Needham look to wrap up title at Kirkley

NEEDHAM Market are just one win away from claiming the Ridgeons Premier Division title, but captain Rhys Barber insists the squad is not taking anything for granted.

The Marketmen travel to Kirkley & Pakefield this evening in the knowledge that three points would seal the championship title after nearest challengers CRC’s slip-up at Felixstowe & Walton on Saturday.

But Barber knows that Kirkley will not be making it easy for his side.

“We’ve still got two very hard games left,” said the Needham skipper, who hopes Saturday’s trip to Dereham will become irrelevant should they win tonight. “Kirkley will be looking to get a result against us and we want to get the championship in the bag sooner rather than later.

“We don’t really want to be going into the last game looking for a win, but it’s up to us to finish what we started.

“We’ve put ourselves in an excellent position and the fact that our fate is in our own hands is a real positive.”

Needham boss Danny Laws has warned his side not to let their nerves get the better of them ahead of the clash and Barber acknowledges that, as skipper, there is an extra responsibility on his shoulders to settle the squad.

“I suppose there is a bit of added responsibility being captain, but we’re all in it together and nobody shies away from a challenge.

“We are all fairly relaxed and there’s a good feeling amongst the squad that we can go on and win the league.

“I think we showed we’ve got the desire for the fight against Woodbridge on Saturday and we’re all fully focused on getting another three points.”

Damian Hilton is the only notable absentee for Needham as he starts the first of a three-match ban after his sending off against Newmarket at the start of the month.

Everyone else is fighting fit as Needham look to finish off a memorable week for Suffolk football after Lowestoft Town and Bury Town lifted their respective titles at the weekend.