A second minute goal from Danny Newton set Saints on the path to an away win in a first ever trip to Needham Market. Newton netted again and Carline added a third to give the visitors a comfortable lead at the break before a more even second half in which neither side could convert good chances to add to the score.

“Needham are a very good, technical team that shows the strength of this league,” Gavin Cowan said. “We have come here on a Tuesday night, another long trip, and the players’ hard work and desire cannot be questioned and we deserved the win. They had a couple of chances in the second half that would not have happened had we taken out chances earlier. Can we be a bit more clinical and ruthless? Yes.”

Newton’s early finish was drilled into the bottom corner as the home defence failed to clear from a ball into the penalty area. But Needham levelled on 11 minutes, Kyle Hammond finishing well, before George Carline’s header from a corner doubled the lead on the half hour.
Brackley threatened goals every time they attacked, keeper Marcus Garnham saving well from Scott Pollock and Carline’s shot just wide while the home side rarely threatened.

But Needham never gave up and created second half chances hitting the post and then the cross-bar while at the other end Matt Lowe, Connor Hall and Danny Newton all passed up opportunities to extend Saints’ lead.

Brackley Town: Maxted, Dean, Lilly, Lyttle, Carline, Lowe, Bates, Pollock, Byrne )+(O’Sullivan 67), Hall, Newton. Subs unused: Cross, Abbey, Worby, Craig.

Needham Market: Garnham, Dye, Hammond, Ingram, Allen, Fraser (McGrath 46), Mills, Hunter, Valentine (Chambers 71), Tomlinson, Lambe. Subs unused: Lay, Barker, Cullum.

Referee: Ayrton Hussey Assistants: Oliver Sadd and Liam Botten 4th official: Ben Bowles
Attendance: 381

PIC by Ben Pooley