REACTION | Tom Rothery, Luke Ingram Post Match Interviews | Redditch United v Needham Market | 31.10.2026 |
A goal-frenzy second half saw five goals scored between the two teams as Redditch United overturned a 3-0 deficit to draw 3-3 with Needham Market at the Valley Stadium.
Needham - who in the 94th minute sat 4th but dropped to 8th at the final whistle - made one change to the side that drew at home to Leighton Town on Tuesday night, Jake Dye (ankle injury) dropped out with Dan Morphew returning to the starting eleven. The only other changes saw James Coton drop out the squad, in action for Mildenhall Town, with Academy striker Henry Vieira joining the returning Ollie Saunders in completing the bench.
Needham - who in the 94th minute sat 4th but dropped to 8th at the final whistle - made one change to the side that drew at home to Leighton Town on Tuesday night, Jake Dye (ankle injury) dropped out with Dan Morphew returning to the starting eleven. The only other changes saw James Coton drop out the squad, in action for Mildenhall Town, with Academy striker Henry Vieira joining the returning Ollie Saunders in completing the bench.
The two sides went into the game with equal league form, with Needham only a place higher in third due to goal difference - both winning 3, drawing 2 and losing one of their last six as 13th hosted 6th. Redditch went into the clash with 3 wins, 1 draw and one defeat at the Valley Stadium, while Needham sit 5th in the league away table winning 4 and losing 2 of their 6 league matches on the road.
When the two sides face one another, generally they are hotly contested affairs with whoever is at home coming out on top in 8 of the 13 total meetings - with Needham the only away victors in that time. Coincidentally the last 4 meetings have seen the team at home victorious - Needham winning 5 of the 14 encounters, drawing 4 and losing 4.
Needham went into the break deservedly in front, Luke Ingram (7') dispatched from the spot after Straw fouled Lewis. Ingram, taking his season tally to four goals, swept home a second (51') after a fantastic move, which Liam Pearce (57') followed up his assist with a clever low finish of his own soon after to put Needham into the ascendancy - netting his 12th goal for the club and 7th league goal of the season. Redditch through struck twice in the 70th minute and clawed a point at the very death to ensure a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw.
James Bradbrook (5') claimed a right wing cross-shot at his near post, while Marcel Lewis (6') looked to latch onto a through-ball into the area but had his outstretched leg clipped, with the referee confidently pointing to the spot.
Luke Ingram (7') fired home expertly into the bottom left-hand corner to break the deadlock, 1-0 Needham.
Needham kept on the front foot, Kyle Hammond (12') fired just wide of the bottom far, left-hand, corner while Liam Pearce (13') saw a close range shot blocked.
Szhem Whyte-Hall (14') volleyed over in space from outside the area, while Stan Straw (20'), who conceded the penalty made the exact same foul on Pearce out on the left wing and received the first caution of the afternoon.
Liam Pearce saw a ferocious shot (21') cleared crucially off the line, as Needham maintained their good start.
Great intricate football from the Marketmen (25') saw Liam Pearce and Luke Ingram link up to feed Marcel Lewis onto the right-hand side of the area whose ball towards Miles was gathered by Brown.
Needham led at the break after Ingram's early penalty, with the Marketmen also starting well after the break Marcel Lewis (47') weaved into space only to fire wide of the near left-hand post close to goal.
Jake Watkiss (50') was cautioned, prior to Needham doubling their lead on 51 minutes.
Great football saw Needham quickly break onto the left-hand side through Liam Pearce - who rounded Shambrook, the ball was then squared on a plate for Ingram arriving from 16-yards out to fire home into the bottom near, right-hand, corner to double our lead, and double Ingram's goal tally for the campaign to 4, making it 2-0 to Needham.
Needham swiftly added a third goal on 57 minutes. Clinical football ended with Liam Pearce being found free outside the box to lash home into the bottom right-hand corner, for his 7th league goal of the campaign!
The game suddenly exploded into life with the temperature increasingly massively, as Redditch swiftly scored two in a matter of seconds to bring the game back to life. Home substitute Dan Sweeney (69') was fed in space outside the area to turn and shoot across goal to Bradbrook's right albeit the keeper tipped it wide, which Redditch pulled two goals back in the following minute (70').
When the two sides face one another, generally they are hotly contested affairs with whoever is at home coming out on top in 8 of the 13 total meetings - with Needham the only away victors in that time. Coincidentally the last 4 meetings have seen the team at home victorious - Needham winning 5 of the 14 encounters, drawing 4 and losing 4.
Needham went into the break deservedly in front, Luke Ingram (7') dispatched from the spot after Straw fouled Lewis. Ingram, taking his season tally to four goals, swept home a second (51') after a fantastic move, which Liam Pearce (57') followed up his assist with a clever low finish of his own soon after to put Needham into the ascendancy - netting his 12th goal for the club and 7th league goal of the season. Redditch through struck twice in the 70th minute and clawed a point at the very death to ensure a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw.
James Bradbrook (5') claimed a right wing cross-shot at his near post, while Marcel Lewis (6') looked to latch onto a through-ball into the area but had his outstretched leg clipped, with the referee confidently pointing to the spot.
Luke Ingram (7') fired home expertly into the bottom left-hand corner to break the deadlock, 1-0 Needham.
Needham kept on the front foot, Kyle Hammond (12') fired just wide of the bottom far, left-hand, corner while Liam Pearce (13') saw a close range shot blocked.
Szhem Whyte-Hall (14') volleyed over in space from outside the area, while Stan Straw (20'), who conceded the penalty made the exact same foul on Pearce out on the left wing and received the first caution of the afternoon.
Liam Pearce saw a ferocious shot (21') cleared crucially off the line, as Needham maintained their good start.
Great intricate football from the Marketmen (25') saw Liam Pearce and Luke Ingram link up to feed Marcel Lewis onto the right-hand side of the area whose ball towards Miles was gathered by Brown.
Needham led at the break after Ingram's early penalty, with the Marketmen also starting well after the break Marcel Lewis (47') weaved into space only to fire wide of the near left-hand post close to goal.
Jake Watkiss (50') was cautioned, prior to Needham doubling their lead on 51 minutes.
Great football saw Needham quickly break onto the left-hand side through Liam Pearce - who rounded Shambrook, the ball was then squared on a plate for Ingram arriving from 16-yards out to fire home into the bottom near, right-hand, corner to double our lead, and double Ingram's goal tally for the campaign to 4, making it 2-0 to Needham.
Needham swiftly added a third goal on 57 minutes. Clinical football ended with Liam Pearce being found free outside the box to lash home into the bottom right-hand corner, for his 7th league goal of the campaign!
The game suddenly exploded into life with the temperature increasingly massively, as Redditch swiftly scored two in a matter of seconds to bring the game back to life. Home substitute Dan Sweeney (69') was fed in space outside the area to turn and shoot across goal to Bradbrook's right albeit the keeper tipped it wide, which Redditch pulled two goals back in the following minute (70').
First Da Silva turned home from the resulting corner, as Fielding found the bottom right corner after Sweeney's pass.
The visitors withdrew Ryan Miles for Ollie Saunders (73'), before Liam Pearce (77') whipped a great right wing cross into Jake Watkiss free at the back post, but it just evaded the latter at close range.
Needham made two late changes, Josh Tennial (91') replaced Lewis and Palmer (93') was introduced for Watkiss.
A last minute foul from Keiran Morphew - which saw the Needham skipper cautioned, and Dan Morphew also carded for dissent - proved to be decisive as Redditch snatched an equaliser. Dan Sweeney (95') curled home a free-kick from just outside the box into the top right corner.
Needham, who are now the joint second top scorers in the division (32 in 15 games) and are unbeaten in six league matches, return to Bloomfields Saturday - for the visit of Stourbridge (3pm).
Redditch United:- 1 Rory Brown, 2 Joel Shambrook, 4 Morgan Owen, 5 Stan Straw, 6 Gus Mafuta (56' Soleman), 7 Harrison Hazard (58' Da Silva), 12 Danny King, 15 William Fielding (92' Willow) , 17 Szhem Whyte-Hall (71' Beedie), 18 Tyler Bruck (56' Sweeney), 20 Robbie Bunn (C).
Subs: 3 Jack Willow, 11 Aram Soleman, 14 Alezandro Da Silva, 16 Dan Sweeney, 21 Sam Beedie.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Watkiss (93' Palmer), 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram, 10 Ryan Miles (73' Saunders), 12 Liam Pearce, 16 Marcel Lewis (91' Tennial), 17 Ben Hunter, 20 Kell Fiddy.
Subs: 3 Tyler Wright, 8 Ollie Saunders, 11 Josh Tennial, 15 Henry Vieira, 18 Harlyn Palmer.
Booked: Stan Straw (20'), Jake Watkiss (50'), Keiran Morphew (95'), Dan Morphew (95').
Goals: Alezandro Da Silva (70'), Billy Fielding (70'), Dan Sweeney (95'); Luke Ingram (7'pen, 51'), Liam Pearce (57')
Needham MOTM: 7 Luke Ingram.
The visitors withdrew Ryan Miles for Ollie Saunders (73'), before Liam Pearce (77') whipped a great right wing cross into Jake Watkiss free at the back post, but it just evaded the latter at close range.
Needham made two late changes, Josh Tennial (91') replaced Lewis and Palmer (93') was introduced for Watkiss.
A last minute foul from Keiran Morphew - which saw the Needham skipper cautioned, and Dan Morphew also carded for dissent - proved to be decisive as Redditch snatched an equaliser. Dan Sweeney (95') curled home a free-kick from just outside the box into the top right corner.
Needham, who are now the joint second top scorers in the division (32 in 15 games) and are unbeaten in six league matches, return to Bloomfields Saturday - for the visit of Stourbridge (3pm).
Redditch United:- 1 Rory Brown, 2 Joel Shambrook, 4 Morgan Owen, 5 Stan Straw, 6 Gus Mafuta (56' Soleman), 7 Harrison Hazard (58' Da Silva), 12 Danny King, 15 William Fielding (92' Willow) , 17 Szhem Whyte-Hall (71' Beedie), 18 Tyler Bruck (56' Sweeney), 20 Robbie Bunn (C).
Subs: 3 Jack Willow, 11 Aram Soleman, 14 Alezandro Da Silva, 16 Dan Sweeney, 21 Sam Beedie.
Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Watkiss (93' Palmer), 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram, 10 Ryan Miles (73' Saunders), 12 Liam Pearce, 16 Marcel Lewis (91' Tennial), 17 Ben Hunter, 20 Kell Fiddy.
Subs: 3 Tyler Wright, 8 Ollie Saunders, 11 Josh Tennial, 15 Henry Vieira, 18 Harlyn Palmer.
Booked: Stan Straw (20'), Jake Watkiss (50'), Keiran Morphew (95'), Dan Morphew (95').
Goals: Alezandro Da Silva (70'), Billy Fielding (70'), Dan Sweeney (95'); Luke Ingram (7'pen, 51'), Liam Pearce (57')
Needham MOTM: 7 Luke Ingram.