Macrow's tactics pay off in Needham win

DIVISION ONE

Needham Market 3 Norwich Utd 1

NEEDHAM Market, by virtue of three well-executed second-half goals, gained maximum points in this top-of-the-table fixture.

Norwich started brightly and took the lead after eight minutes; Dean Folkard was dispossessed by Macintosh who fed Murphy who shot low past Matt Fenn.

From then on and for the remainder of the half Needham enjoyed the greater advantage without drawing level. On four occasions visiting keeper Woodcock made classy saves, one in particular when back- pedalling he got a vital fingertip to Adam Rickwood's speculative 25-yard shot and touched it onto and over the bar.

Adam Rickwood and Marc Wake had other efforts well saved. After the break Needham got a vital and deserved equaliser when from a Neil Cole corner, Robbie Hill flicked the ball into the six-yard box and Marc Wake helped it into the net with style.

Both sides then made substitutions in an attempt to secure the three points and two goals in the last 10 minutes were the deciding factor for the home team.

Firstly young Ashleigh Hawes battled to win possession and the ball broke to David Pitt who won a tackle and it went back to Hawes, who shot home. Then hesitancy in the visitors' defence allowed David Pitt to go on and lob Woodcock for the third.

For Needham Market it is hard to pick out a particular player as man of the match as the whole team performed solidly on a day when they had to.

Credit should go to manager Colin Macrow for getting his game plan well executed by the team. The same commitment and desire will be needed on Tuesday evening at Haverhill Rovers when another vital three points are at stake.

Cambridge City Res 3 Hadleigh Utd 0

THIS latest defeat leaves Hadleigh with only two points from their last five Division One matches and it will take a big improvement if a mid-table spot is to be gained by the end of the season.

The opening goal came in the first minute when Hadleigh's defence was caught cold and Jenner took full advantage to shoot home.

Rush hit the bar for Hadleigh in the second half before Simpson headed City's second goal five minutes before the finish. At the other end efforts from Godbold and Arnold were well saved by Pacey as Hadleigh pushed forward with time running out.

In the final moments Hadleigh's Bradford was sent off after receiving a second yellow card and then Jenner scored City's third goal with a powerful low shot from the edge of the area.

HADLEIGH United of the Jewson League Division One will entertain Cambridge University in a friendly match tomorrow night (7.45 kick-off).

Cambridge are using the game as preparation for their forthcoming Varsity match against Oxford University.

Former Hadleigh player Mark Pett, who has been a regular in the Cambridge side for the past six years, arranged his team's first-ever visit to the Millfield.

Haverhill Rovers 0 Leiston 1

LEISTON moved into fifth place, and moved Haverhill down into fourth place, after overcoming their fellow Suffolk opponents on a beautiful day for football.

The only goal came in the 29th minute, a cross by Kirkley finding Jennings, who turned near the penalty spot and slid to squeeze the ball into the far bottom corner of the Haverhill net.

Haverhill came close late in the game, substitute Cogger's shot from 15 yards in the 77th minute bringing out an excellent save from Leiston goalkeeper Norris and A Hunt seeing his goal-bound header cleared right on the goal-line in the 82nd minute as the travelling side took home all three points.

Brightlingsea 1 March 1

THE home side took the lead in the 21st minute when Schaffter netted a penalty.

But as much as Brightlingsea had chances and possession, they couldn't turn it into goals.

They were duly punished 10 minutes from time when Horner shot home an equaliser.

Cornard 2 King's Lynn Reserves 0

A DISAPPOINTING first half was soon forgotten as Cornard put in a much better second half performance.

Harsh words were said in the Cornard dressing room at half-time and it had the desired effect with Robert Ford scoring almost immediately after the break. Lynn came more into the game as the game wore on, but the home side sealed victory when Darren Bethell ran through to net the decisive second.

Warboys 1 Stanway 4

ROVERS put in a great second-half performance to deservedly take all three points.

Stanway had their chances in the first half but went behind on 37 minutes when Young scored after a hesitant defence let him in.

Jackson headed home Springett's cross just before the break and after it goals from Jackson again, Springett and Sapey clinched a comfortable victory.

Halstead 1 Somersham 2

HALSTEAD slumped to the fourth consecutive league defeat, with a performance that can best be described as abysmal, watched by the smallest crowd of the season. Many of the absentees were at Sudbury on FA Vase duty. A wise choice!

After a lively opening, they took the lead, but almost immediately conceded an equaliser and from then went steadily downhill.

An enthusiastic Somersham deservedly completed the double, with nothing more than sheer, honest endeavour, in contrast to the strolling and ball-watching Halstead.

Following their relegation last season they expected at least to finish in the leading bunch this term, but at the rate they are going, even bottom of the table March might be praying for miracles.

Matt Wray served up an early opening for Steff Kendall but he fired over, before the former broke through to fire straight at keeper Laurie. The Somersham keeper won another duel between the two before it was third-time lucky for Wray when he took a Matt Chinnery pass to chip over Laurie on 23 minutes.

However three minutes later the visitors were level when French failed to cut out a pass for Kay, who ran on to fire past Lloyd Pentney.

Up to this point Somersham had created little danger but this goal certainly fired them up and they showed a distinct appetite for the contest and it needed a great save from Pentney to deny Clayton for their first corner of the game.

Halstead fell away badly, being guilty of ball- watching far to often as well as their usual failure to find colleagues, even with a simple pass, and by the interval were glad to still be on terms while 4-0 down in the corner tally.

On resumption Lynton Evason saw his close-range effort blocked by the keeper and within seven minutes this miss was punished when Somersham broke away and Kay put his side ahead after two feeble challenges by the home defence.

Brightlingsea 1 March 1

THE home side took the lead in the 21st minute when Schaffter netted a penalty.

But as much as Brightlingsea had chances and possession, they couldn't turn it into goals.

They were duly punished 10 minutes from time when Horner shot home an equaliser.

Cornard 2 King's Lynn Reserves 0

A DISAPPOINTING first half was soon forgotten as Cornard put in a much better second half performance.

Harsh words were said in the Cornard dressing room at half-time and it had the desired effect with Robert Ford scoring almost immediately after the break. Lynn came more into the game as the game wore on, but the home side sealed victory when Darren Bethell ran through to net the decisive second.

Warboys 1 Stanway 4

ROVERS put in a great second-half performance to deservedly take all three points.

Stanway had their chances in the first half but went behind on 37 minutes when Young scored after a hesitant defence let him in.

Jackson headed home Springett's cross just before the break and after it goals from Jackson again, Springett and Sapey clinched a comfortable victory.