Southern Premier Central side Needham Market are in unchartered waters following their side’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win at National League outfit Yeovil Town. The Mid Suffolk side, managed by former Manchester City, West Ham and Ipswich midfielder Kevin Horlock, took the game into extra time after the Glovers had taken the lead midway through the first half.
With neither side able to break the deadlock in extra time, penalties were required to decide a pulsating contest. Needham’s veteran keeper Marcus Garnham proved to be the hero of the hour, scoring his own spot-kick and then saving the next to ensure Needham won out 8-7 on penalties to reach the last 16.
The Marketmen were heavily unfancied for their trip to Huish Park. Yeovil are a club that have plied their trade in the EFL Championship in the not-too-distant past, so the odds were firmly stacked against this side from the heart of sleepy Suffolk. Although you might rank their shoot-out victory alongside the biggest upsets in the history of football, it’s still a shot in the arm for fans of the underdogs and another demonstration that the industry shows little respect for reputations.
Missing the National League elite gives Needham a golden opportunity
Club chairman Keith Nunn believes the Marketmen have a great opportunity to create further history by reaching the last eight of the competition. While some Needham fans will have been hoping for a money-spinning clash with the likes of Wrexham and Notts County, the Suffolk side were given a home tie with National League South side Dartford. The Kent side are clinging on to the playoff positions in the league at present after a run of just four points from their last five games. Meanwhile Needham – one step below them in the pyramid – are in mid-table with as many as five league games in-hand on sides above them.
Nunn said that the club’s goalkeeping coach Nathan Munson “wanted Wrexham [in the last 16] because he made his Colchester debut against them”. Nunn said that a ‘glamour tie’ with one of the National League “wasn’t to be” and the next best draw was a home tie against opposition that are “only one level above” them. Nunn said it was “an average draw” but a “winnable” one too.
A chance to recreate the spirit of 2013 from the Marketmen’s FA Cup run
Nunn hopes that the club will receive good backing from the town of Needham Market and the surrounding areas of Mid Suffolk. He anticipates a “good crowd” and that their home ground Bloomfields – which has benefitted from significant investment in recent years – will be “buzzing”. The last time a big crowd was at Bloomfields, Needham entertained Cambridge United in their FA Cup 4th qualifying round tie. More than 1,750 spectators filled the ground back in 2013. Although they’re unlikely to reach those heights this time around, a crowd approaching four figures would be very welcome for the Needham coffers.
Certainly on paper, Needham’s task appears to be somewhat easier than their long trip west to South Somerset. The Marketmen’s squad appears to be a good blend of youth and experience at Step 3 level. Keeper Marcus Garnham has long been one of the steadiest pairs of hands at Step 3, particularly during his time with Leiston and Bury Town. Meanwhile the likes of Kyle Hammond, Daniel Morphew and Keiran Morphew provide calm heads at the back.
Meanwhile the youthful, vibrant midfield and front line is designed to pose plenty of problems for visiting backlines. It contains a string of products from Needham’s hugely fruitful Academy Scheme, including the likes of Noah Collard and Thomas Fitzgerald. In the final third, Holland-born Hans Mpongo offers plenty of firepower, along with goalscoring wide men Ben Fowkes and Luke Ingram.
Although promotion to the National League South/North is still a little way off the agenda for Needham, the club will benefit enormously from this Trophy run. The financial windfall will help to further enhance the club’s academy and strengthen Kevin Horlock’s hand in the summer.
