Needham Market made 2 changes from Saturday’s defeat at Ware with Richard Butler and Nathan Stone replacing Pip Boyland and Rhys Henry for the visit to Bloomfield’s of Redbridge.

Needham kicked off on a chilly late November evening with the Bloomfield surface looking in fine fettle.

Richard Butler soon made his presence felt when his 20 yard strike from a corner was blocked by keeper Redwood a minute in to the game.Needham were ahead a minute later when CRAIG PARKER converted Horlocks cross and doubled their lead after 16 minutes with a fine CRAIG PARKER header from Horlock’s free kick.Newson stung keeper Redwoods hands after 21 minutes before Skidmore was booked for a foul on Parker after 34 minutes and DANIEL THROWER made it 3-0 with a 30 yard strike a minute later. Redbridge were offering little going forward and failed to get a shot on target and Needham went in to the break with a comfortable 3-0 lead.

H/T NEEDHAM MARKET 3 REDBRIDGE 0

Redbridge introduced Roach for Djan at the break and started the second half brighter than they had finished the first but Needham put the match well beyond Redbridge’s reach in the 56th minute when keeper Redwood could only parry B.Barber’s shot in to the path of SAM NEWSON who fired home.Needham introduced McCloskey for Evans just after the hour and he was joined by Finch six minutes later in place of Newson before NATHAN STONE headed home B.Barber’s corner after 69 minutes.Roach headed over from Gillingham’s cross after 71 minutes as Redbridge looked for a consolation goal and introduced Newcomb for Donovan a minute later. NATHAN STONE doubled his tally for the night with a fine finish following a move involving R.Barber and Finch in the 76th minute before being replaced by Henry. Redbridge got their consolation goal two minutes later when Needham fell asleep and Edwards scrambled the ball home from a Gillingham free kick while Redwood dealt easily with Henry’s effort at the other end with 11 minutes to play.Rainsford replaced Gillingham in the 80th minute before RHYS HENRY wrapped the night up with an excellent finish in the 89th minute.

F/T NEEDHAM MARKET 7 REDBRIDGE 1