Nigel Preece reports from Needham Market.
More Gloom But Joy On The Pitch
Needham Market was a new ground, perhaps one we may not get a chance to visit again, so I decided to make the effort and travel.
I booked accommodation in Stowmarket, a few miles past Needham Market and set off from relatively mild and bright Cardiff by 10. All trains worked, London didn't touch the sides thankfully, and I was in Ipswich by 2.30. A dreich and gloomy Ipswich to boot. Around 30 years since my last and only visit, a Monday night game to tick off Portman Rd when I was getting close to completing the (then) 92. For info, I know you want to know (well, someone might), I completed it at Boothferry Park, Hull about a month before our 1997 relegation.
I spent a couple of hours ambling round Ipswich, passing the impressive looking Portman Rd, naturally I did call into two pubs, before heading for a drizzling, cold Stowmarket.
I found my rather quirky accommodation and a local chippy before heading to the Royal William, two regular Bulls already in this one. One more pre match stop, the Gladstone, before a kindly lift to the ground from another travelling fan, albeit one temporarily ensconced in Suffolk so a local affair for him.
A lot of traffic leaving as we arrived, no it wasn't a late postponement, just Mums and Dads ferrying kids away from their football on the astro pitches adjacent to Needham's ground. A good money earner I assume?
The ground itself was decent for its level, but that level probably isn't National League North. Nevertheless, plenty of cover and welcoming locals (no sign of the supposed segregation) and all seems to point to a well run club not trying to overstretch itself. Good luck to them (apart from the forthcoming 90 minutes of course).
I'd seen our line up on the way, Ceesay and Howkins not in the squad, no wide players in the starting eleven and three strikers, Willo, Cowley and Rooney, the rest took me a few minutes to work out who was where. Babos and Mitchell in midfield was clear. Robinson (right) and Skinner (left) full / wing backs with Preston flanked by Andoh, to his right, and Hudson to his left.
If the intention was 3-4-3 the first half felt more like 5-2-3, Market having more territory and spurning the better chances. Despite that we came closer from two Rooney headers, the first one needing a fine save from Market's hefty looking keeper. The pitch was difficult, while it was soft and cut up the bounce was inconsistent. It felt as if Paul Caddis had, probably rightly, gone for the percentage approach with his team selection but we'd been marginally second best of two poor sides in the first 45.
At half time I poked my nose into their decent clubhouse, didn't purchase anything, but it was somewhere warm for a few minutes.
I walked round the ground in time for the restart, a few grumpyish conversations and good to catch up with some familiar faces, but things looked up more or less immediately. Whether it was half time tea cups or just that we scored after only a few minutes, the second half was a much better display. A corner from the right was headed back across, Robbo’s shot from around the penalty spot was blocked, not cleared and the same player was on hand to strike home from 10 yards. Was that his first goal for the club? He certainly enjoyed it.
With the home side’s abject home scoring record it always felt the first goal would be critical and so it proved. It should have been more comfortable, for most of the second half we pressed well (the full backs being wing backs much further up the park) and created a number of good opportunities. Willo came closest, a sharp turn and shot looked destined for the far corner but again the home keeper's agility belied his size. He made two further decent saves from headers after corners. A little mention here for Jason Cowley, he was his normal nuisance value and you feel a goal must be imminent; his best chance was wholly self made, he pickpocketed Market's right back on halfway, bore down on goal but when a shot was needed tried to cut past the covering defender and the opportunity was spurned, a clear sign of a striker lacking confidence.
For 10 minutes Needham came back into the game and you worried we'd regret our profligacy, they had a goal ruled out for a foul, hit the side netting with another chance, Richardson had to handle well on several occasions and we had to defensively scramble the ball away a few times.
The relief of a second goal came with 10 minutes remaining. More pressure on the Needham defence, a horrible bouncing ball, the keeper tried to clear the ball outside his area but Cowley’s excellent pressing meant the ball span free. White, on for Willo, took one neat touch to create space and slotted home from 20 yards, a very good finish given covering defenders and the difficult pitch.
The rest of the game went by without significant incident, Richardson was booked for time wasting over a goal kick, Sturridge and Campbell made brief appearances and we perhaps could and should have grabbed a third with a little more composure.
Overall, not the greatest of games, but in this relentless hard nosed league, any win like this is a good one. To be fair to our hosts they tried to play football, which given the pretty gruesome state of the pitch and the fact they were missing a number of players does them credit.
I retired back to the Royal William in Stowmarket, grateful to not have to make the long journey home that night.
I can't make King's Lynn sadly, safe travelling to all going and here's to a further 3 points.