NEEDHAM MARKET WOMEN KICK OFF 2026 WITH A BANG

Needham Market opened 2026 with a massive bang as they hammered Stanway Pegasus 10-1 in their first fixture of the new year.

They raced into an early 4-0 lead within 15 minutes thanks to a Annie Posnett double, Chloe Brame and Keira Topple before Ali Croucher pulled one back for the home side withTopple adding her second to give the visitors a commanding 5-1 lead at the break.

And there was no let-up in the second period as Posnett completed her hat-trick and added a quick fire fourth with a brace from Anna Sullivan and one from Jae-Lewis Samuel to make it into double figures.

It was a bitterly cold day with games postponed a plenty, but thankfully for Needham this one was not as it took a handful of minutes for Posnett to open the scoring from a pin perfect Chelsea Brett cross.

Like London buses it didn’t take long for a second as Posnett a minute later doubled her and her teams tally when clean through, it was three only five minutes after that as Brame headed in a Megan McCrae-Robinson corner.

There would be two more goals before the clock hit 20 minutes as first Topple capitalised on a wayward pass to add a fourth, but it wasn’t all gloom for the home side with Croucher scoring what would be a solitary consolation.

The tormentors of the half, Posnett and Topple, would combine to give the latter her second just before the break for a 5-1 lead.

Into the second Period and in a carbon copy of the first Posnett scored two in two minutes as she first completed her hat-trick by rounding the keeper before adding a fourth after a great Adele Stalnionis cross.

Anna Sullivan scored the first of two for the eighth but in an unlikely way, not many people will have an unmarked header from a corner on the bingo card.

Lewis-Samuel added the ninth from a beautiful Mia Etheridge-Golding through ball before Sullivan rounded off the avalanche of goals with a composed finish from another Stalnionis cross.

The development Team was also in action and recorded their first League win on the New Year with a narrow 1-0 victory over Brantham Athletic reserve side thanks to a goal from Megan Smith.