Needham Market manager Mark Morsley defended the Bloomfields pitch after Cambridge United boss Richard Money labelled it “a pudding” following his team’s 1-0 FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round victory on Saturday.

Substitute Adam Cunnington scored the only goal of the game with 10 minutes to go to decide a keenly-contested game in which both teams tried to play good football, despite the blustery conditions.

Morsley, who paid tribute to everyone at the club who ensured a record crowd of 1,784 enjoyed their day, said: “He (Money) has probably got to make a few excuses for his team being out-played at times by a team from a lower division.

“If he wants to blame our pitch, fine, I don’t blame him but I thought it was a perfect FA Cup surface but the pitch got heavy because of the rain.

“We are a non-league club and unfortunately don’t have a full-time groundsman.

“I think it added to the excitement and didn’t stop us passing the ball did it?”

Earlier Money remarked: “It was a typical cup-tie pitch at this time of year, especially when you come to a team at this level.

“We wanted to play better than that but the pitch was like a pudding and it was difficult to move the ball quick.

“They got nine behind the ball for the majority of the game which means we had to switch the ball, transfer it and try and play through and get at them quickly which is not easy.”

For more reaction from Morsley and Needham goalkeeper James Shea, see Monday’s Ipswich Star and East Anglian Daily Times.