Needham Market are out of the League Cup after losing 3-1 to Real Bedford Reserves away from home.
It went in all square at the break after Annie Posnett had put Needham in front but right on half time Lauren Hawkins equalised with a calm finish.
Bedford hit the front through Zara Carroll and then took control of the game with 15 minutes to play as Hawkins scored an open goal that gave them a two-goal buffer to see out.
It took a while for the game to settle on a heavy pitch, but it was Needham who threatened first when Posnett smashed the underside of the bar inside the box not long after seeing a what looked like a stonewall penalty denied early on.
It became very attritional but on the half hour Bedford should have levelled when Hawkins put a brilliant ball into the centre of the box with the striker taking a neat touch before hitting the post and then failing to convert the rebound on the goal line.
From the resultant corner Needham broke and Posnett raced clear down the right and with Cate Jackson free at the back post she looked to cross but ended up rifling the ball into the roof of the net.
Posnett went close again as the half ended but it was the home side that levelled as a long ball forward saw Hawkins get a run on the Needham defence and she calmly tucked away to make it level at the break in a half that should have Needham out of sight.
Needham were denied twice at the start of the second period and they were punished as Carrol smashed home from close range as Needham failed to clear an in-swinging corner.
Needham struggled to create too many chances after that as Bedford looked more likely to extend the lead and they did with 15 minutes to go with Hawkins finishing into an open net as Amber Locker unluckily cleared a through ball straight to the striker.
A disappointing end to the cup run but the priority is to get momentum in the league in 2025.
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