KEEPER Danny Sambridge played one of the biggest roles he has ever played for Heybridge in helping Swifts to beat league leaders Needham Market 2-1 on Tuesday at Bloomfields.
With virtually the whole team caught up in traffic chaos on the A12 after a serious collision at Witham, the kick off was put back to 8:15pm, Heybridge also had to play the last 32 minutes of normal time and the added seven minutes at the end with ten men as they ground out a result.
Despite Needham having many of their team at the ground in time, the delay didn't seem to affect the hosts as they looked to set the pace early on.
Both Ian Westlake and Luke Ingram made bright openings whilst former Colchester United midfielder Kem Izzet shot over the bar early on. Liam Springett failed to get any height on an early free kick that struck the Needham wall with Andrew Tomlinson shooting over from the rebound.
A cross by Ingram on 16 minutes found a touch off winger Howell but the shot was straight at the Heybridge keeper whilst three minutes later a close range header from Ollie Fenn fell narrowly wide.
Needham grew in confidence and as the half wore on so it looked as though the breakthrough was just around the corner.
Swifts keeper Sambridge sprung down to his right to deny Sam Newson on 21 minutes to make an outstanding one handed save whilst two minutes later Sambridge was left winded as he took a shot from Westlake to the chest before Daniel Barber cleared.
Tomlinson made a crucial intervention for Heybridge on 25 minutes as Coakley and Ingram combined before Izzet played in Newson inside the box before the timely tackle from Tomlinson.
Needham could have been out of sight if their chances had gone in but as the half hour approached it remained level until on the stroke of 30 minutes Sam Newson made a clever back heel with his back to goal from a corner to tuck home a sweet yet cheeky goal to give the hosts the lead.
Needham didn't take that lead into the break though as an almighty blitz in first half stoppage time from Neil Richmond and Billy Hunt turned the game on it's head. Evans involved in the move with a cross from the left, which a defender couldn't clear and the ball dropped nicely to Richmond on the edge of the box to wrap his boot round and finish.
Inside the final minute of the three allocated in first half stoppage time, Barber launched a cross from the left which again Needham didn't clear, allowing Hunt to tee himself up and from almost the same position as Richmond, hit a screamer into the bottom left corner.
Needham all but threw the kitchen sink at Heybridge in the second half and Swifts were left with a problem thirteen minutes in as captain Springett saw a straight red for a tackle that left Brendon Heath being helped off the pitch although not on a stretcher, Springett put his foot in for a tackle a second too late as the ball left the boot of Heath with Referee Paul Burnham close by.
Ian Westlake again saw chances go begging for Needham whilst Howell shot past Sambridge but also the post just after the hour. Sam Nunn met a corner on 67 minutes with Sub Adam Mills having a shot blocked as it became clear that Swifts' backs were well and truly against the wall.
A single one handed save in the game by Sambridge was doubled when he made another, this time a second half denial of Nunn as Needham pumped the ball forward again, Nunn beat the offside trap but his volley was saved. Nunn must have had enough of the Heybridge keeper eleven minutes later when he was again denied, this time a far post header pushed round the post after Ingram's delivery.
Coakley and Morphew both went close late on as Heybridge battled to launch an occasional ball into the Needham half and chase, but with five minutes of stoppage time added on the drama wasn't over as somehow the game found it's way into the 97th minute with Ollie Fenn heading over right at the death as finally the Referee blew the whistle.
