Match Preview | Needham Market (A)
Halesowen return to action after two weeks of postponements with a trip to Suffolk and Needham Market in a 6th v 7th battle
Head to Head
There have only been the five meetings between us and Needham Market with the first coming in 2018. The Yeltz have won just one of the contests but failed in the two games at Bloomfields (a 1-1 draw in February 2019 & a 0-0 draw in August 2024. In the most recent meeting a 67th minute Todd Parker low drilled strike and a 71st minute Jason Cowley penalty took the Yeltz to a 2-0 victory.
Opposition Preview
James Bradbrook – Goalkeeper
The 28 year old signed in the summer from AFC Sudbury. The experienced non-league keeper who featured for the Marketmen between 2012-2017 featured in all 70 of Sudbury/Needham’s league games since the start of last season.
Tom Smith – Left Back
The 24 year old joined in the summer of 23. The former Ipswich Town academy man featured in 39 National League North games last season. This season, Smith has featured in all but one league game, all of which in the starting XI.
Fabian Claxton – Centre Back
The 19 year old signed at the end of last month on loan from League One side Peterborough United. The young defender featured in five league games for step 4 Felixstowe last season. This season he had featured in eight league games for step 4’s Cambridge City & Corby Town this season, and has featured once off the bench since his arrival at Needham.
Dan Morphew – Centre Back
The 31 year old joined in the summer of 2017. The centre half featured in 31 National League North games last season, and has made 23 league appearances this season, all but two of which starts.
Kieran Morphew – Centre Back
The 32 year old, not related to Dan, has been at the club since coming through their academy over a decade ago. The centre half featured in 37 National League North games last season, and has missed just three league games this season, all of which starts.
Jake Dye – Right Back
The 27 year old has been at the club since coming through their academy. The defender featured 42 National League North games for the Marketmen last season, and this season has missed just two league games, 23 of which starts.
Kyle Hammond – Defensive Midfielder
The 30 year old joined in the summer of 2021. The former Ipswich Town academy man featured 38 times in the National League North last season. This season, Hammond has made in all but two league games, all of which in the starting XI.
Eddie Barker – Central Midfielder
The 20 year old has been at the club since coming through their academy just over two years ago. The midfielder featured in 29 league games for step 5 Woodbridge Town last season, also featuring in three National League North games for Needham. This season, Barker has made 16 league games, but featured in the starting XI just once.
Ben Hunter – Central Midfielder
The 25 year old joined in the summer of 24. The midfielder featured in 42 National League North games last season, and featured in 25 league games this season, all but two of which starts.
Luke Ingram – Central Midfielder
The 32 year old joined in the summer of 2013. The Needham club legend scored seven times in 37 National League North games last season. Ingram is their top scorer this season with nine league goals, five of which from the penalty spot. He is one of two outfield players for the club who have featured in every league game this season, and all but four of Ingram’s appearances have been in the starting XI.
Ollie Saunders – Central Midfielder
The 25 year old signed in the summer from Leiston. The midfielder featured in 33 league games for the Blues last season, and this season has featured in 25 league games for Needham, 16 of which in the XI.
Reggie Lambe – Attacking Midfielder
The 35 year old signed in the summer of 2024, and has a wealth of experience. The forward thinking midfielder who can also play out wide has over 200 Football League appearances and has even played his football in Canada & Sweden. Lambe scored four goals in 34 National League North games last season, and this season has two goals in 24 league games, 15 appearances of which starts.
Jamie Mauge – Attacking Midfielder
The 19 year old signed on loan from Ipswich Town in December. The midfielder featured in the Tractor Boys’ academy last season and on loan at then step 4 Bury Town, where he made eight league appearances. This season, Mauge featured 13 times across Premier League 2 and the Premier League Cup for Ipswich, and since his arrival at Needham has made five league appearances, three of which starts.
Myles Cowling – Attacking Midfielder
The 23 year old signed in the summer from Sudbury. The midfielder scored five goals in 38 league appearances for the Suds last season. This season, Cowling has five league goals, and alongside Bradbrook & Ingram has featured in all 28 of Needham’s league games, 21 of which in the XI.
Max Appauh – Left Winger
The year old signed in October from step 4 Tilbury. The forward scored 11 goals in 17 league appearances for step 5 Hutton last season. This season, Appauh scored once in 10 league appearances for Tilbury, and since his arrival at Needham has scored once in 16 league appearances, all but two of his games off the bench.
Seth Chambers – Striker
The 21 year old has been at the club since coming through their academy just over three years ago. The centre forward scored four goals in 42 National League North games last season. This season, Chambers has scored four league goals, and featured in all but two of Needham’s league games, 11 of which in the XI.
Joe Neal – Striker
The 25 year old signed in the summer from Sudbury. The striker scored 10 goals in all 42 of the Suds league games last season. This campaign, Neal has scored eight goals in 22 league games, all of which starts.
Ryan Miles – Right Winger
The 26 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Wroxham. The winger scored eight goals in 38 league games last season, and has three this season for Needham in 21 league games, 13 of which in the XI.
Statistical Insight
Needham
- Only Harborough Town with 21% (3/14) have a lower conceded first percentage at home this season in the Southern Premier Central than Needham’s 26% (4/15)
- Only Spalding United (19) have scored more first half goals at home this season in the Southern Premier Central than Needham’s 18.
- Only Royston Town (20) & Stamford (19) have had more games without a second half this season in the Southern Premier Central than Needham’s 16.
- Only Stamford (20), Stourbridge (17) & AFC Sudbury (16) have conceded more first half goals at home this season in the Southern Premier Central than Needham’s 13.
Halesowen
- Only Spalding United (37) have scored more second half goals this season in the Southern Premier Central than our 30.
- Only Spalding United (16) have scored more goals in the Southern Premier Central this season after the 76th minute than our 14.
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have conceded more goals in the first 15 minutes than our 9.
- Only Royston Town (16), AFC Sudbury (15) & Leiston (14) have dropped more points in the Southern Premier Central this season from winning positions than our 13.