BACK TO WINNING WAYS FOR NEEDHAM MARKET WOMEN

Needham Market got back to winning ways with a 4-1 win over Brentwood Town on a pretty horrid day at Bloomfields.

The home side built a good lead in the first half thanks to another brace from top scorer Annie Posnett, but all the drama came at the end of the half as first the Brentwood manager was sent to the stands and then his team pulled a goal back thanks to Maisie Kelly.

But that did not phase the home side as they killed the game off in the space of several second half minutes with Megan Robinson-McCrae scoring a worldie before a Mia Etheridge-Golding bullet header made sure of the points.

It was a competitive start with both teams looking threatening in attack, but it was Needham who hit the front from Posnett sweeping home at the back post from a brilliant in swingingRobinson-McCrae corner.

Brentwood were always a threat going forward but they failed to create anything that would trouble Danni Clarke in goal.

And on the half hour Needham doubled their lead through Posnett again as Charlotte McGrath played a brilliant through ball for her to run on and bypass the keeper to tuck into the empty net.

But as the half was ending, first the Brentwood manager was sent off for his strong protests at the referee and in the resultant added time for that lengthy stoppage a long-rangefree kick hit the base of the post and bounced out for Kelly to tuck in.

Needham didn’t look phased by the deficit being reduced and made a strong start to the second period thanks to an absolute blockbuster by Robinson-McCrae.

Some 30 yards out and with a perfect bounce of the ball she let fly and saw it ping sweetly off her boot right into the top corner.

And only two minutes later there was a fourth as another wicked Robinson-McCrae corner was met by a bullet Etheridge-Golding header from within the six-yard box.

Brentwood comfortable in possession all game did try to get back into it with Danni Clarke making a terrific save at her back post from point blank range.

But in truth after the fourth in the 55^th minute Needham never really looked in danger of letting the away side back in and after a couple of tough results on the road it was a welcome and fairly stylish return to winning ways.

Meanwhile the development team are flying and have a 100% win record in 2026 after another brilliant 4-0 win away at Capel Plough in the Suffolk Premiership.

The heroes this week were Faith Witmore, Immy Porch and a brace for Lexie Ferris as they go top of the league although second place Sudbury reserves do have games in hand.