County will be looking to reach the semi-finals of the Buildbase FA Trophy for just the second time this weekend, as we travel to Southern Central League Premier Division side Needham Market.
Having gone five points clear at the top of the National League table last weekend with a 2-0 win at Aldershot, our attention now turns back towards the road to Wembley as we take on the lowest ranked side left in the competition.
County have so far beaten Grimsby Town, Larkhall Athletic and Cheshunt to reach this stage, all without conceding a single goal, and we will be looking to reach the semi-final stage for the first time since 2019.
Our opponents Needham Market are currently 12th in their division, the seventh tier of English football, after a 3-0 defeat at Peterborough Sports last weekend. They have beaten six sides already to reach the quarter-finals, booking their place with a 1-0 win against National League South side Dartford last time out.
Our Opponent’s Cup Run:
This is the furthest Needham Market have ever progressed in the FA Trophy, with Saturday’s game being described by the Club as the biggest in their 103 year history.

Under the management of former Manchester City midfielder Kevin Horlock, who combines the role with his job as assistant manager for Northern Ireland U21s, the side are playing at their highest ever level in the seventh tier, having been there since winning promotion in 2015.
They have won nine and lost nine of their 30 games in the league this season, leaving them firmly in midtable and perhaps allowing them to focus more on their amazing Cup exploits.
The Suffolk side began their FA Trophy campaign all the way back in October with a win against St Ives, before beating Isthmian Premier Division side Margate 3-2 to reach the Second Round Proper for the first time ever, thanks to a stoppage time winner from Hans Mpongo.
Mpongo was again on the scoresheet late on in the next round, sealing a 3-1 win at home to Welwyn Garden City that set up a home tie against National League opposition, in the form of Wealdstone.
What followed was a historic afternoon for The Marketmen at their Bloomfields Stadium, as first-half goals from Callum Sturgess and top scorer Luke Ingram saw them produce a major upset against the National League strugglers, holding on to a 2-1 win to keep their incredible cup run going.
Another National League side lay in wait in the Fourth Round, as Needham made the trip to Yeovil Town. In front of their 58 travelling supporters, the side produced yet more cup heroics as Ben Fowkes’ goal on the stroke of half-time took the game to penalties. Step up goalkeeper Marcus Garnham, who made himself a hero by saving four spot-kicks to help his team progress 8-7 in an extraordinary shootout.

Just three wins away from a Wembley showpiece final, National League South highfliers Dartford were next on the agenda for the Marketmen – and they too became victim of another giant-killing at Bloomfields, thanks to Luke Ingram’s penalty on 73 minutes.
It has been an incredible run for the Suffolk side that will go down in history regardless of Saturday’s result, as they now face the ultimate test against the National League leaders – the first ever meeting between the two clubs.
One to watch:
Attacking midfielder Luke Ingram is now in his sixth season at Needham Market, making him the second longest serving player at the Club. Capable of playing on the right-hand side or as a forward, the former Bury and AFC Sudbury man has scored 12 goals in 36 appearances so far this season, and it was his penalty against Dartford that booked Needham’s place in the quarter-finals.
Match Stats:
- We have won our last six away games in all competitions, scoring 17 and conceding just twice.
- County are one of the only two sides left in the competition who have yet to concede a goal, alongside Solihull Moors.
- County haven’t lost away from home in the Buildbase FA Trophy since 2018 (a 2-1 defeat at Brackley).