Needham had won 3 of their 4 previous meetings with Leamington, 2 of those victories away 1-0. Jamie McGrath (74') away on Saturday 24th February 2024, after Luke Ingram (18') and Tevan Allen (27') secured a 2-1 win on Tuesday 5th December 2023 as both sides won promotion to step 2. The two met again in that division with Ingram (61'pen) securing a win on the road on Tuesday 26th November 2024, ahead of a 1-1 draw at home on Tuesday 25th February 2025 - Reggie Lambe (68') on target that evening.
Needham went into the fifth meeting between the two sides in ninth position, just outside the play-off places by two points (17 points with 5 wins in 11 games), while the hosts sat 15th (10 points from 11 matches with 2 wins). Leamington had won once in five home league outings in 2026/27, drawing 3 (goal difference of 8-5), while Needham had 3 wins from 5 league away trips picking up 9 points (goal difference of 13-9).
Tom Rothery named an unchanged team that smashed Bury Town 5-0 away on Tuesday, with the only alterations seeing Jake Dye and Reserves captain Harry Hopkins on the bench, and Ollie Saunders drop out through injury.
GOALS/RED CARDS/FLOW OF GAME
MOTM Ryan Miles' (2') seventh goal of the campaign gave Needham the lead early on, though Chris Wreh (18') looped a shot in to equalise for the Brakes.
Ryan Miles (20') however pounced on poor defensive judgement to double his and Needham's tally to make it 2-1 to the Suffolk side, who went into the interval 2-1 up after an even opening 45 minutes.
The game ended with ten men as Dan Morphew (58') was dismissed for a last man trip for the Marketmen, while Chris Wreh (77') was shown a red card for the Brakes after a foul on Kyle Hammond. Needham arguably remained the better side throughout and held on for a 2-1 victory and a fourth in fifth meetings.
The Markemen (2') won an early right wing corner through Liam Pearce, which created the opening goal of the game. Tevan Allen's set-piece was flicked by Dan Morphew leaping freely at the near post onto an unmarked Ryan Miles to glance home his 7th league goal of the campaign into the bottom far corner with the first attack of the afternoon.
James Bradbrook (6') held onto a shot straight at him, as a long ball towards Luke Ingram was claimed by Brian Okonkwo (9') slightly off his line.
Luke Ingram (17') was well placed to block Owen Farmer's ferocious low volley destined to find the bottom right-hand corner wide via the post, though the Brakes levelled from the folowing set-piece (18').
Chris Wreh looped a downward header over Bradbrook and into the roof of the net.
Netting his third goal in two games, Ryan Miles restored Needham's lead almost instantly (20'), defender slips receiving a pass at the back inviting Miles in as he sends the keeper early to slide into an empty net, 2-1 Needham!
Tommy Smith was forced off with injury (28') as Jake Dye was introduced, though Owen Farmer (30') met a left wing cross on the far side but volleyed wide, of the bottom right-hand corner, into the side-netting.
Keiran Morphew (33') was the first recipient of a caution, after a foul which prompted fury from the Brakes, while Luke Ingram (34') lashed a low strike - from in space on the right-hand edge of the box - narrowly wide of the bottom far corner.
Leamington (40') whipped a dangerous right wing cross in that flashed and dipped just wide of the bottom far corner, in an even and end-to-end first half.
After Nathan Kabeya slid in dangerously on Pearce (43'), advantage was cleverly played as Miles drove onto the edge of the box but for Nat Kelly to get in the way and block the well hit hat-trick opportunity.
Raj Palit (45'+1') fired over from just outside the area, as Needham led 2-1 at the break courtesy of Ryan Miles' brace (2', 20').
After the restart, Owen Farmer (48') dragged his shot low and narrowly wide of the far, left-hand, corner after being teed up in space.
At the other end, after neat play from Liam Pearce, Allen (49') jinked into space on the left-hand edge of the area, but lashed his low shot just wide into the near side-netting.
Raj Palit (51') was fed free outside the box, following captain Finn's run and low delivery, only to skew his shot wide, as Kyle Hammond (52') saw a 20-yard shot blocked.
Ryan Miles (53') was booked, while an injury to Ben Hunter saw Marcel Lewis (55') take his place.
Leamington fired wide (57'), while Dan Morphew was sent off a minute later for a trip on the edge of his own box.
James Bradbrook (60') stepped smartly across to his far, left-hand, corner, to hold the free-kick.
Bradbrook (67') held Tonge's glancing header towards the far corner from a left wing cross, as Ryan Miles (68') raced into space down the left wing reaching the near byline close to goal dangerously to pull the ball back on a plate for a certain goal, though no Navy Needham shirt was around to capitalise.
Despite the man disadvantage, Needham still posed a threat. Substitute Marcel Lewis drew the keeper out to tee up Liam Pearce (70'), who was denied by the onrushing Brian Okonwo, while his follow up effort was blocked on the line by Flanagan.
Harlyn Palmer replaced Ryan Miles (72'), although the home side were also reduced to ten men on 77 minutes.
Leamington goalscorer Chris Wreh was dismissed for a foul on Hammond by the Needham dugout inside his own half.
Ingram (80') was booked, while Harlyn Palmer (86') whipped a first time right wing cross towards the six yard box but into Okonkwo's chest.
Needham (91') went close twice in quick sucession. Pearce drove forward to slip Lewis through on the left whose shot was blocked by the advancing Okonkwo, though the winger curled narrowly wide of the top far corner moments later.
A good stop from Bradbrook (93') denied the hosts an equaliser, the stopper dived expertly low to his far, left-hand, corner to hold onto a low strike across goal from distance,
Needham, who sneak into the final play-off spot (7th) secured aa hard fought second straight away win inside a week, also making it three wins away at Leamington, with Ryan Miles' first half brace the difference!
Needham host Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday (7:45pm) in the first of three consecutive games at Bloomfields in all competitions.
Leamington:- 1 Brian Okonkwo, 3 Callum Cockerill-Mollett, 4 Nat Kelly, 7 Kai Tonge, 9 Chris Wreh, 10 Kyle Finn (C), 11 Owen Farmer (72' Arthur), 15 Iddriss Fuseini, 16 Josh Flanagan, 20 Raj Palit, 21 Nathan Kabeya (76' Wright). Subs: 6 Cameron Eubank, 8 Luke Pennell, 14 Koby Arthur, 19 Kyle Belmonte, 24 Andre Wright.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 3 Tommy Smith (28' Dye), 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram, 10 Ryan Miles (72' Palmer), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 17 Ben Hunter (55' Lewis), 19 Kell Fiddy. Subs: 2 Jake Dye, 14 Harry Hopkins, 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 18 Harlyn Palmer.
Booked: Keiran Morphew (33'), Nathan Kabeya (43'), Ryan Miles (53'), Luke Ingram (80').
Sent Off: Dan Morphew (58'), Chris Wreh (77').
Goals: Chris Wreh (18'); Ryan Miles (2', 20').
Needham MOTM: 10 Ryan Miles.