Eastern Counties League Division One
Bloomfields, Needham Market
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 51
Match Rating: 3
It was very much a last minute decision to take in this game. However, after viewing a property first thing, I did not then fancy a day on trains today, and so I decided to drive up to Suffolk for my second visit to the county in consecutive weekends. Although it was a long way to travel to watch a reserve team in action at home, this ground has been elusive to me for the last couple of seasons in my desire to complete ticks of the Isthmian League Premier Division, and with time running out on another season, I did not want to let another season pass without completing that division.
Needham Market is located less than ten minutes walk from the town's high street and railway station, on the outskirts of town, and it is a really pleasant and smart venue with good facilities for Step 3 football. Spectators pass through a large car park, before reaching a turnstile block alongside the brick clubhouse building. A short path passes alongside an entrance to the clubhouse - although only a tea bar window was open inside today, with the bar area closed off, and after passing the exterior window of the tea bar, spectators reach pitchside in one corner. Along this length, close to the corner flag is the players' walkway from the changing rooms, with a set of steps going up into the boardroom, covered by a steep pitched roof, adding quite an attractive dimension to the ground. There is then an interesting stand, with steep rows with seats placed on them, offering good views of the action despite some supporting poles along the front. Behind the goal closest to the entrance, there is a covered terrace, whilst immediately behind the other goal, there is a modern metallic all-seater stand. Along the remaining length, there are stands either side of the dugouts and an elevated press box, covering flat standing. Neat trees around most of the ground, with rural countryside visible as well, make this a pleasant setting to watch football, and all of the fixtures and fittings are neat and tidy, and tastefully colourful. The programme was quite impressive for Step 6 football, and appears to be a condensed version of their first team programme. It is professionally produced and easy on the eye. The 28 pages has more than its fair share of advertising - half are devoted to it - but there is still plenty to read with all of the necessary stats and facts.
Since being admitted to senior league football in the 2013/14 season, Needham Market reserves have always struggled near the foot of the Eastern Counties League Division One, and this season has proved no different, as they came into this game bottom of the table, having won just four and drawn two of their 33 league games this season, and the best they can hope for is to overhaul fellow reserve team Team Bury, whom they trail by 3 points but have a game in hand, and with seven games left to play. Downham Town are stuck firmly in midtable, in tenth place in the 21 team division having won 12 and drawn nine of their 35 league games. Realistically, the limit of their ambitions will be a ninth place finish, trailing Halstead by two points but have played three games more. When the two teams met in November, Downham won 3-0.
On a mainly sunny afternoon, which was warm enough in the sun but quite chilly in the shade, the first half was entertaining enough, played at a good tempo and with both teams having their chances to open the scoring. The half was even for the most part, with the home team perhaps slightly the better team but seemed to lose a little composure in sight of goal. Downham came closest to opening the scoring, with firm headers from corners and long throw ins blocks, and on the half hour one of those headers came back off the post.
The match followed a similar pattern in the second half, although it did have the feel of a goalless draw developing as the attacks dried up, but ten minutes from time, it looked like Needham Market reserves would claim a rare win when they took the lead. A sprint to the byline ended with a low cross to his team mate in an unmarked, central position just outside the six yard box, and he tapped the ball home, to provoke wild celebrations amongst the players and a few supporters. It looked like they would hold out for the win until the game entered added on time, when a corner was powerfully headed home.
A point apiece was probably a fair reflection on an even game, although it was hard not to feel some sympathy for the youngsters of Needham Market not quite holding out for a rare win.
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