NEEDHAM MARKET WOMENS FINE RUN CONTINUES

Needham Market have made it three league wins in a row to start 2026 with a hard thought 3-1 victory over Colchester United at Bloomfields.

They made a quick start and found themselves two to the good thanks Kiera Topple and Megan McCrae-Robinson but were pegged back before the break thanks to Daisy Canny.

Danni Clarke was called upon to make sure the lead remained intact and seconds later top scorer Annie Posnett wrapped it up with a third and decisive goal to make sure the points remained in Suffolk.

The home side made a blitzing start to the game with not only one but two goals inside of the first five minutes thanks to Topple and McCrae-Robinson.

Both were very similar with first Topple after just three minutes smartly finishing into the bottom left corner from just outside the box after Colchester failed to clear a cross.

And like London buses it was two only seconds later when Topple was played through on the left but her cut back took a deflection, which fell perfect for McCrae-Robinson to half volley into the same corner Topple found moments earlier.

But after the whirlwind start things quietened down and Colchester slowly grabbed a foothold in the game with Canny beating several defenders before calmy chipping Clarke in goal to reduce the arears.

The game remained on a knife-edge but turned towards the home side in a dramatic 66^th minute.

Colchester put the pressure on with Needham struggling to clear and would have levelled had it not been for a fantastic point-blank stop by Clarke.

When Needham did clear they used the electric pace of Posnett to run from halfway before unleashing a wonderful 35 yard arrowed shot that rifled over the keeper off her line and into the net.

That would be the final goal, but Needham still had chances to add a fourth with the cross bar denying a Laura Bloomfield howitzer free kick and then Topple was denied by a late savebut that would have only added gloss to what was anotherbrilliant three points.

The development team had a wonderful victory on the road as they put five goals past Bacton for a comprehensive league victory.

The win comprised of braces for Immy Porch, Lexie Ferris and one for Montana Smith as they maintained second in the league and continue to chase Sudbury Reserves at the top.