DEFEAT AT THE LAMEX STADIUM FOR NEEDHAM MARKET WOMEN

Needham Market put a solid performance in away at Stevenage but came out beaten 2-0 in front of an impressive 586 fans at the Lamex Stadium.

The first half saw a resilient rear-guard performance as Stevenage dominated the ball but failed to create many clear-cut chances until just before half time when Amy Makewell made the breakthrough.

Needham grew in confidence and looked more threatening going forward but any chance of a result was ended by Gemma Croucher in the final quarter of the match.

Stevenage had a monopoly of the ball in the first half and looked particularly dangerous down the right, which almost saw them lead but the aid of a deflection and the post coming to the away sides rescue.

And after that it was very little in terms of goalscoring chances, Danni Clarke pushed a long-range effort wide, but Needham looked comfortable defending deep and frustrating the home side.

Needham caused very little threat in an attacking sense but did have a few moments where a better final ball may have created a dangerous situation.

And it was looking like 0-0 but just as it was about to go into stoppage time another dangerous attack down the right saw another cutback and Amy Makewell hit a neat first-time effort into the far bottom corner.

As expected the second period followed a similar pattern with another early chance this time for Kelsey Millen, but after good build up play her finish was wild beyond the far post .

Clarke made a smart point blank save before Annie Posnett had Needham’s first chance of the game as she ran at her defenders, but her finish was straight at the keeper.

Needham had grown in confidence as the half wore on as they knew one/ chance could be enough to grab a point, but the game was settled in the 76th as a long-range shot came back off the post straight to Croucher to tap home.

Posnett went close late on with a shot from the edge of the box that came back off the woodwork, it just wasn’t to be in what was overall a tight contest.

There may have been no points, but the performance will give confidence going into a massive couple games coming up and to add to the day young players Hepsie Attrill and Phoebie Pierpoint were handed their first team debuts.