Needham Market earned a well deserved point away to Southport following a goalless draw.
Kevin Horlock's side made 3 changes to their last league outing, at home to Scarborough as Marcus Garnham, Tevan Allen, and Watford loanee Jake Watkiss - the latter making his debut - started in place of Danny Cullum (dropped to the bench), Kyle Hammond and Adam Mills, while Ingram, Lambe and Watkiss started in place of Seth Chambers (bench), Josh Tomlinson (bench) and Cross from Tuesday's Suffolk Premier Cup clash with Ipswich Wanderers.
Clear cut chances were at a premium, though Jake Dye almost broke through onto the right-hand side, while David Morgan was offside as he broke through at the other end - though Marcus Garnham was on hand to save in the 2nd minute.
Tommy Smith was then well placed to clear a shot from a loose ball at close range in the 6th minute.
In truth, both teams earned a point - with both, more so in the second half, having a case that they could've picked up all three points.
The Marketmen grew into the game well, with some great play in the ninth minute seeing Jacob Lay and Luke Ingram exchange passes and both drive into space down the left wing before the latter fed Tommy Smith onto the left-hand byline, albeit Chris Renshaw dives across to turn the latter's dangerous low cross behind.
While David Morgan was booked for a foul off the ball on Smith after 12 minutes, Keiran Morphew's free-kick just evaded Reggie Lambe and went through to keeper Renshaw four minutes later.
Watford loanee and Needham MOTM Jake Watkiss impressed on his debut, as the winger caused problems for the home defence, first floating a dangerous free-kick narrowly wide of the far post on 19 minutes, before seeing a 25-yard shot inadvertently blocked by Lambe.
The hosts however had the first real chance on the half-hour mark, a left wing cross found Jamie Proctor whose acrobatic, close range, effort towards goal fell to Morgan at the far post, whose shot went just over.
In truth it was more a game of two halves, while possession was equally shared, Southport arguably had the better chances first half, while the Marketmen did so in the second, although some good defending from the hosts denied a great chance for the Suffolk side on 37 minutes.
Watkiss' surging run, after a clever pass from Smith, saw the two combine again with a quick one-two, as the winger's low cross looked destined to find Luke Ingram at close range but for a slight deflection off a defender to take it just away from the forward, who was primed to shoot on 37 minutes.
The Marketmen had another good chance two minutes later, Ben Hunter pounced onto Renshaw's free-kick, lofting the ball to Ingram, who exchanged a quick one-two with Watkiss before racing into space down the right-hand side where the winger spotted Renshaw off his line but saw his effort held by the keeper.
Tevan Allen meanwhile saw a dangerous free-kick blocked by the wall, while Sonny Hilton's left wing cross found Jamie Proctor at point blank range at the far post but saw his shot held by Garnham at a tight angle on 44 minutes.
Brilliant defending from Needham on 56 minutes, which ultimately earned them the important clean sheet and draw, saw the visitors deny three goal bound shots from one corner - blocking a shot from close range, while Ingram was well placed on the line to block Morgan's ferocious volley from the edge of the box. Captain Keiran Morphew then put his body on the line to turn the third shot behind for another corner.
Watkiss however forced Renshaw into the first major save either goalkeeper had to make on the hour-mark, the forward found space on the edge of the box before seeing his low shot beaten away by the home shot-stopper, down to his right-hand side.
Ingram was then deemed offside as he fired a low shot just wide of the bottom far, left-hand, corner three minutes later, as Watkiss saw a low dangerous cross cleared.
At the other end, the home side found Luke Burgess through on goal, but the latter shot just over on 65 minutes.
Ingram then worked space to shoot from the edge of the box, only to see his shot blocked six minutes later, before the away side were denied by the post moments later.
Ingram's low left wing cross-shot was blocked off the line as far as Dan Morphew whose ferocious first time shot out cannoned agonisingly wide off the outside of the left-hand post.
Garnham meanwhile was alert to hold onto a low shot comfortably at his right-hand corner on 78 minutes, before Lay and Lambe were replaced by Chambers and McGrath.
Dior Angus on the other hand saw his close range header comfortably held by Garnham two minutes later, as Needham had the better of the remaining chances.
Horlock's side were again denied by the post on 83 minutes as Watkiss' audacious free-kick was headed brilliantly back across goal by Jamie McGrath - just flashing past the far, right-hand, post with fellow substitute Seth Chambers stealing in to divert the ball towards goal but saw his effort denied by the upright.
At the other end, Luke Burgess shot high and over from the edge of the box, before Northampton Town loanee Josh Tomlinson replaced Watkiss.
Seth Chambers' flick on from a sumptuous cross released Jamie McGrath clear on goal in the 95th minute, but a crucial point blank save from Renshaw preserved his clean sheet.
MOTM Jake Watkiss said, "I thought we deserved a lot more from the game. I think second half, once it got less frantic, I think we really came into the game.
We had spells on the ball, keeping possession going forward, and obviously we had the chance where we hit the post. I think we deserved to get a little bit more from it. But overall, yes, good debut, good performance, good point."
"I think I've always taken set-pieces coming up through younger age groups. I think it helps having men that can go and attack it and hopefully get lots of assists from it.
Obviously, I only found out yesterday,
I was playing and obviously just buzzing. I just wanted to get on the pitch and show what I can do."
On joining on loan: "At the moment. Obviously, with how well the club's doing, they want all the boys to get out on loan and get some men's minutes.
I think it will really benefit me and help me for my future career. We've seen, like I've said, what we've been told before."
On what he thinks he's most known for and can be expected of him, "I think it showed today.
I'd definitely like to get forward, create chances, balls into the box, shots. Obviously, a big part is set-pieces as well. I'm going to switch tacks just quickly, but it won't be much longer."
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