Needham Market bowed out of the FA Cup last night with their heads held high after pushing National League side York City all the way in a fourth qualifying round replay at Bloomfields.
Having held the Minstermen to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, the second meeting of the sides also remained goalless for more than 90 minutes before Tyler Cordner's deflected effort broke Suffolk hearts in the third minute of stoppage-time.
York manager Neal Ardley dropped his skipper Lenell John-Lewis after their ‘lacklustre’ performance at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Needham’s Kevin Morphew flew back from a holiday in Crete, landed at Gatwick at 4pm and just made kick-off. Jamie McGrath replaced Callum Page, who was on the bench due to a tight hamstring.
The first 20 minutes proved a cagey affair with Cordner heading a corner over Marcus Garnham’s upright.
In the 28th minute, McGrath found the net but the goal was ruled offside as both sides made forward skirmishes into opposing boxes, but defences held sway.
Needham made an encouraging start after the break. Ardley wasted no time in recognising that his full-time professionals were in for a fight and soon made changes in this end-to-end affair.
Indeed, it was Kevin Horlock’s side that moved into the ascendancy with Jacob Lay and Luke Ingram particular troubling the visiting defence. Critically, it was the City keeper who ensured parity as Needham showed their qualities as the pressure built.
In the 64th minute, Luke Ingram produced some great work down the right. After beating a defender he cut inside before hitting a thunderous shot that keeper Rory Watson kept out with a diving save low to his right.
Roared on by a bumper crowd of 604, the Marketmen continued to press forward. In the 70th minute, Watson again came to his side's rescue with a fine save to thwart Tevan Allen’s fierce strike.
However, York should have gone ahead in the 78th minute when Dipo Akinyemi wasted a great chance to open the scoring. Soon after, substitute John-Lewis struck the post.
Just as it looked as though the tie was heading for extra-time, York forced a corner in the third minute of added time. After a cross went way beyond the far post, the ball was driven back into area by Cordner and deflected into the net to defeat the plucky Marketmen.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here