Benjamin Hanlon-Green takes a look at today’s match…
What’s at stake?
To say our away tie to Needham Market is a big game is an understatement. It is a massive game which could potentially define our season and help us get one edge closer to preserving our National League North status. Last time out Marine were able to claim an impressive 2-2 draw at home to Hereford, with goals from Chris Doyle and Fin Sinclair-Smith. Needham Market also claimed an impressive 1-1 draw away to Chester away on Saturday as well with Teddy Collis scoring the equalizer for the visitors in the 21st minute. A victory for Marine would place them 8 points ahead of Needham Market, with themselves occupying the last relegation spot in 21st. However a win for Needham would place them just 2 points behind Marine with a game in hand, showing the potential ramifications the result could have for both teams this afternoon.
The Opposition
In their last 5 games Needham Market have registered just 1 win, coming against Oxford City in a 4-0 rampage at home. The goal scorers in this game were Iffy Allen, Jacob Lay, Jamie Mc Grath and Charlie Wood. This win had them remain out of the relegation zone, whilst Marine stayed in the relegation zone. Despite both teams now on the opposite side of the relegation black crossed line. There is optimism for the Marketmen as they have managed to pull an impressive gap of 6 points to the next team below them which is Warrington Town who sit 22nd in the table. Needham Market also sit only 2 points behind Oxford City and going ahead of them in the table would take them out of the relegation zone, but the Hoops do have a game in hand against Needham Market though.
One To Watch
Needham Market’s top scorer this season is Luke Ingram with 4 goals and plays in the centre of the park. Despite not being an attacker himself, Luke is able to contribute in attack and will certainly be a player to look out for. Luke is also Needham Market’s longest ever serving player with an incredible 440 appearances and scoring 116 goals.
Last Time Out
In the reverse fixture Marine were able to emerge victorious comfortably in a 2-0 win at the MTA thanks to goals from James Brown and Fin Sinclair-Smith. Same again please on Saturday lads! This win failed to take Marine out of the relegation zone but did manage to put themselves a few points ahead the teams around them in the relegation zone, such as the likes of Needham Market, Rushall Olympic and Radcliffe FC and each win in this league can matter greatly by the end of the season with teams often staying up by very few points.