Wroxham took the lead through Sam Groves only to be pegged back just before half-time. The Marketmen took the lead early in the second half through ex-pro Ian Westlake before Marsden’s late penalty equaliser.

Wroxham dominated early play and it was no surprise on the half hour mark when Matt Halliday headed a corner kick from beyond the far post back across goal to the feet of Sam Groves who finished clinically from 5 yards out with his first goal for The Yachtsmen. No surprise that the better team had scored but also the method as Halliday had already threatened at each of Wroxham’s seven corner kicks preceding this one.

The arrival of Monsoon like conditions made life difficult for both sides but Needham got a fortuitous break right on half time when Luke Ingram was caught by a Sam Groves’s late challenge as he carried the ball into the Wroxham penalty area. Referee Mr Hancock signalled a penalty for Needham and dispensed a yellow card to Groves. Jamie Guy struck the ball hard into the right hand corner to level the scores.

HT NeedhamMarket 1 Wroxham 1

Wroxham continued to force Needham back at the start of the second half and were to later rue not finishing the several excellent chances they created.

Against the run of play, on 56 minutes a rare Needham attack saw Matt Cripps fouled 5 yards outside the Wroxham penalty box. Up stepped former Ipswich and Leeds player Westlake to produce a strike of real quality that bent round the wall and ended in the far corner of the Wroxham goal.

Then, Needham enjoyed 15 minutes pressurising Wroxham but they couldn’t sustain it, returned to backing off far too easily and the away side finished by far the stronger, getting their just reward in the last minute of normal time. With the Needham defence again under intense strain Ollie Fenn made an untidy challenge on Joe Marsden in the Needham box as he skirted along the by-line and referee Thomas Hancock awarded the second spot kick of the day. Mardsen gave former Wroxham ‘keeper Andrew Plummer in the Needham goal no chance as his penalty flew in.

The whole Wroxham team played well throughout in very difficult playing conditions. But man of the match Remy Gordon continued his fine form and was a thorn in the Marketmen side throughout with his incisive runs. The draw against one of the leagues unbeaten sides gives the Yachtsmen a boost ahead of Bank Holiday Monday’s derby game against Dereham.

Needham Market: Andrew Plummer, Matty Cripps, Lee Townrow, Ollie Fenn
Luke Ingram, Kieron Morphew, Ryan Charles (Keiron Leabon 75), Ian Westlake, Ollie Brown, Matt Poxon (Dave Wareham 45), Jamie Guy (Danny Bloomfield 85)
Subs not used: Lee Norfolk, Nathan Munson

Wroxham: Scott Cruickshank, Joe Marsden,Jordan Southgate, Sam Groves, Matt Halliday, Sam Harty (Jordan King 75), Tim Cary (Fernando Vide 85), Stephen Drake, Paul Cook, Remy Gordon, Ross Durrant
Subs not used: Rio Starkings, Ben Jones, Pedro Sanha

Ref: Thomas Hancock