Corey McKeown’s clinical first half strike was enough to secure all three points for Moors against a stubborn Needham Market side at The Brewery Field.
The in-form winger found the only goal of the game as he curled a wonderful effort home past Marcus Garnham with half an hour on the clock.
Moors started the first half the better of the two sides, looking positive early on. Junior Mondal tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area in the fourth minute, only to see his effort fly into the keeper’s arms.
A half chance cropped up for Moors, as a diverted corner fell to Michael Ledger at the back post, who was unable to divert the ball goalward.
Olly Dyson drove forward looking for an angle to strike one on goal, only for his shot to be deflected into the path of Aidan Rutledge, who tried a shot himself, only for it to be blocked and for Needham Market to clear.
Fin Shrimpton tried an audacious volleyed effort on the 13th minute mark as a half-cleared corner fell to him 25 yards from goal. His strike flew just over the bar, not quite having the dip to find the back of the net.
Moors continued their pursuit of the opening goal, this time through Rutledge. The Gateshead loanee got on the end of an inviting ball in from Shrimpton, but his headed effort looped just over from the centre of the penalty area.
The Marketmen hadn’t really created anything since the kick-off, but Luke Ingram looked to change that. His ball over the top into the path of Iffy Allen showed promise, however, Brad James was on hand to snub out any real danger.
Moors finally managed to break the deadlock on the half hour mark through Corey McKeown. A brilliant ball over the top from centre-back, Ben Pollock, fell right to the feet of the winger, who took it in his stride superbly, broke free into the area from the left-hand side and curled home a composed finish into the bottom right corner past Marcus Garnham.
Momentum looked to be Moors favour as they attempted to double the lead before the break as Mondal set Rutledge up on the edge of the area. The striker cut back onto his left, before striking low and straight at the goalkeeper.
Tom Rothery’s side tried their luck from the edge of the area themselves just before half time as Iffy Allen took aim, but it was too easy for Brad James, who routinely claimed at waist height.
Graeme Lee will have been pleased with his sides advantage going into the second half, however, Needham Market were far from out of this game, with only one goal between the two sides at the halfway stage.
Moors tried to continue their first half form through Matty Dolan as the experienced midfielder stepped up to a freekick to the right of the penalty area. However, his shot was just too high, flying over the bar and into the stand behind the goal.
The visitors looked to step up their advances in their hunt to forge an equaliser, as they began to move into a spell of decent possession.
Brad James was called into action on the 51st minute as he had to get across the face of goal to smother a shot from a Marketman, however the flag was raised, giving Moors had chance to reorganise.
James yet again sprang to action just four minutes later as he had to fly through a crowded area to punch an enticing looking ball out of the path of The Marketmen in the area.
Clearly confident in how his side had started the second 45, Captain Keiran Morphew decided to leather a shot goalward from an outlandish distance. Needless to say, his overly ambitious effort flew well wide and high of the mark.
Both sides seemed to balance each other out for a period, until a momentary switch off from the Needham Market defence allowed Mondal to nick possession away from the visitors 30 yards from goal. The winger played Rob Ramshaw in on goal, who tried to take it around Garnham in the Market net, only to see his low effort parried out of harm’s way.
That huge chance seemed to spur Moors into life, with McKeown looking to emulate his first half strike. The winger struck a low effort toward the right corner of the goal, having driven across the 18-yard box. His curled attempt, this time rolled just wide of the mark.
The visitors tried to wedge their way back into proceedings through some half chances soon after, first through Kyle Hammond, who saw his strike from distance soar wide after getting into space 30 yards from goal.
Pollock had to get himself across the face of goal to block a dangerous cross from substitute Seth Chambers soon after.
Moors had another good chance to wrap the game up on the 78th minute mark, as Reece Staunton flashed a cross into the path of Ramshaw. The stand-in Captain tried to divert a header on goal, but the ball just took a touch off his shoulder, losing its power, and landing in the arms of Garnham.
Rothery’s men looked to hit back with a headered effort of their own, as Morphew got his head onto a Tevan Allen corner. The defender’s free header in the centre of the box soared just over the bar, a chance that really should have found the back of the net.
Morphew saw an almost identical situation happen just seven minutes later as Allen yet again found Morphew in the area, only for his free header to face the same fate as the previous.
Needham Market looked to try and salvage at least a point to take back home after their long journey up to the Northeast, as Ted Collis hooked a volleyed effort over the bar with one minute of normal time remaining.
The visitors won a corner in the dying embers of the match, however no Marketmen were able to have their say on the scoreline, as Moors managed to secure their slim victory.
Another three points at The Brewery Field in what was a scrappy affair overall. Moors now look to their second home game of the week this Saturday, with Farsley Celtic making the trip up to County Durham.
Full Time: Moors 1 Needham Market 0
Moors: James, Dyson, Ledger, Pollock, Staunton, Dolan, Shrimpton, Mondal (Simpson 80), Ramshaw, McKeown (Huntley 90), Rutledge (Harris 84).
Subs not used: Myers, Luck.
Booked: Harris (87).
Needham Market: Garnham, T Allen, K Morphew, Tomlinson, Smith, Hammond, lay, Watkiss (Collis 58), I Allen (Chambers 58), Ingram, McGrath (Barker 83).
Subs not used: Tucker, D Morphew.
Referee: Lee Hible
Attendance: 1,027
