Needham Market concluded 2024 with a hard fought 2-2 draw at King's Lynn Town.
Kevin Horlock's side made 2 changes to last week's home game against Darlington, Josh Tomlinson and Kyle Hammond starting in place of Tommy Smith (not available) and Reggie Lambe (on the bench), with Jacob Lay back from illness on the bench.
Although the Linnets took the lead twice, the Reds equalised twice in the second half to pick up an arguably well deserved point, as well as denying their hosts from going top of the league.
The Marketmen went close in the ninth minute, Watford loanee Jake Watkiss' exquisite free-kick from distance was lofted dangerously towards the back post, albeit Kyle Hammond's header across the area was cleared.
At the other end, an important save from Marcus Garnham denied the hosts 3 minutes later. After McCammon drove through onto goal, Garnham narrowed down the angle superbly to smother the shot away, as the rebound was fired wide.
The hosts however broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, McCammon intercepted Garnham's clearance before latching onto the loose ball on the byline, his cutbacks found Fin Barnes at point blank range to smash into the gaping top far corner.
Ben Hunter saw a volley blocked from the edge of the box on 18 minutes, prior to Margetts' far post free header, from a tight angle, going just wide of the left-hand post from Sass' dangerous left wing cross on 23 minutes.
Brilliant defending from Keiran Morphew, six minutes later, denied Hmami a shot at goal from 8-yards out - getting back in front of the forward to shield the ball back to Garnham. The hosts, meanwhile, smashed a shot wide from a tight angle moments later.
After Margetts saw a shot blocked behind for a corner on 37 minutes, Josh Tomlinson's clever ball over the top was turned awkwardly behind for a corner by Wilson two minutes later.
The Marketmen then enjoyed a good spell of possession to end the first half, with clever quick passing seeing Hunter fed into space on the left-hand byline, inside the box, but the midfielder just couldn't keep it in on 42 minutes, before Liam Cross forced Wilson to concede a corner two minutes later, which was flicked on twice into a dangerous area, though Keiran Morphew was adjudged to have fouled.
Needham introduced Seth Chambers for Liam Cross at the interval, with the Marketmen arguably having the better chances in a frantic, end to end half.
Kyle Hammond though defended brilliantly to win the ball back in a dangerous area and win a free-kick, two minutes after the break.
The hosts though saw a tame, close range, header from a free-kick comfortably held by Garnham on 49 minutes, followed by a audacious corner from Jake Watkiss that brought the visitors back on level terms 4 minutes later.
The Watford loanee, whose clever play earned the left wing set-piece, whipped the set-piece dangerously to the far post, finding Dan Morphew to ghost in unmarked and head home powerfully into the net from point blank range.
Substitute Chambers, who caused the home defence numerous problems, was fed into space inside the box before unselfishly teeing up Watkiss to shoot, from the right-hand side, whose low drilled shot across goal was tipped away by Boyes on 58 minutes.
The Marketmen continued to have the better chances as Hunter curled a 30-yard shot agonisingly just wide of the bottom left-hand corner on the hour mark, albeit King's Lynn retook the lead against the run of play 3 minutes later.
Fin Barnes weaved into space before slotting home into the bottom far corner at close range.
Horlock's side introduced Bermuda International Reggie Lambe in place of Tevan Allen, just after the hosts thundered a volley wide from the edge of the box on 71 minutes.
The Marketmen though responded well to the setback, with Keiran Morphew heading Jake Watkiss' latest sumptuous right wing corner corner just wide from close range on 75 minutes.
Hunter was replaced by Jamie McGrath soon after, with the substitute instantly having an impact - winning a penalty on 78 minutes. Great linkup play between McGrath and Chambers saw the forwards exchange passes before the former was fouled as he skipped past a man.
Up-stepped Ingram, who duly smashed home from the spot into the bottom left-hand corner, making it 2-2 with 11 minutes left on the clock.
Needham again made changes, as Adam Mills and Jacob Lay entered the action in place of Watkiss and Ingram, with a right wing cross just evading Mills from close range on 82 minutes.
Chambers then broke into space, through on goal inside the box, but was denied a shot on goal by a crucial interception, while good defending at the other end thwarted the hosts from bearing down on goal on 84 minutes.
Marcus Garnham though was forced into a terrific reflex save to preserve a point three minutes later, flying instinctively across to his left hand side to beat away Wilson's shot from a left wing free-kick. Barnes meanwhile saw a shot well blocked as the points were shared.
Needham begin 2025 at home to Peterborough Sports on New Year's Day (Wednesday, 3pm).
Assistant Manager Tom Rothery reflects on yesterday's trip to Kings Lynn.
DK: A good point to finish 2024?
TR: Yeah, based on the second half performance I felt we deserved a point definitely.
DK: The lads showed brilliant character to come from behind twice.
TR: We showed a lot of character in the second half and especially off the back of the first half where we didn’t really show anything. Coming to a side that are flying and having a good season it would have been easy to fold and so yeh it’s good that we haven’t done that and showed some resilience in the second half.
DK: What pleased you most today?
TR: The second half performance is where we should be at every half and every game. I just feel that we haven’t always done that this season. We doubt ourselves and too often wait to see what the other team do or wait for a going over at half time. That does frustrate me because as the second half showed when we play like that we can be very competitive at this level.
DK: The lads battled hard first half, but took the game to the hosts in the second half, was that the plan?
TR: No not at all we always want to try and play on our terms, that’s not always going to happen but that’s certainly the intention and that’s where the frustration for me comes from. I always want us to be front footed, I’d much rather play on our terms and how we want to play that’s not always going to happen but that’s always the intention. As a management we never set up to just nullify and try and nick stuff.
DK: You must be pleased with the goals we scored, clinically taken?
TR: Seth was excellent after coming on and certainly gave us more threat but we also stepped on and got more personal which was the aim first half too but that certainly happened and made us far more competitive. Off the back of that we created more I remember Hunts had a good shot from the edge along with Jake also so we carried more threat which means you’re in those positions more which then allows you hopefully to take one or more of those which we did. The tweak we made in the first half helped towards the end of the half with Dan, Josh and Hammo but overall you get more opportunities if you’re brave in and out of possession and I certainly felt we did that a lot better in the second half.
DK: We start 2025 at home to Peterborough Sports, a familiar opponent, how do you see that?
TR: Another tough game as always. We need to be ready from the off and front footed throughout.
Comentários