MOTM Liam Pearce discusses his hat-trick, while Manager Tom Rothery looks back on an empathic away win.
Needham Market returned to winning ways with a statement 5-0 win away at Suffolk Rivals Bury Town.
Tom Rothery made two changes from Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Anstey Nomads - Dan Morphew and Ryan Miles returned to the starting eleven in place of Ollie Saunders and Marcel Lewis (both on the bench).
Liam Pearce continued his red hot scoring streak, with a hat-trick (4', 45'+1', 78'), taking his Needham goal tally to eleven in ten appearances - with six goals in league matches. Luke Ingram (17') - with his second league goal of the campaign - and Ryan Miles - who now has four goals in as many games, six all together in the league and seven in total - completed an outstanding performance and result in West Suffolk.
The Blues had won all four of their prior league outings at the OCS Ram Meadow Stadium, sitting second in the league table with one prior defeat in ten outings before Tuesday night, while the Marketmen had won four of their ten games.
Needham raced out of the blocks, with Ryan Miles creating mayhem down the Bury right-hand side.
After muted penalty appeals from the winger's first dart dangerously into the area (2'), Miles ('3') raced onto the Needham left-hand side to cutback to an unmarked Liam Pearce - who weaved into space but his shot was deflected crucially behind by Lewis O'Malley.
MOTM Liam Pearce swiftly opened the scoring (4'), and netted his fourth league goal of the season totalling 9 goal in his last ten Needham appearances to mark a dominant front foot start from the Marketmen.
The forward latched onto the loose ball, with Miles again involved, to expertly unleash a powerful half-volley brilliantly into the far corner, to make it 1-0 Needham!
Pearce (6') then rifled narrowly over from the edge of the box, unopposed.
Needham remained on top (15'), Ben Hunter drove into space outside the box but saw his shot blocked away by Tommy Smith.
17' INGERSS!!!!!!
The Reds made their possession and threat count, doubling their lead in the 17th minute. An excellent long ball over the top threaded Luke Ingram through on the right-hand side to beat the defender - drawing Beckwith off his line only to poke past the keeper and into the far corner via the inside of the post!
Hammond (18') fired just wide of the left-hand post from distance, catching Beckwith off his line, ahead of the midfielder (19') forcing a big save from the Bury goalkeeper.
Hammond's ferocious 25-yard free-kick was tipped just wide by Beckwith sharply up to his right-hand corner.
Tommy Smith (22') fired just wide from close range on the right-hand side, as Needham remained relentless.
Bury meanwhile had a good spell of possession (23'), drawing two big saves from James Bradbrook, with Needham otherwise restricting Bury to very few major chances.
Bradbrook quickly dived down smartly at his near, left-hand, post to thwart Bury at the expense of a corner, followed by another important save from the Needham stopper.
A mistake at the back invited Tommy Hughes to drive through but his attempted dink over the onrushing Bradbrook was excellently swatted away.
A crucial defensive block (43') preserved Needham's 2 goal advantage as the interval beckoned, which Liam Pearce made the visitors' lead even more comfortable with his second goal of the night just prior to half-time (45'+1').
Tevan Allen broke onto the right to tee up the forward in space to jink closer to the edge of the area and wrap an exquisite finish into the top far corner for Needham's third of the night.
After going into the break with a commanding lead, Needham still looked to inflict more damage on their high flying hosts.
After Ally Conway (56') blazed a free-kick comfortably wide of the far post, Needham netted a fourth goal on 64 minutes.
Ryan Miles marked a fine performance by latching onto a great ball down the left-hand side, expertly nutmeg the onrushing Beckwith to pick out the near corner!
The winger nearly repeated the feat two minutes later, though this time - from an even acuter angle and closer range - saw his shot beaten behind by Beckwith guarding his near post.
The home stopper then thwarted Dan Morphew (71') from poking home following a corner, just clawing it away on the goal-line, with his opposite number James Bradbrook soon on hand to deny ex-Needham Academy graduate and 100 appearance maker Seth Chambers from getting a consolation goal for Cole Skuse's side (73').
The striker raced through close to goal, only for James Bradbrook to narrow down the angle and smother his shot.
Needham withdrew Keiran Morphew and Luke Ingram (75') for Marcel Lewis and Harlyn Palmer, shortly before Liam Pearce (78') went close to a hat-trick.
The forward twisted into space to shoot albeit Ethan Mayhew deflected his strike just wide of the near, right-hand, post, into the side-netting.
Moments later, from the resulting set-piece, Liam Pearce completed his hat-trick, rifling home into the bottom left-hand, near, corner to make it 5-0 to Needham.
James Coton replaced Ryan Miles (80'), as Needham picked up a third league win in six matches, and a first league victory in three outings, with a third away success in five games.
Needham travel to Leamington (15th) on Saturday (3pm).
Bury Town:- 1 Charlie Beckwith, 2 Joe White, 5 Tommy Smith, 6 Lewis O'Malley (55' Carroll), 7 Max Maughn, 8 Tommy Hughes (33' Jolland), 9 Ollie Canfer (C) (55' Chambers), 10 George Quantrell (72' Flowers), 12 Ally Conway, 14 Ethan Mayhew, 15 Jamie McGrath (68' Ford). Subs: 3 Joe Carroll, 4 Ryan Jolland, 11 Tayos Flowers, 16 Seth Chambers, 17 Sam Ford.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C) (75' Lewis), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram (75' Palmer), 10 Ryan Miles (80' Coton), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 17 Ben Hunter, 19 Kell Fiddy. Subs: 8 Ollie Saunders, 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 18 Harlyn Palmer.
Booked: Lewis O'Malley (19'), Kyle Hammond (59').
Goals: Liam Pearce (4', 45'+1', 78'), Luke Ingram (17'), Ryan Miles (64').
Att: 982.
Needham MOTM: 12 Liam Pearce.
Tom Rothery made two changes from Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Anstey Nomads - Dan Morphew and Ryan Miles returned to the starting eleven in place of Ollie Saunders and Marcel Lewis (both on the bench).
Liam Pearce continued his red hot scoring streak, with a hat-trick (4', 45'+1', 78'), taking his Needham goal tally to eleven in ten appearances - with six goals in league matches. Luke Ingram (17') - with his second league goal of the campaign - and Ryan Miles - who now has four goals in as many games, six all together in the league and seven in total - completed an outstanding performance and result in West Suffolk.
The Blues had won all four of their prior league outings at the OCS Ram Meadow Stadium, sitting second in the league table with one prior defeat in ten outings before Tuesday night, while the Marketmen had won four of their ten games.
Needham raced out of the blocks, with Ryan Miles creating mayhem down the Bury right-hand side.
After muted penalty appeals from the winger's first dart dangerously into the area (2'), Miles ('3') raced onto the Needham left-hand side to cutback to an unmarked Liam Pearce - who weaved into space but his shot was deflected crucially behind by Lewis O'Malley.
MOTM Liam Pearce swiftly opened the scoring (4'), and netted his fourth league goal of the season totalling 9 goal in his last ten Needham appearances to mark a dominant front foot start from the Marketmen.
The forward latched onto the loose ball, with Miles again involved, to expertly unleash a powerful half-volley brilliantly into the far corner, to make it 1-0 Needham!
Pearce (6') then rifled narrowly over from the edge of the box, unopposed.
Needham remained on top (15'), Ben Hunter drove into space outside the box but saw his shot blocked away by Tommy Smith.
17' INGERSS!!!!!!
The Reds made their possession and threat count, doubling their lead in the 17th minute. An excellent long ball over the top threaded Luke Ingram through on the right-hand side to beat the defender - drawing Beckwith off his line only to poke past the keeper and into the far corner via the inside of the post!
Hammond (18') fired just wide of the left-hand post from distance, catching Beckwith off his line, ahead of the midfielder (19') forcing a big save from the Bury goalkeeper.
Hammond's ferocious 25-yard free-kick was tipped just wide by Beckwith sharply up to his right-hand corner.
Tommy Smith (22') fired just wide from close range on the right-hand side, as Needham remained relentless.
Bury meanwhile had a good spell of possession (23'), drawing two big saves from James Bradbrook, with Needham otherwise restricting Bury to very few major chances.
Bradbrook quickly dived down smartly at his near, left-hand, post to thwart Bury at the expense of a corner, followed by another important save from the Needham stopper.
A mistake at the back invited Tommy Hughes to drive through but his attempted dink over the onrushing Bradbrook was excellently swatted away.
A crucial defensive block (43') preserved Needham's 2 goal advantage as the interval beckoned, which Liam Pearce made the visitors' lead even more comfortable with his second goal of the night just prior to half-time (45'+1').
Tevan Allen broke onto the right to tee up the forward in space to jink closer to the edge of the area and wrap an exquisite finish into the top far corner for Needham's third of the night.
After going into the break with a commanding lead, Needham still looked to inflict more damage on their high flying hosts.
After Ally Conway (56') blazed a free-kick comfortably wide of the far post, Needham netted a fourth goal on 64 minutes.
Ryan Miles marked a fine performance by latching onto a great ball down the left-hand side, expertly nutmeg the onrushing Beckwith to pick out the near corner!
The winger nearly repeated the feat two minutes later, though this time - from an even acuter angle and closer range - saw his shot beaten behind by Beckwith guarding his near post.
The home stopper then thwarted Dan Morphew (71') from poking home following a corner, just clawing it away on the goal-line, with his opposite number James Bradbrook soon on hand to deny ex-Needham Academy graduate and 100 appearance maker Seth Chambers from getting a consolation goal for Cole Skuse's side (73').
The striker raced through close to goal, only for James Bradbrook to narrow down the angle and smother his shot.
Needham withdrew Keiran Morphew and Luke Ingram (75') for Marcel Lewis and Harlyn Palmer, shortly before Liam Pearce (78') went close to a hat-trick.
The forward twisted into space to shoot albeit Ethan Mayhew deflected his strike just wide of the near, right-hand, post, into the side-netting.
Moments later, from the resulting set-piece, Liam Pearce completed his hat-trick, rifling home into the bottom left-hand, near, corner to make it 5-0 to Needham.
James Coton replaced Ryan Miles (80'), as Needham picked up a third league win in six matches, and a first league victory in three outings, with a third away success in five games.
Needham travel to Leamington (15th) on Saturday (3pm).
Bury Town:- 1 Charlie Beckwith, 2 Joe White, 5 Tommy Smith, 6 Lewis O'Malley (55' Carroll), 7 Max Maughn, 8 Tommy Hughes (33' Jolland), 9 Ollie Canfer (C) (55' Chambers), 10 George Quantrell (72' Flowers), 12 Ally Conway, 14 Ethan Mayhew, 15 Jamie McGrath (68' Ford). Subs: 3 Joe Carroll, 4 Ryan Jolland, 11 Tayos Flowers, 16 Seth Chambers, 17 Sam Ford.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C) (75' Lewis), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram (75' Palmer), 10 Ryan Miles (80' Coton), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 17 Ben Hunter, 19 Kell Fiddy. Subs: 8 Ollie Saunders, 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 18 Harlyn Palmer.
Booked: Lewis O'Malley (19'), Kyle Hammond (59').
Goals: Liam Pearce (4', 45'+1', 78'), Luke Ingram (17'), Ryan Miles (64').
Att: 982.
Needham MOTM: 12 Liam Pearce.