I was at sunny Bloomfield's today for a massive game between leaders Needham Market and second placed Harlow Town in the Ryman North.
Simply put a win for the hosts would see them win the title and promotion to the Ryman Premier whilst a draw would keep Needham one point clear with one game left and a Harlow win would see them two points clear at the top with a game to go, so the steaks were very high hence a crowd of almost 1,000 turned up to watch.
The game actually started slowly with both teams looking cagey and maybe even slightly nervous with the enormity of the game possibly on their minds. It took until the 7th minute for the first sight of goal which came for the visitors when they saw shots blocked from Antoine and Cowley as Harlow shaded the first ten minutes or so.
However on 10 minutes Needham scored with their first attack as Brothers went past the full back and knocked the ball across the face of goal for Newson to tap in at far post and give the hosts the lead and ease their nerves. Three minutes after this Harlow attacked and Antoine beat the offside trap down the right before cutting inside onto his left foot but hit his effort straight at keeper Philips.
On 20 minutes Needham doubled their lead with their second attack of the game when a break out saw a great run by Ingram to the edge of the area and his shot deflected across the six yard box into the path of Newson who hits the rebound in off keeper Walker for 2-0 and strengthen their grip on the title a little bit more. They almost made it three on 27 minutes when a cross from the left was headed towards the top corner by Ingram but Walker managed to save well.
Just past the half hour mark Needham's Westlake showed good skill to get him space inside the box but he was caught in two minds and neither shot or crossed and the ball sailed way off target and off for a goal kick. On 41 minutes Needham came again and Newson's lay off to strike partner Brothers saw the latter strike wide from twenty yards out but the home side seemed well in control with their 2-0 lead.
When Harlow were getting forward their full back Eadie was resorting to long range efforts which both sailed miles over as the visitors looked desperate to get a goal back before the half, but they didn't and Needham held all the cards going into the break knowing they were 45 minutes away from the title and promotion.
Half Time: Needham Market 2 Harlow Town 0
Harlow knew they had to come out with much more attacking intent and barely a minute into the half a decent effort from Antoine was saved by Phillips and soon after this they made two attacking substitutions when they brought on Read and Small to try and give them some impetus. Harlow's final ball was letting them down though and the hosts were dealing with them quite comfortably.
But then on the hour mark Harlow scored to reduce the arrears and set up a potentially cracking last half hour as Cowley's cross was headed in by sub Read who got ahead of keeper Phillips to score. Needham looked to restore the two goal cushion four minutes later when Newson got in behind the Harlow defence although he did look a fraction offside but his finish was woeful and went miles wide although he was under pressure from the chasing defenders.
It was so nearly three on 65 minutes when a cross eventually found its way to Izzet after hesitant defending but his effort was brilliantly blocked by Pope as it looked like Izzet would score. With twenty minutes to go a Needham corner saw centre half Hogg's downward header well saved by Walker and soon after another corner was headed over.
Harlow though always remained a threat going forward and on 75 minutes they thought they had their equaliser when the ball was turned back into the six yard box and tapped home on the goal line but the linesman had his flag up for offside, saving Needham and disappointing the visitors.
So into the last ten minutes and Needham were slowing the game down at any opportunity as they knew they were getting closer and closer to the result they craved. On 81 minutes Harlow so nearly levelled when a ball was slipped through to Small who struck an effort towards the far corner and forced Phillips into a great save down to his right to tip around the post and preserve Needham's now fragile looking lead.
It was a lead they couldn't hold onto as on 89 minutes the visitors drew level. Cowley's free kick from the left went into the six yard box and bounced into the path of Pope who was quickest to react to poke the ball over the line from close range and make it 2-2 with minutes to go.
You felt that Harlow could go on and win it after this but on 90 minutes a corner from Needham fell to Coakley who somehow poked over from six yards out when it looked easier to score. Then deep into stoppage time Needham won a free kick in a very decent position but Wright hit the ball way over. Harlow then almost won it with the last kick when after the ball had pinged around inside the area it was poked just wide of the goal. That was that and both sides go into next weekend's final round of games still in with a shout of the title although Needham will start slight favourites having a point more and a goal difference of six more than Harlow. It should be a dramatic final day.
Full Time: Needham Market 2 Harlow Town 2
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