DEFEAT AT WROXHAM

A stoppage time winner for Wroxham broke Needham hearts as it plunged the club into deeper relegation trouble after a narrow 3-2 defeat.

They had started the game the better and deservedly led thanks to a brilliant Laura Bloomfield free kick, but they were pegged back just on half time when Hannah Fuller took advantage of a mistake at the back.

In the second period Ciera Flatt scored a long-range strike to put Needham back in front but a penalty from Ella Gambell and then the late stoppage time winner from Fuller gave the home side victory by the narrowest of margins.

Needham had started the game on the front foot knowing how precious a victory could be, and they made the perfect start thanks to 35-yard free kick from skipper Bloomfield.

Wroxham did respond but apart from some last ditch sweeping from Amber Locker in goal the defence looked comfortable.

But with Needham getting a foot hold back in the game and half-time approaching, Fuller took advantage of a misjudgement in the Needham back line to finish beyond Locker into the far post.

Buoyed by that, Wroxham started the second period stronger and missed several decent chances early on, but Needham weathered the storm and started to look a threat again.

There was certainly some questionable officiating which saw Elise Ward sin binned but in all the adversity the team re-took the lead thanks to another strike from outside the box from Flatt.

But sadly, Needham failed to hang on to the lead as Wroxham got a penalty from a handball by Ashtyn Newley in the box and it was calmly dispatched by Gambell to make it all level.

After such a big victory last week another win would be so vital, and it was Needham who pressed for that late winner.

But deep into stoppage time a long ball forward from the keeper was misjudged by a Needham head in midfield back towards their own goal, wrong footing Newley and allowing Fuller to race clear and pick her spot.

They tried to get back into it, but the chance never came, with Wroxham clinging on to all the points after another narrow victory just like at Bloomfields.

To make matters worse results elsewhere went against them to compound things but the gap remains 2pts with two matches left to play so all hope is not lost.