NEEDHAM Market needed penalties to progress to the Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup Semi-Finals.

The holders went through 3-2 from the spot after what manager Kevin Horlock described as “the worst penalty shoot-out I have ever witnessed” following a goalless quarter-final draw with Ipswich Wanderers on Tuesday evening.

Wanderers’ Teon Leggett had his effort saved by Marcus Garnham, Rhys Henry hit the underside of the crossbar and Chris Casement and Ben Stannard scored either side of Henry Barley shooting over.

Craig Brand saved from Needham’s Luke Ingram and Tevan Allen shot wide inbetween Jake Dye and Ben Hunter netting, before skipper Keiran Morphew scored the decisive penalty to send the Marketmen into the final four.

Needham Market's Ben Hunter (red shirt) tries to keep the ball in play during Tuesday night's Suffolk Premier Cup Quarter-Final. Main photograph: Needham Market striker Seth Chambers (red shirt) slips the ball past Ipswich Wanderers keeper Craig Brand, but his first-half effort was disallowed for offside. Photographs: Ben Pooley

They will join AFC Sudbury and Felixstowe & Walton United in the semi-final draw along with the winners of next Tuesday’s tie between Leiston and an Ipswich Town XI.

The match at the Ecological Stadium Bloomfields never really burst into life as Needham huffed and puffed against a well-organised Wanderers side.

Brand saved well from Seth Chambers just before the break and again from substitute Adam Mills late on, but otherwise Needham failed to create any clear-cut chances.

Horlock admitted: “It was a tough watch. It wasn’t a good game by any means. We didn’t really get going and the conditions didn’t help, and the pitch was quite heavy, but I can’t remember Marco (Marcus Garnham) making a save and I can’t remember their keeper making many more.

“It was a dull encounter, and the penalty shoot-out didn’t get any better! I think it was the worst penalty shoot-out I have ever witnessed, but the shining light is that we are through to the next round.

“I have said it all along it is a competition that we take very seriously and obviously after winning it four times in a row we want to make it five, so we got there in the end.

“It could have gone either way, the penalty shoot-out is a little bit of a lottery and like I said, a fair few missed the target and the keepers have only made one save each with five scored out of ten.

“It is a night I certainly won’t remember, and I don’t think I will be watching it back on the Veo!”

Goalkeeper Craig Brand punches the ball clear as Ipswich Wanderers (blue shirts) defend against Needham Market (red shirts) in Tuesday's quarter-final tie. Photograph: Ben Pooley

Horlock gave credit to Wanderers, whose new manager Michael Brothers had said pre-match he wanted his team to make a statement about what his side are going to be about for the rest of the season.

“They are two leagues below us and a new manager has gone in there. He is a great lad and experienced in the game. He is putting a tidy Step 4 side together there, so I am sure they will start climbing the league.

“They were resolute and worked really hard for each other and were hard to break down and on the night unfortunately I don’t think we had that spark in the final third,” said Horlock.