The Marketmen were clinical in attack while water-tight in defence as Stamford struggled to find a way back into the contest despite an industrious display from Graham Drury's side.

The Daniels made three changes to their starting line-up following the high-scoring draw at Barwell on Saturday with Joe Burgess and Tendai Chitiza both returning while Tom Siddons also came into the attack.

The opening period played out as a cagey contest with both sides showing attacking intent without creating any clear-cut opportunities.

Home goalkeeper Michael Duggan was down smartly to smother a dangerous low cross from Tevan Allen while Joe Burgess made a vital block to deny Jamie McGrath.

Rob Morgan's strong attacking forays were again prominent for the Daniels and he sent one shot wide before Jack Duffy was off target with an effort after Chitiza, Siddons and Harry Vince had linked well.

Siddons did well to instantly control a Burgess cross but was wide after a smart turn and shot before Luke Ingam flashed a shot past the far post for the visitors.

The Marketmen did have the ball in the net after 24 minutes but Keiran Morphew's header from a hanging cross was disallowed for a foul on Duggan.

Vince fizzed a low drive at Marcus Garnham in the Needham goal before Duffy drove another effort wide from a fierce first time strike following Connor Bartle's corner.

Needham had a spell of sustained pressure towards the end of the first half with Duggan doing well to thwart Dylan Williams in stoppage time.

However, it took the Suffolk side just three minutes after the restart to take the lead as Reece Harris' looping cross to the back post saw Tevan Allen slip his marker before firing home.

It then needed a fine double save from Duggan to prevent Needham from doubling their lead as he first kept out Williams' low drive before reacting well to block Ingram's follow-up.

Stamford looked for a response but any attacking promise was soon dampened by the Needham rearguard as the ball fell invitingly for Chitiza but his well-struck shot was blocked by the visiting defence.

That was to prove a theme of the second half as Needham were quick to get their bodies in the way with a series of vital blocks and interceptions whenever Stamford threatened their goal.

Needham netted the vital second goal just past the hour mark when Allen's corner picked out the unmarked Jamie McGrath who steered home his finish.

The visitors could then have increased their advantage as substitute Seth Carroll-Chambers was sent racing through but, with just Duggan to beat, he rolled his shot just wide of the far post.

Stamford tried to ring the changes in a bid to find a way back into the contest with substitute Ollie Brown-Hill nearly having an instant impact following his introduction as he cut inside before driving his shot just over.

Needham then wrapped up the win in the 89th minute when Jacob Lay burst down the right before playing in Oliver Fraser for a close range finish.

Stamford, to their credit, continued to push until the final whistle with Brown-Hill seeing another shot predictably blocked while Trey Charles created an opening but visiting goalkeeper Marcus Garnham grabbed onto his effort to deny the Daniels a consolation.