Match Preview | Needham Market (H)
Halesowen return to Saturday league action at The Grove for the first time in four weeks with the visit of Suffolk’s Needham Market
Head to Head
There have only been the four meetings between us and Needham Market, two games in the 2018/19 and two in the 2023/24 league campaigns. The Yeltz have not managed to win one of the contests and on top of that, have only scored the two goals. In the most recent meeting a Luke Ingram strike in the second half gave the Marketmen all three points, on route to their league title. Despite the fixture coming in 2024, only four players who featured in the matchday squad that day are still at the club, Dan Platt, Reece Mitchell, Todd Parker and McKauley Manning.
Russ Penn’s Thoughts
“We were very happy with our last two performances (against Banbury United & Quorn), but one thing we were not happy with was only coming away with four points. It is a testament to the group that we were able to go two tough places and get big results, becauseit was necessary to get a reaction from the Redditch game because we needed one. Not just the way we conceded the goals, but our overall performance in the second half. We have played the more games in the league than any else with all the replays we have had the cup. I think it has taken its toll. The lads gave a huge effort last week to get the four points, which was no mean feat given the circumstances. The players have had last weekend off, some had a bit of social, which was thoroughly deserved because I think our last two games were the best performances of the campaign so far. We have a big couple of months now in November and December to stay near the top, and it all starts this weekend with the visit of an inform Needham.I always say the next game is the toughest because each side come along with different attributes and threats. Needham are no different. They won this thing just over a year ago. We had them watched at their win over Kettering last weekend. To win this league you need togetherness. That is what they had and still have. The two brothers at the back (Dan & Kieran Morphew) who have been in the team for a while. They know how to do what we want to achieve, but this game is on our patch. We can show the other side to our game, but on our day, we can beat anyone here at home.”
RUSS SPEAKING ON JASON COWLEY’S FORM, HOW FIN HOLMES & RAHIS NABI HAVE FIT IN, AND A FITNESS UPDATE ON CHARLIE WRAGG
“When we signed Jase, we knew we were bringing in a proper number 9 and he is proving that now. I think the last two games have been his best with his movement, tenacity, and goals, proper poacher’s goals, right foot, left foot, set pieces and headers. He is producing the goods now, but also across the season. We have flogged him a little bit with all the injuries we have had, but he had a much needed and deserved rest at the weekend. I have been delighted with the form of both Fin and Rahis. Rahis has not had as much game time, purely because of how well Todd and Josh have played. But when he has come on, he’s looked brilliant and will get his chance to prove himself at some point. Fin is a bit more different to what we got up front currently. He’s a versatile player who can play through the middle, on the right and left. I was very happy to see him produce the performances he has in the last two games, especially with his superbly taken strike against Banbury. Finally in terms of Charlie’s fitness. It is a bit touch and go at the moment, but he is a Walsall player so is getting the best treatment around. We will only select him once they give the green light. He is back in training, not to his full capacity but he is not too far away.”
RUSS SPEAKING ON NOVEMBER’S FIXTURES
“It is a big month, not season defining, but because of the sides we will play. They are all very competitive games, but this is what we are here for. We are all embracing and looking for to the challenge. We have been able to get some of the lads to full health except for Charlie and Ryan, but both should be back soon.”
Opposition Preview
In goal for the Marketmen, James Bradbrook signed from AFC Sudbury in the summer has featured in all 12 league games this season. The 32 year old featured in every single league game for the Suds last season and kept an impressive 12 clean sheets for the side who finished 17th. Bradbrook has already kept five this season.
In the fullback spots, Kyle Hammond, the only totally recognised right sided fullback has started all of Needham’s league games this season, with the exception of the opening day 4-0 defeat at Harborough. There are two left backs, however Tom Smith has started in all 12 league games, while Jake Dye has started in 9. Maybe a back four and five have been mixed around this season. The centre halves need no introduction. Brothers Dan and Kieron Morphew have started 12 and 10 league games respectively this season, with the former scoring twice from headers. Squad rotational centre half Matt Tricker has featured four times off the bench. Not too many changes in defense seems to be the key to their consistency at keeping clean sheets.
In the midfield, Luke Ingram, Ben Hunter and Ollie Saunders have featured prominently, more than most for the want of a better word. Ingram has started every league game, and scored four goals (2 penalties) in the process. Hunter has started nine times, although is yet to score, while new arrival Saunders has started eight of his 12 appearances, having featured 39 times last season for Leiston. Reggie Lambe and attacking midfielder Jamie McGrath have both started six games in their 10 and nine appearances respectively, while Eddie Barker and academy starlet James Coton have six and two appearances off the bench respectively (no starts).
In the front line for the Marketmen, new arrival Joe Neal has been the main man. The 24 year old scored 10 league goals for Sudbury last season, and already has four for his new club having started every league game too date. Fellow striker Seth Chambers has scored twice in 10 league games, but only the one understandably has seen the 21 year old start. Young striker Jackson Chuckwu-Nsofor has featured four times off the bench in his work experience loan from Ipswich Town. In the wide positions, Myles Cowling who can also play in the midfield has scored twice in 12 league appearances this season, half of which starts. A third player alongside Bradbrook and Neal who swapped the yellow of Sudbury for the red of Needham. Fellow new arrival and wide mean Ryan Miles, who scored 10 goals for step 4 Wroxham last season, has started six of his 11 league appearances this campaign, but only scored the once against Bury Town just over a week ago. Last but not least, lightning quick winger Max Appauh, who only signed a week ago from step 4 Tilbury, has the substitute appearance so far for his new side.