Mark Morsley bowed out as Needham Market manager in the best way possible last night, after the Marketmen lifted the Suffolk Premier Cup with a 3-2 win over Lowestoft Town at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Jack Simmons was the star of the show, scoring one and setting up the Marketmen’s other two goals, scored by Luke Ingram and John Sands, while Frazer Blake-Tracey netted twice, to make it 1-1 and 3-2, to ensure an entertaining spectacle.
Morsley is stepping down to become chairman of the Bloomfields club, he will be replaced by assistant manager Richard Wilkins, and spoke of his delight after the game.
“We have had a fantastic season, albeit we faded a bit in the last few weeks of the league season, and it is a fitting way to end,” said Morsley.
“I thought Jack (Simmons) was different class, but there were four or five of my players that had really good games.
“Keiran Morphew does what Keiran Morphew does at the back, then there was Luke Ingram, Jake Dye, who were both excellent.
“I also thought Sam Nunn was fantastic, he often goes unnoticed, while Kem Izzet was very good.
Needham took the lead on four minutes when Ingram touched home Simmons’ cross-shot, but Blake-Tracey equalised within two minutes.
Simmons then restored Needham’s advantage on the stroke of half-time with a 25-yard thunderbolt into the top corner, before setting up the Marketmen’s third, scored by striker John Sands, three minutes into the second half.
Needham had chances to make the game safe, Callum Harrison twice being denied by goalkeeper, Jake Jessup, before Blake-Tracey scored again to ensure a nervy finish.
“I thought Lowestoft were the better team in the first half, they kept the ball better, played to their strengths, and were unlucky not to be ahead at the break,” Morsley added.
“But we had a 20-minute spell at the start of the second half which I thought knocked the stuffing out of them.”
Morsley will now move into the boardroom but is confident for the future of the now two-time Premier Cup winners.
“Richard (Wilkins) will come in, he is an excellent coach, along with Tom Rothery and there is a good squad at the club, which I am sure they will add to.”
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