DEFEAT AT PORTMAN ROAD FOR NEEDHAM MARKET WOMEN

Needham Market’s hunt for a second Suffolk County Cup title was abruptly ended by holders AFC Sudbury in a humbling 8-0 defeat in the Portman Road finale.

Being a couple divisions lower it was imperative they made a good start, but it only took two minutes for the national league side to lead through Jess Allan, and they never recovered with further goals from Amy-Leigh Abrehart and a Jade Barrett howitzer.

Needham were again breached at the start of a half this time through Lucy Loomes and that was added to by Megan Edwards before three in the final ten minutes thanks to Abrehart again, Evi-Mai Harding and Ruby Clarke to complete a sobering evening.

The two clubs met in the semi final last season and was quite a battle until late on when Sudbury eventually overpowered them to make the final with a 3-0 win.

Something similar was required on the hallowed turf of Portman Road but the gameplan went out the window after two minutes as a deep cross was misjudged at the back post for Allan to smash in from close range.

Needham knew they would have to defend, and it looked like they had settled even under early pressure after the goal but on the 13^th minute they were breached again after a defence splitting pass sent in Abrehart to round Danni Clarke and find the empty net.

Credit to the team though they came back into the game and looked the most likely to score the next goal with skipper Laura Bloomfield denied from a free kick after brilliant work from Kiera Topple to win the foul at the edge of the box.

Then top scorer Annie Posnett broke the offside trap and chipped the goalkeeper, but her effort drifted agonisingly over the bar.

Needham were getting more of the ball and creating more of a threat, but they had the stuffing taken out them from Sudbury captain Barrett, who unleashed a 40-yard screamer over Clarke.

Three down at the break was always going to be a mountain to climb and that became Everest a minute into the second period as former Needham striker Loomes hooked home from inside the

Needham looked to at least get on the scoreline but were also indebted to Clarke, who made several wonderful saves to keep the score down.

Sudbury added a fifth through Edwards before an avalanche of goals in the final 10 minutes through Abrehart, Harding and Clarke all from close range.

The result is difficult but with so many young players in this squad, this year’s final may have come a bit too soon, but they would have learnt a lot and taken positives from this game and the season to grow and improve next season.