A five star sintilating performance from Needham Market guides the Marketmen to a second consecutive win in all competitions.
Manager Kevin Horlock made one change to the 3-1 Emirates FA Cup win over Leiston, with Seth Chambers replaced by Jamie McGrath and Charlton Athletic loanee Ryan Viggars back on the bench. Chambers and Taylor Clark meanwhile were unavailable, due to the Under-18's FA Youth Cup tie at Newmarket Town the same night.
Royston however had the first chance of the night after just 6 minutes, a left wing free-kick was swung in dangerously to the far post where a header dangerously flashes across the face of goal went just wide of the left-hand post.
Up the other end two minutes later, Royston goalkeeper Dimitrios Kyriatzis, who was the busier of the two goalkeepers, needed to be alert to gather Noah Collard's clever right wing cutback, off his line well at waist height.
It was a very good team performance from the Marketmen, with everyone in Needham Red putting in a good performance.
But Royston did have a few good chances, although Tigwell's 10th minute low shot from 35-yards out was tame and easily gathered by Marcus Garnham at his far post.
Both league meetings between the two sides last season ended in high scoring draws, 2-2 and 3-3, but it very much wasn't the case this time around with the Marketmen very much on top of the vast majority of the game.
After playing a neat one-two from a free-kick in the 11th minute, Ross Crane then cut inside well onto the right-hand edge of the box, but the winger blasted his side wide of the bottom far corner.
Christian Frimpong meanwhile cleverly fed Jacob Lay, who in turn released Jamie McGrath through with a defence splitting back-heel, although the latter just couldn't quite beat the onrushing goalkeeper to it on 19 minutes.
Four minutes later, Royston though had a decent chance of their own, a right wing cross was hung up to a man free at the back post, whose header from a tight angle went off target.
Straight up the other end, Man Of The Match Kyle Hammond curled a well taken 30-yard free-kick just over the crossbar, while Jacob Lay drove through into the box only to see his shot blocked.
Jamie McGrath then latched onto a great crossfield left wing ball at the far post after 26 minutes, but the striker could only head low into the near side-netting from a tight angle.
Two minutes later, a well taken free-kick from Ross Crane was swung into a dangerous area in the six yard box, but with Needham shirts arriving to take advantage the Royston 'keeper was first to it, claiming the ball well.
The first real shot of note for the night though arrived on 31 minutes, Kyle Hammond's ferocious 35-yard drive towards the bottom near right-hand corner drew a good save from Kyriatzis to beat it away.
The Marketmen then went agonisingly close a minute later, Jamie McGrath chopped a sumputous ball over the top to release Christian Frimpong past the defence, although the midfielder's first time poke towards goal just looped over the goalkeeper.
Ross Crane meanwhile saw his fierce low shot well held by Kyriatzis down well at his left-hand post in the 34th minute, before the 'keeper was alert to intercept Noah Collard's great through-ball towards Jacob Lay five minutes later.
Seconds later, great one touch play from the home side saw Crane cleverly fed Noah Collard into space from 25-yards out, whose first time shot went over the bar.
The former's well taken right wing corner then picked out Frimpong free at the far post, but the midfielder's good header was deflected just over the crossbar on 42 minutes, but for the resulting short corner to be blasted wide by Kyle Hammond.
A stunning cross-turned-shot from Kyle Hammond then broke the deadlock in style on the stroke of half-time, the defender's audacious left wing edge of the box delivery evaded everyone's head in the box, including Dan Morphew and Noah Collard's before dipping into the bottom far corner.
In response, Tshikuna forced a flying save from Marcus Garnham a minute later, the stopper reacting quickly to tip the shot over his crossbar, which Mensah headed over from the resulting corner, preserving Needham's deserved half-time advantage.
Some brilliant second half finishing from the rampant Marketmen ultimately put the Crows to the sword, although it was the away side who had a half chance just seconds after the restart, as Hugh Cullum cleared away a dangerous right wing cross at the far post.
Up the other end, Needham carried on the second half how they ended the first, as great play saw McGrath tee up Noah Collard, whose shot blasted over the bar.
Jake Dye then tried his luck at goal on 54 minutes, only to fire a great strike also over the crossbar.
Five minutes later, great play from goalscorer Hammond almost provided a second Needham goal, the former's right wing cutback found Patrick Brothers whose low strike was crucially blocked.
Hammond though doubled his side's advantage on 62 minutes, after Jacob Lay was fouled just outside the penalty area, for which Clark Mensah was cautioned, the full-back's powerful free-kick was deflected into the left-hand corner off the wall, despite a hand from Kyriatzis.
Lay on the other hand cut inside well onto the left-hand edge of the box only to curl his shot wide of the top far corner after 71 minutes.
A stunning double save from Marcus Garnham meanwhile then thwarted Royston in style a minute later, a right wing cross picked out Matthew Bateman free at the far post, whose angled header towards the bottom left hand corner was well plucked away by Garnham, while the former's rebound effort was again well poked away by the Needham number 1.
As a result, Needham broke on the counter and deservedly added a third goal, a great long ball was flicked on by the head of substitute Ryan Viggars, releasing Ross Crane through with just Kyriatzis to beat, which he duly did. The forward drove smartly through down the left-hand side of the box to beat the committed goalkeeper before audaciously chipping the goalkeeper with the ball nestling into the bottom left-hand corner, 3-0 Needham after 73 minutes.
The home side weren't done yet though, first Jake Dye's fierce shot was deflected just wide of the bottom near corner, while Frimpong's effort went just off target in the 76th minute.
Dye again picked up possession on the left-hand edge of the box three minutes later, although this time the defender's low shot was well gathered by Kyriatzis at his near post.
And with nine minutes left on the clock, Patrick Brothers added to Royston's misery, Jacob Lay's cutback found the midfielder arriving onto the edge of the box, who drove home into the bottom left hand corner, 4-0 Needham.
Lay then got in on the act himself four minutes later, great team play saw Ryan Viggars threaded Rods Crane through down the right-hand side, the latter then squared a great ball across the six yard box, drawing Kyriatzis off his line to dive across and tip it away. But only as far as Jacob Lay, lurking from close range, who tapped into the gaping bottom left hand corner, 5-0.
But just as the game entered the 90th minute, Marcus Garnham put the icing on the top of the Needham cake, after Royston were awarded a penalty for a handball, Matthew Bateman's penalty was beaten away well by the penalty saving specialist down to his bottom left hand corner.
It nearly got even better for the Marketmen in the second minute of stoppage time, substitute Evan Collard threaded Jacob Lay through down the right-hand side of the box although the latter fired his shot off target.
The former then tired his luck at goal a minute later, but shot straight at the goalkeeper.
A fantastic performance from the Marketmen ends a run of two straight league defeats, moving Horlock's side up to 11th in the league ahead of Saturday's Emirates FA Cup 2nd Qualifying home tie against lower league Thurlow Nunn Premier Division side Sheringham (3pm)
Needham Market:
1 Marcus Garnham
2 Kyle Hammond
3 Jake Dye
14 Christian Frimpong
5 Hugh Cullum
6 Daniel Morphew (C)
7 Jacob Lay
8 Noah Collard (80' Fitzgerald)
9 Jamie McGrath (69' Viggars)
10 Patrick Brothers (82' E.Collard)
11 Ross Crane
Subs:
12 Ryan Viggars
15 Evan Collard
16 Archie Exworth
17 Tom Fitzgerald
18 Finlay Shorten (GK)
Royston Town
13 Dimitrios Kyriatzis
2 Daniel Newton
3 Joel Nakatani-Brown (69' Williams)
4 Spyros Mentos
5 Adam Murray (C)
6 Ronnie Henry
7 Louie Tigwell (52' Bustamante Macaire)
8 Nathan Tshikuna
9 Carl Mensah
10 Jarid Robson (52' Harness)
11 Matthew Bateman
Subs
12 Max Bustamante Macaire
14 Lewis Williams
15 Kian Harness
16 Daniel Green
17 Jay Rolfe
Booked: Mensah (60'), Crane (90').
Goals: Hammond (45', 62'), Crane (73'), Brothers (81'), Lay (85')
Needham Assists: Frimpong (45'), Viggars (73'), Lay (81').
MOTM: Hammond.
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