Needham Market manager Mark Morsley had never won a penalty shoot-out, until last night!

The well-known non-league boss has experienced plenty of highs and lows during his managerial career, but admitted that the thrilling Suffolk Premier Cup semi-final victory over former club Leiston was a first for him.

“Before last night, I don’t think I’d ever won a penalty shoot-out as a manager,” said Morsley, whose side prevailed 4-2 on spot-kicks, after the sides finished at 4-4 after extra-time.

“I’ve been involved in a fair few too! Nathan Munson, our current goalkeeping coach, was in goal for four penalty shoot-outs, and hardly saved any, they were all his fault!”

Morsley has also never won the Suffolk Premier Cup or won promotion via the play-offs, yet. Could this be a history-making season for Morsley and The Marketmen, perhaps? They are in contention to achieve both.

“I’ve said for a long time now that there’s something special going on in our dressing room,” continued the boss, whose side managed to pull level on three separate occasions last night, and even led until Matt Blake took the game into extra-time with a 92nd-minute equaliser.

“We’re not the best team in the league, but I don’t think there is a team with a better spirit.

“The thing I love about my team is that we don’t give up.

“We just don’t give up! We were 3-1 down at Tonbridge Angels the other week, and won 4-3, and we’ve done a similar thing against Leiston.

“It’s a tremendous accolade to my players and staff because the fitness levels are good, but the belief is even better.”

As all level of football games go, last night was as good as it gets, according to Morsley.

“I think it was one of those great Suffolk non-league football nights,” continued the boss, who takes his team to Hendon, in the Ryman Premier Division, on Saturday.

“I think people are going to talk about this game for a long time, it had everything.

“It was a game that neither team deserved to lose, I thought both sides were tremendous.”