A WIN AWAY FROM HOME FOR NEEDHAM MARKET WOMEN

Needham Market have bounced back to winning ways in the league after a 2-0 victory over lowly Southend United on a horrible winter’s day in Essex.

Chloe Brame opened the scoring in the first half as Needham missed a few big chances to extend the lead at the break and then after, before a late Jae Lewis-Samuel goal to make sureall the points returned to Suffolk.

The opening 10 minutes saw very little on a heavy pitch with the rain coming down but it was the visitors that threatened first through Brame as she saw her finish from a long free kick tipped past the post.

But they didn’t have to wait long as a great team goal that started with Adele Stalnionis playing in Anna Sullivan and her cut back was beautifully dummied by Esme Marsh straight into Brame’s path and she slid it into the corner.

It was almost two as Stalnionis beat her full back and played a wicked whipped in ball that Marsh couldn’t steer into the corner as it came back off the post.

The visitors were largely untroubled but did have Clarke to thank with a big strong save from the home side’s first chance of the game.

It led to a five-minute period of pressure as another chance drifted just over the bar with Needham just needing that second to put a bit of daylight between the teams.

And they nearly did this as another cross from Stalnionis was met by Marsh again at the back post, but she didn’t quite get the power to beat the keeper.

Within minutes of the restart Megan McCrae-Robinson hit the bar from well outside the box as they looked to extend that lead and make the second half more comfortable.

Without that second there was always a danger of Southend getting back into it and they almost did after the hour mark but again the bar came to the rescue.

Annie Posnett returned from injury and had a chance to add to this season’s tally but dragged it wide before turning provider to play in Lewis-Samuel, who showed great composure to tuck into the corner.

Southend didn’t give up and saw Clarke in fine form again to push away a close ranger header before a late free kick clipped the bar.

In the end it was a win in difficult conditions but could have and probably should have been a wider margin of victory.

But after a tough period, it was nice to see the team back to winning ways.

The development side were also in league action as they emphatically put nine goals past Bacton United 89 at Bloomfields.

Immy Porch stood out with a hat trick but she was ably joined on the scoresheet by Megan Smith, Matilda Stephenson, Lola Hunting, Lexi Ferris and Khyla Anderson-Hayler before an own goal rounded off the goal fest in Suffolk.