It was their first away win of the season and left the Marketmen still looking for their first success at home.
Clifton’s strike came after 12 minutes and Forest doubled their lead 12 minutes later when Rhys Barber turned the ball into his own net. Nathan Clarke immediately pulled one back but Needham suffered another blow when Corey Whitely made it 3-1 five minutes before the break.
A Joel Palmer double made it five before the hour mark and Manu Dagher completed the six-hit with 18 minutes still left to play.
The other game in the division brought a welcome point for out-of-form Sudbury, who drew 1-1 at home to Thamesmead. Robbie Martin put Sudbury ahead in the 58th minute and Thamesmead replied with a James Smith own goal. That left them 11 minutes to come up with a winning goal that would have lifted them into the play-off spots, but it was not to be.
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