Needham Market drop back into National League North relegation zone after 1-0 defeat at Spennymoor Town
Manager Tom Rothery spoke of his frustration after seeing his Needham Market side drop back into the Vanarama National League North relegation zone on Tuesday night.
The Marketmen made the trip to Spennymoor Town buoyed by Saturday’s late 2-1 home victory over Chorley – a result that ended a six-game winless run and also moved Rothery’s men out of the bottom four.
However, they slumped back into the danger zone with a slender 1-0 defeat in County Durham.
“It’s been like that all season – there’s no excuses,” Rothery said in his post-match club interview.
“We know exactly what it’s about. It’s all the games, there’s small margins, and it’s about making sure you stay switched on or showing that little bit of quality to get you a win.
“I’m just frustrated. I thought we showed so much on Saturday.
“Look, I think we’ve worked hard and the lads always try. I just don’t think we’ve done enough. I don’t think we’ve built any real momentum.
“I didn’t feel like they were really under the cosh. I just don’t think we did enough.
“Worst-case scenario, we should be coming away with a nil-nil, but like I said, they’ve shown the one bit of quality in the game and I just don’t think we’ve done enough in the game, to be honest.”
The attention now switches to tomorrow’s trip to play-off hunting Kidderminster Harriers (3pm).
It is a tough assignment, but with the gap to safety now at three points, Needham can ill afford for it to grow much bigger.
Rothery added: “The one team that’s really given us a bit of a lesson (this season) was Kidderminster (3-0 defeat).
“I was really impressed with them on the day when they came to us.
“They’re a good side so it’ll be tough. There are no easy games. If we didn’t know it, we should know it. And if we don’t know it, then we’re never going to learn.
“Every game’s tough and Saturday will be one of the toughest on paper.
“We’ll have a few people back so hopefully we’ll go there and just got to show a bit more and do a little bit more and try and get some points.”
On Saturday, Needham fell behind in the first half to Chorley via Kole Hall’s 24th-minute effort.
However, defender Keiran Morphew drew the home side level with 14 minutes remaining before experienced frontman Luke Ingram drove home the winning penalty in stoppage time.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, Corey McKeown’s first-half goal was enough to secure 10th-placed Spennymoor all three points.
