Needham Market 2 Blues 2

The Blues recorded successive 2-2 draw's after being held at Needham Market.

Tom Bullard, Dominic Docherty and Cemal Ramadan came into the side with Harry Knights and Patrick Brothers dropping to the bench and Matt Blake not even being able to sit on the bench due to illness. Will Davies replaced him in the squad. Tom Bullard was making his 150th League appearance for the Blues.

Needham came at Leiston in the early moments of this match, and forced a couple of free kicks and corners but these were cleared by the Leiston defence. It was the Blues who had a great chance to take the lead but Dominic Docherty’s header was cleared off the line and from the rebound Christy Finch had a shot blocked while Jake Reed fired over the top. Leiston took the lead in the 11th minute as Ramadan found Jake Jeasop’s bottom right hand corner to net his first Leiston goal. It could have been more five minutes later as Christy Finch found his way into the Needham penalty area but he was foiled by Jessop who spread himself well. Immediately, Needham sprang an attack which saw Joe Jefford foul and give away a penalty. Up stepped ex Blues player Joe Marsden to dispatch the penalty into Marcus Garnham’s left hand corner. Joe Marsden cut inside from the right a few minutes later but Marcus Garnham touched his effort round the post. Adam Mills found the net to wrong foot Marcus Garnham to finish a good move to put Needham ahead. Before the break, Marcus Garnham was forced to make a couple of smart stops, while at the other end Chris Henderson volleyed wide from a corner.

Within ninety seconds of the second period, Chris Henderson released Dominic Docherty but his sidefooted attempted was cleared off the line. Luke Ingram tried an audacious chip that just cleared Marcus Garnham’s crossbar, and the same player struck straight at Garnham shortly later. However, Leiston were having a lot of the ball and were knocking it round nicely. The leveller came in the 65th minute as Chris Henderson cut in from the left and shot right footed on the edge of the box past Jessop in the home goal. Marcus Garnham saves with his legs to deny Luke Ingram as the hosts looked good on the counter attack. Adam Mills saw his pot shot palmed over by Garnham and the goalkeeper made an amazing save from the same player from the resultant corner. Sub Patrick Brothers and Rob Eagle gave Leiston fresh legs, and Brothers’ cross was palmed away nervously by Jessop but Jake Reed couldn’t capitalise. Reed then headed over while Kyle Hammond’s strike was straight at Jessop. Patrick Brothers and Cemal Ramadan in the last kick of the match had chances to win the game but a draw was most probably a fair result.

FT - Needham Market 2 Blues 2

Leiston welcome Redditch United to Victory Road at the weekend.

Needham Market - Jessop, Dye, Sturgess, Kamanzi, Kieran Morphew, Dan Morphew, Marsden, Heath, Ingram, Griffiths (Dobson 73 mins), Mills. Unused Subs - Exworth, Carragher, Rose and Cook.

Blues - Garnham, Hammond, Dunbar, Docherty (Brothers 72 mins), Jefford, Bullard, Lawrence, Henderson, Reed, Finch (Eagle 72 mins), Ramadan. Unused Subs - Knights, Aitkens and Davies.

Man of the Match - Marcus Garnham

Attendance - 657