Jack Simmons made two goals and scored the other as Needham Market lifted the Suffolk Premier Cup with a 3-2 victory over Ryman Premier rivals, Lowestoft Town, on Tuesday night.
On a special evening for Needham boss Mark Morsley, who was taking charge of his final game before becoming the club’s chairman, Simmons teed up Luke Ingram and John Sands for Market’s first and third goals respectively, having scored with a rasping 25-yard effort in between.
Frazer Blake-Tracey had earlier cancelled out Ingram’s opener, the first two goals coming within the opening six minutes of the game at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, before netting his second of the night with seven minutes to go, to set up a thrilling finale.
Needham drew first blood on four minutes when Ingram stabbed home from close range, the forward connecting with Simmons’ dangerous cross-cum shot into the six-yard box, after the Trawlerboys failed to clear Darryl Coakley’s right-wing corner.
Blake-Tracey quickly got Lowestoft on level terms though, the defender volleying home from close range after Needham failed to clear a left-wing free-kick.
The game had got off to a frenetic start and the pace showed no sign of abating, Travis Cole clearing Simmons’ goal-bound lob away from danger after a quick break from the Bloomfields side.
Both goalkeepers then stepped up to play their part, Needham’s Danny Gay pushing Joel Glover’s 25-yard effort away, before Jake Jessup superbly flicked Sands’ shot across goal to safety.
Jessup had no chance however, as Needham took the lead in first half stoppage-time, Simmons firing an unstoppable 25-yard left-foot strike into the goalkeeper’s top, right-hand corner.
The winger was at it again three minutes after the interval, as Needham made it three. This time he turned his marker inside and out before finding Sands at the back post to tap home.
Gay saved at close range from Shaun Bammant on the hour as Lowestoft threatened a comeback, before Jessup twice denied Callum Harrison at the other end.
Blake-Tracey grabbed his second of the night, again from close range, after more suspect defending from Needham but the Marketmen hung on to claim their second Premier Cup triumph.
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