Needham Market manager Tom Rothery admits their three consecutive National League North home fixtures will decide their season

Needham Market manager Tom Rothery admitted their three consecutive Vanarama National League North home fixtures, starting with tomorrow’s home clash with Buxton (3pm), will decide their season, writes Drew Kendall.

Having lost the reverse encounter 7-1, the fourth-from-bottom Marketmen will be looking for revenge against the ninth-placed side as Rothery's side bid to overturn the seven-point gap to safety going into their remaining six fixtures.

With eighth-placed Curzon Ashton to follow at Bloomfields on Tuesday (7.45pm), before a relegation 'six-pointer' with the side one place and currently five points behind them, Rushall Olympic, on April 12.

The Marketmen will be looking to respond to back-to-back defeats, having gone down 4-1 at play-off chasing Kidderminster Harriers, with forward Ashley Hemmings helping himself to a hat-trick.

But Rothery felt there were positives to draw from the performance, saying: "I thought they were the dominant team, but I thought for the first 30, especially, we did really well.

“The keeper went down and obviously wasn't injured. That gave them a chance to change their shape, which they did, and they scored quickly after that.

“In the second half we came into it. Once we went 2-0 down we started moving the ball a little bit and gave a sloppy goal away for the third, and then really came into the game towards the end.

“I think the fourth goal was offside, simple as that."

The Needham boss was pleased with Seth Chambers' 77th-minute consolation, saying: "I thought Seth and Jake Watkiss, when they went on, contributed to the game which is what you're asking.

But ahead of their trio of home fixtures, he feels it’s now or never for his side to get the points to determine whether they are playing at Step 2 or 3 next season.

"Those next three games are going to decide whether we remain in this division or not, simple as that,” he said.

“We've got to go all out and try and get as many points as we can in those three games. But Buxton won't be easy, that's a bit of an obvious statement, bearing in mind they beat us 7-1 at their place.

“Curzon are obviously fighting for play-offs, so that won't be easy.

“And then you've got Rushall, who are obviously similar to ourselves, trying to stay in the league.

“There's no easy games in those three, but they're clearly going to be hugely important.

“If we've got any opportunity to stay in this division we're going to have to get as many points as we can in those three games."

Meanwhile, Needham Market reached their second Veo Suffolk U18 Midweek Cup Final in three seasons after knocking holders Haverhill Rovers out 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at The Getaway Cars Stasdium, home of Bury Town FC, on Tuesday, with goalkeeper Charlie Skinner making three saves in the shootout.