If Needham Market are to pip Kirkham & Wesham to the Wembley-based final in May, they must overturn a 3-2 first-leg deficit sustained in Lancashire on Saturday.

It should have been a more comfortable task for the Reds, who had led the first meeting 2-0 after 15 minutes and 2-1 after 87 minutes.

Team manager Laws said, "We have to score to have any chance and that means we will have to chase the game to a certain extent.

"However, there is a long 90 minutes ahead for both teams and it is vital we do not panic."

With the home of English football beckoning for the winner, there is a lot at stake for both clubs and a fierce and tightly-contested battle is expected.

The record books point in favour of Needham, who have netted 76 goals at Bloomfields this season. The Reds have failed to score in just one match all campaign – a FA Cup replay against Grantham in September.

"We certainly have the personnel to score enough goals to win," said Laws.

"But Kirkham proved to be a very good attacking side themselves and I am sure we will need to defend resolutely at times."

Defending would seem to be Needham's only stumbling block. In the last four games, they have conceded 12 goals and have not kept a clean sheet since the FA Vase fifth round 4-0 replay win against St Ives on February 16.

Laws is aiming for a similar display to that memorable afternoon.
"We had a bumper crowd in that day and it really helped us to a perfect performance," he said.

"To their credit though, Kirkham are a better team than St Ives and we will need to be at our very best in every department to reach the final."

The Reds had their Ridgeons League Premier Division home fixture against Histon Reserves postponed on Easter Monday due to snow, but did enjoy a one-off training session at Ipswich Town FC's training ground on Wednesday.

"It was a change of scenery for the players," said Laws.

"Ipswich Town are one of the biggest clubs in the country and using their facilities will only benefit us."

Meanwhile, the Bloomfields chief has picked out Richie Allen as Kirkham's danger man. The powerful striker, who enjoyed a spell at Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday, came on as a second-half substitute on Saturday and played a crucial role in the hosts' late show.

"He certainly had class in abundance and we must keep a close eye on him," he added.

Needham return to league action on Wednesday, with a trip to CRC (ko 7.45pm).