The Yachtsmen started slowly and were punished twice in the opening ten minutes, Brothers first smashing home from the edge of the box on two minutes, before he doubled his side’s lead eight minutes later as he side-footed past a helpless Elliot Pride.

Stewart Larter’s men offered some sort of riposte in the form of Nathan Stone – who scuffed wide when well placed – but they failed to ever really move through the gears as Needham soaked up all they threw at them.

Pride saved well from Luke Ingram’s point blank header - before tipping Daryl Coakley’s free kick round the post in style – whilst Matt Halliday blazed well over from distance for Wroxham.

But this would be all they could offer in a disappointing performance from the away side, which sees them slip to their second defeat in four games.

Stewart Larter made two changes from the starting XI that drew 1-1 with Cheshunt last Saturday, with Stephen Taylor replacing Ben Price at the back and Nathan Stone in for Jordan Attree up front.

The home side set out their stall early doors, with a corner in the opening minute giving clear intent of the way Mark Morsley had set up his side as The Yachtsmen were forced to defend a goal bound shot from defender Ollie Fenn.

This shoot on sight tactic from Needham – aided by the strong wing behind them – was clear to see, and there was no stopping the next effort 60 seconds later as Needham took the lead.

Brothers collected the ball on the edge of the area and swivelled on a sixpence, striking a superb left-footed effort that flew into the top corner, giving Pride no chance between the sticks.

The table-toppers were dominating the early salvos they repeated the dose on nine minutes with another well taken goal.

Sam Newsom burst down the right before finding a lovely pull back for Brothers free from 15 yards, the striker letting the ball come across him before side-footing into the corner.

Wroxham were standing off as Needham continued to pressurise them, Kemel Izzet coming within inches of making it 3-0 as his long range effort flew just over.

After weathering the early storm, The Yachtsmen at last got some wind in their sails as the game passed the half hour mark, Jamie Forshaw neatly setting up Stone with a clear run on goal. Unfortunately the striker lacked the conviction of the home side as he scuffed his shot wide when well placed.

Stone then did well to bustle his way through again five minutes later, bouncing off a rather clumsy challenge from Fenn from which he could have easily gone down, a choice he maybe wished he had taken as his loss of balance meant his shot went harmlessly into Shaun Phillips’ arms.

Wroxham were at last causing the home side some problems in attack, but they were lucky not to fall further behind on 40 minutes as Pride saved superbly from Luke Ingram, the midfielder finding space to nod a firm header from six yards that the ‘keeper palmed away in style.

The Yachtsmen came out with much more bite at the start of the second of the second half, but they were unable to turn their majority of possession into any clear cut opportunities as Needham seemed happy to soak up the pressure.

The hosts were still looking dangerous in attack as they tried to hit Wroxham on the break, although they were nowhere near as effective in what proved to be a fairly nondescript second half.

Pride had to be at full stretch and in fine fettle to expertly tip Coakley’s 80th minute free kick around the post in style, before Halliday let Jordan Attree’s slide-rule pass get away from him when well placed in injury time.

Halliday then blazed over from distance as Wroxham tried to finish strongly – with Andy Howell also placing his header well over the bar – but it would all be in vain as The Yachtsmen missed the chance to close the gap between themselves and the top two.

Stewart Larter’s men now go into the busy festive period with just one win in four games, and they will have to show the sort of heart in bouncing back from poor results that has epitomised their season so far.

Needham Market: Phillips, Brown, Coakley, Morphew, Fenn, Nunn, Ingram, Izzet, Newsom, Brothers, Westlake

Subs: Heath, Munson, Newman, Ward, Mills

Wroxham: Pride, Taylor, Rust (Attree 85’), Hinton (Harty 75’), Howell, Halliday, Forshaw (Imrie 75’), White, Stone, Finch, Gordon

Referee; Rick Bloy

Attendance: 209