Needham Market's four year reign of the Suffolk Premier Cup came to an end on penalties at the semi-final stage to Felixstowe and Walton United.
Tom Rothery's side made 2 changes to the league draw at Chester, Ted Collis was ineligible as Jacob Lay started, with Josh Tomlinson starting ahead of Jamie McGrath. Jake Dye and Ollie Fraser returned to the bench, while Jake Watkiss was also ineligible.
Needham went close in the 4th minute as Tevan Allen's exquisite right wing corner in towards Tomlinson at point blank range was punched away by Harry Wright. Marcus Garnham did likewise from a right wing cross at the other end on 10 minutes, while Tevan Allen's short right wing free-kick to Iffy Allen saw the latter's deflected cross find Jacob Lay at the near post whose deflected effort was turned over for a corner four minutes later.
Reggie Lambe volleyed a powerful shot over from the edge of the box on 16 minutes, before the Seasiders' low shot was hit comfortably wide of the bottom near corner on 23 minutes.
Marcus Garnham meanwhile turned a low shot behind his bottom near, left-hand, corner expertly three minutes later, prior to comfortably holding a low shot at the same post.
Jamie McGrath's venomous low strike from distance however was held by Wright on 27 minutes, before a tackle prevented the midfielder a shot from inside the box a minute later. Tevan Allen was picked out at the far post from the recycled move, but Luke Ingram's fierce shot was blocked.
Garnham then saved another shot well at his left-hand post a minute later, while Iffy Allen saw a volley blocked on the edge of the box inside 33 minutes.
Harry Wright though held onto Ingram's goal-bound header at his top corner, after a partially cleared corner on 42 minutes, before a dangerous Kyle Hammond free-kick just evaded a couple of Navy shirts in a dangerous area three minutes later.
After the restart, Reggie Lambe saw a shot blocked on the edge of the box before riflingp the rebound over on 52 minutes, while appeals for a foul on Kyle Hammond inside the box were waved away for a corner.
28' Marco saves well at his left-hand post. 33 Iffy shit volley edge box blocked. 42' SAVE!
Ingram's header following a partially cleared clearance is caught by Wright at his top near corner.45' Hammond's dangerous right wing free-kick into a dangerous area evades a couple of Navy shirts before Felixstowe hack clear.
The Marketmen were arguably on top as Luke Ingram's 35-yard well struck effort was blocked on 57 minutes, though Josh Hitter broke the deadlock for Felixstowe on 61 minutes, as the midfielder glanced a controversial right wing free-kick into the bottom far corner.
Garnham then flew up superbly to brilliantly tip a shot away four minutes later, while Tom Warren glanced a left wing corner into the bottom far corner on 66 minutes.
Garnham held onto a shot well on 72 minutes, although Seth Chambers halved the deficit with 15 minutes left. A mix-up saw Harry Wright advance a long way out of his box in the attempt to clear a long ball only to miss it and allow Seth Chambers a open net to tap into.
Tevan Allen again swung a right wing corner into the danger area, but Wright punched it away once more on 78 minutes. The stopper denied Needham again a minute later, beating away Tommy Smith's far post flick on from Kyle Hammond's left wing free-kick. Chambers went close from the resulting corner, seeing a far post header looping towards the top right-hand corner blocked off the line moments later as Needham hunted an equaliser.
McGrath meanwhile had a free header held by Wright on 81 minutes, before Charlie Warren clattered a low shot back into play off the post on 89 minutes.
Felixstowe fired a shot wide on the verge of stoppage time, before Needham found a late equaliser on 93 minutes. Lambe and McGrath both saw shots blocked, falling for Seth Chambers to drill home his second of the night into the bottom corner.
As a result the tie went to penalties, which saw Luke Ingram, Reggie Lambe and Jake Dye all denied by Harry Wright, with Josh Hitter, Willie Clemons and Ford converting to send Felixstowe through to the final.
Needham switch focus back to the Vanarama National League North, with an important home fixture against Marine on Saturday (3pm).
Manager Tom Rothery reflects on last night's game.
DK: Overall what di you make of last night's game?
TR: It was quite scrappy throughout and we found it tough to really play how we wanted to so credit to Felixstowe for that. Obviously we’d have liked to progress but we haven’t so good luck to Felixstowe in the final. The biggest disappointment is the injuries we’ve picked up.
DK: You must be pleased with the reaction to come from 2-0 down to force penalties?
TR: Yeh we changed shape and looked like we’d come back into the game but the goals we gave away are disappointing obviously as before the first goal there wasn’t really much in the game and I expected us to be in the ascendancy really.
DK: Two well taken goals from Seth as well, which will do his confidence the world of good?
TR: Seth is a good player we know what he can do, I’ve said many times before especially to Seth I really believe in him, he’s a very good finisher and always does well for us in terms of the effort and work rate whether he starts or comes on but I always feel like he will get chances.
DK: Last night saw Jake (Dye) return from injury, which is another positive, how close is Keiran?
TR: Kieran will be ok for Saturday. Jake was a big positive last night, I thought he looked really good when he came on and Josh playing 65 was also a big positive.
DK: Another 'six-pointer' in the league on Saturday, how important is it that we continue our form of late?
TR: Every game is important we have 11 left it’s hugely important we are right for all of these 11 games.
DK: What style of game are you expecting from Marine?
TR: They’re a good footballing side, I like the way they play so hopefully it will be a good game and one that we perform well in
Commentaires