Needham Market really are sharing the goals this season.

On Tuesday night, it was the turn of goalkeeper Danny Gay to become the Marketmen’s hero.

Gay had already saved a penalty at Canvey Island, only for the rebound to be finished off but, more significantly, the stopper was in the right place at the right time to salvage a point for Needham in a 2-2 draw.

The point put them top of the Ryman Premier League, for 24 hours at least – Leiston had the chance to return there last night at Grays – and Gay revealed it wasn’t the first time he had got on the scoresheet in his career.

“I have scored before when I was at Braintree, against Bromley,” revealed the 34-year-old.

“It was near the end of the season, it was a 1-1 draw, and I scored with a header.

“It was one of those where you shut your eyes and hope for the best, whereas the goal at Canvey, I controlled the ball on my thigh in the penalty box and finished from about eight yards.

“I’m hardly prolific though. That’s two goals in something like 18 years so I don’t think I will be getting a regualr spot up front any time soon!

The goal could, however, turn out to be a massive moment in Needham’s season with the Marketmen flying high.

“We were cruising in the first half and should have been three or four-up,” explained Gay.

“In Ryman League football though teams never give up and the game turned upside down when they went 2-1 up. It looked as though we were going to lose our first game in a while.

“But we showed what a good team spirit we have and that’s probably one of the reasons for our position in the table.”

John Sands had given Needham an early lead, before Joel May scored at the second attempt after Gay had saved his spot kick.

Harrison Chatting then put the Essex side into the lead before Gay’s late, late intervention.