Needham Market v Maldon and Tiptree Ryman League 1 North 14 January 2012
This game bought Maldon and Tiptree's successful run to an abrupt end and also ended Needham Market's recent losing streak. 2 goals midway through the first half for Needham almost decided the game and this was certainly true when Maldon and Tiptree failed to get the vital third goal.
Needham's early play proved much to strong for Maldon and Tiptree who struggled to make much of an impression on a strong home defence. In the second minute Needham's Johnson shot wide after gaining possession from Harrop's corner before good interplay between Chaplin, Harrop and Thrower allowed Evans a shot at goal which went over. Thrower on Needham's left was finding plenty of space and was giving the visitors defence some problems and his dangerous cross after 10 minutes was only just cleared at the expense of a corner and shortly after his pass inside gave McGlone a shooting chance which was just blocked by Coyne. Little was being seen of Maldon and Tiptree's attack with Yao and Wall finding progress hard against the home teams Boyland and Johnson. On 21 minutes Needham's pressure finally gained its reward with a fine goal from full back R Barber who put Thrower's pass into the corner of the visitors net from the edge of the area. Worse was to follow for Maldon and Tiptree only 2 minutes later when Needham's other full back, Evans, followed up his initial effort, which was blocked, and scored with a shot from all of 30 yards through a crowded penalty area and past the unsighted Stevens in the visitors goal. A goal apiece for each full back must be a somewhat unusual event. Needham continued to have the majority of play and Chaplin, after 33 minutes, shot just over before McGlone was just not able to leap high enough to get his header on target. Towards the end of the half the visitors gained some respite with Wall controlling a long ball and turning well before shooting over then substitute Ladapo headed Pearman's cross straight at home keeper Jones. Just on the half time whistle Yao, for Maldon and Tiptree, showed neat control to beat his covering defender but disappointingly his cross cum shot was cleared for a corner.
Half time Needham Market 2 Maldon and Tiptree 0
Maldon and Tiptree put on a much better show in the second half and made a good start with Wall heading down Pearman's corner for Yao to shoot straight at Jones. Needham responded with McGlone putting in a dangerous cross which was cleared at the expense of a corner by Cousins before Chaplin beat two defenders but then pushed the ball too far enabling Stevens to dive and collect the loose ball. The visitors Ladapo was causing problems down the left with his speed and from one of his crosses neither Yao or Wall could make contact. After 56 minutes Maldon and Tiptree created their best chance to date when only a fine diving save from Needham's Jones kept out Wall's header from an excellent Coleman centre. Just when they were getting a foothold in the game any lingering Maldon and Tiptree hopes of getting something from the game virtually disappeared with Needham's third goal on 60 minutes when Bloomfield finished a fine passing move that had cut through the middle of the visitors defence. The visitors then had their best spell of the game with Ladapo heading over after good work by Yao, then Flanagan headed a corner from Pearman over the bar before Stevenson's shot was blocked for a corner. From this corner after 68 minutes Maldon and Tiptree were, somewhat surprisingly, awarded a penalty for a handling offence by a home defender. Coleman stepped up to confidently put his kick into the corner. The visitors then tried to exert further pressure on the home sides defence but Ladapo, Wall and Yao found it difficult to create any clear scoring opportunities and Needham sealed the game on 88 minutes when the visitors defence gifted the ball to Bloomfield and he had little difficulty in converting from close range. There was just time for Needham's substitute Napier to miss a relatively easy chance after being set up by good work from fellow substitute Smith.
Manager Mike Flanagan's after match feeling was one of disappointment with the performance and that the recent successful run had come to an end. He stressed that the team must now be fully focused on getting back to winning ways in Tuesday evenings Ryman league match at home against Romford FC.
Man of the Match: Danny Bloomfield (Needham Market).
Final score Needham Market 4 Maldon and Tiptree 1
Needham Market
Jones, Evans, R Barber, B Barber, Boyland, Johnson, Chaplin (Wright 76), Harrop (Napier 87), Bloomfield, McGlone (Smith 64), Thrower
Unused Substitutes
De'ath, Lancaster
Maldon and Tiptree
Stevens, Coyne, Bansor, Stevenson, Flanagan, Cousins, Milner (Ladapo 24) Coleman, Yao, Wall, Pearman
Unused Substitutes
Collins
Saltwell.
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