games in all competitions and a third league goal in two games, latching onto a poor defensive pass to break through onto the right-hand side and cleverly find the top near corner, reducing the deficit to 5-3.
Needham return to Bloomfields on Saturday (3pm) at home to Anstey Nomads in the League.
Rushall Olympic:- 1 Ollie Taylor, 2 Todd Alcock, 3 Carter Lycett, 4 Aurio Teixeira (88' Concannon), 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Osaze Okuonghae (90'+4' Oliver), 7 Lewis Corbett (90'+2' Burton), 8 Alex Moore, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Luke Yates (90' Benbow), 11 Liam McAlinden. Subs: 12 Brad Burton, 14 Sam Oliver, 15 Jack Concannon, 16 Tyler Roberts, 19 Luke Benbow.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram (82' Coton), 8 Ollie Saunders (64' Fiddy), 10 Ryan Miles (64' Lewis), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 17 Ben Hunter (82' Palmer). Subs: 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 18 Harlyn Palmer, 19 Kellen Fiddy.
Booked: Tommy Smith (34'), Tevan Allen (81'), Alex Moore (81'), Marcel Lewis (87').
Sent Off: Dan Morphew (83').
Goals: Luke Yates (6', 50'), Lewis Corbett (24'), Osaze Okuonghae (41'), Liam McAlinded (84'pen); Luke Ingram (44'pen), Liam Pearce (53', 90'+1')
Tom Rothery made two changes to Tuesday's 4-0 home win over Stamford, Jake Dye (ankle) and Marcel Lewis (on the bench) made way for Luke Ingram and Ben Hunter.
Luke Yates (6'), Lewis Corbett (24') and Osaze Okuonghae (41') gave the Pics a 3-0 lead, albeit Luke Ingram from the penalty spot (44') reduced the deficit at the break.
Yates on the other hand restored Rushall's three goal advantage, which Liam Pearce (53') cancelled out with a poachers finish for 4-2.
Dan Morphew (83') was sent off to compound more disappointment on the Marketmen with home captain Liam McAlinden (84') hitting a fifth goal from the spot. Needham MOTM Liam Pearce (91') continued his red hot scoring run by netting his eighth Needham goal to round off proceedings with a 5-3 defeat for the Suffolk side.
James Bradbrook (30 seconds) held a low shot at his near left-hand post, ahead of claiming a right wing cross on his line in the fifth minute.
Rushall though (6') broke the deadlock as Luke Yates finished low at close range.
Rushall (9') forced a good stop from Bradbrook. Alcock drove onto the right forcing the Needham keeper to block the shot well at his near left-hand post, as the rebound was headed at goal only for Dan Morphew to head off the line. The linesman's flag went up on the follow up as Bradbrook made another sharp save at his near post.
Bradbrook meanwhile (13') picked out Ryan Miles with a great long ball to flick Kyle Hammond through but his effort goes over.
Hammond (16') nearly latched onto a great defence splitting pass but for keeper Taylor to just get there first to clear.
Needham began to find their rhythm (20'), patient build-up play saw Tevan Allen found on the right-hand edge of the area only to fire over.
More neat passing from the Suffolk side (22') saw Hammond look to set Pearce through into the area but a touch off a defender meant the ball fell to Ollie Saunders - from 20-yards out - whose low shot at the bottom right corner was held by the home goalkeeper.
The Pics (24') doubled their lead though as Lewis Corbett headed home a cross at close range.
The hosts (28') were denied again by Bradbrook, a right wing cross (28') found Liam McAlinden in the area whose low header across goal was held smartly by Bradbrook.
Carter Lycett was fed in space on the left-hand edge of the box (31'), but curled over the top far corner.
Tommy Smith (34') was cautioned, as Pearce and Ingram (38') linked up only for the latter to fire high and over from just outside the area.
The Pics made it 3-0 on 41 minutes,after a left wing free-kick was headed back across goal and headed home by Okuonghae.
Needham (44') reduced the deficit back to 2 goals after a handball.
Luke Ingram cooly fired into the right-hand corner from the spot!
Rushall (50') restored their 3 goal advantage, a right wing corner was met by Luke Yates to head home his second goal of the afternoon at the far post.
The Marketmen responded almost instantly (53'), Ben Hunter raced into the area whose deflected effort fell to Liam Pearce lurking to stab home at point blank range!
Rushall (57') glanced a left wing cross just wide of the near post, who fed a man free (62') on the left-hand side only to curl narrowly over the bar.
Needham then made a double change (64') Miles and Saunders were withdrawn for Marcel Lewis and Kell Fiddy.
Tommy Smith (72') worked space to shoot in space on the left-hand edge of the box but fired straight at Taylor, as Lewis lashed narrowly wide moments later.
McAlinden (79') crossed straight at Bradbrook, prior to Needham introducing Harlyn Palmer and James Coton (82') for Ben Hunter and Luke Ingram.
Allen and Alex Moore (81') were both booked, while the Suffolk side (83') were reduced to ten men after Dan Morphew (83') was sent off for a foul in his own area, which McAlinden (84') converted into the bottom left-hand corner - despite Bradbrook getting to the ball, restoring the hosts' 3 goal lead for 5-2.
Bradbrook (87') denied the hosts at point blank range following a low left wing cross, although Needham refused to give in and grabbed a third goal, albeit another consolation.
MOTM Pearce (91') picked up another brace - making it eight goals in eight games in all competitions and a third league goal in two games, latching onto a poor defensive pass to break through onto the right-hand side and cleverly find the top near corner, reducing the deficit to 5-3.
Needham return to Bloomfields on Saturday (3pm) at home to Anstey Nomads in the League.
Rushall Olympic:- 1 Ollie Taylor, 2 Todd Alcock, 3 Carter Lycett, 4 Aurio Teixeira (88' Concannon), 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Osaze Okuonghae (90'+4' Oliver), 7 Lewis Corbett (90'+2' Burton), 8 Alex Moore, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Luke Yates (90' Benbow), 11 Liam McAlinden. Subs: 12 Brad Burton, 14 Sam Oliver, 15 Jack Concannon, 16 Tyler Roberts, 19 Luke Benbow.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram (82' Coton), 8 Ollie Saunders (64' Fiddy), 10 Ryan Miles (64' Lewis), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 17 Ben Hunter (82' Palmer). Subs: 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 18 Harlyn Palmer, 19 Kellen Fiddy.
Booked: Tommy Smith (34'), Tevan Allen (81'), Alex Moore (81'), Marcel Lewis (87').
Sent Off: Dan Morphew (83').
Goals: Luke Yates (6', 50'), Lewis Corbett (24'), Osaze Okuonghae (41'), Liam McAlinded (84'pen); Luke Ingram (44'pen), Liam Pearce (53', 90'+1')