Coasting Church Stung By Second Half Visitors' Revival

Kevin Horlock`s visitors could have been forgiven for having some of their focus elsewhere as they head into one of the biggest games in the Suffolk club`s history when they head west to take on Vanarama National League side Yeovil Town ion the Fourth Round of the Buildbase FA Trophy.

However, despite possessing games in hand, they were also aware that they had dropped down the table to be only a couple of points above the safety mark at kick-off.
And they had to come back from being two goals down too.

The first came in the 17th minute when Zak Brown was put through to slot under Marketmen keeper Marcus Garnham. And then on 26 minutes, Nick Clayton-Phillips tapped home from close range following a cross from the left.

And it could have been worse for the visitors as Garnham made a superb save to deny Danny Waldron in a one-on-one situation. But just 5 minutes after the break, Needham Market were back in the game when Luke Ingram`s initial effort had been blocked and Callum Page followed up to score. Garnham came to the visitors rescue again on 66 minutes, and that proved crucial as his side levelled matters 5 minutes later, thanks to a fine solo effort from Colchester United loanee Harvey Sayer.

And then in the 87th minute, sub Jose Santa De La Paz was out through to put the visitors in front. It still took another tremendous save from Garnham 2 minutes into stoppage time to keep his side in front.

Alvechurch: Jezeph, Mansell (Candlin 90), Sephton. Turton (Dias 90), Brown.T, Carter, McLintock, Brown.Z, Waldron, Clayton-Phillips (Hallahan 79) Hamilton
Subs not used : Phillips, Bellis

Needham Market: Garnham, Northwood (Cullum 74), Sayer, Hammond, Morphew.K, Morphew.D, Page, Clark, Ingram, Maycock, Fowkes (Santa 85)
Subs not used: Mpongo

A bizarre turn of events in a torrid second half for Church. A first half dominance that had the home side sitting on a comfortable 2-0 lead which was swept aside by a revitalised Needham side in the second forty-five minutes as Church somehow lost their was, and then ultimately gave up the game in sloppy circumstances.

There was a sinking feeling being to develop surrounding the inevitability of the final outcome as Needham increasingly found ways to threaten the Church goal. There was a real sense of the visitors smelling victory as the half wore on, as Church retreated into their shells somewhat.

The game could have been put out of Needham’s reach again at 2-2 when McLintock latched onto a ball deep in the visitors’ box after good approach work from Waldron, but the Church midfielder screwed his shot wide from twelve yards.

The third goal came as a result of a rare mistake from Jezeph, as his clearance to Turton in the centre circle gave the midfielder a difficult ball to control, and after possession was stolen from Church, the exposed keeper must have feared the worst with substitute Santa, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, free on goal with only the stranded keeper between him and glory.