Lina Nagib was the hero as she came on to score the winner and secure a semi final place in the Eastern Regional League Cup after a tight 1-0 victory over Bowers & Pitsea.
The first half was very tight with few chances to speak of, but the home side squandered the best of them when Millie Isherwood dragged an early penalty wide.
Second half was much the same with the home side hitting the bar for the second time, but it was Nagib with her strike thateventually won the game.
It was a tight start to the half, but Bowers had more threat and had a golden chance to open the scoring when Jodie Sharpwas penalised for fouling Isherwood, who picked herself up to take but dragged the ball wide of the post.
Bowers clipped the bar with an effort from range, but Needham came more into it as the half went on with Lois Balfour just failing to connect with a delicious Eva Hubbard cross.
Hubbard’s delivery was so good that it almost led to the opening goal when her viciously whipped in corner bent over the keeper but was headed off the line.
After the break it was much the same with few chances either side but after ending the first period on top Needham started the second half with more command keeping the ball on the desk.
The home side came close again as they hit the bar for the second time, but chances were starting to fall for Needham with Hubbard dragging wide after a beautiful Charlotte McGrath through ball.
In such a tight game the first goal was going to be important,and it arrived in the 64th minute as Nagib took the ball from a throw in and after settling hit one towards goal and had too much power for the goalkeeper.
From there it was more likely that a second would be scored than an equaliser with Mia Etheridge seeing a shot tipped wide, while some great game management at the other end closed out the game with relative ease.