Needham Market Women have backed up their Derby Day Delight with an Excellent hard fought 1-0 win away at Bowers & Pitsea banishing the FA Cup disappointment at the same ground earlier in the season.
After back to back defeats in the league it was vital Needham built on last week’s win over Sudbury with consecutive wins and so they did thanks to a late strike from Mia Etheridge.
The game had been very even with Needham having the best of those when a ball was cleared off the line early in the second half before Etheridge turned match winner late on.
Mia said: “I don’t score many, but I knew as soon as the ball left my foot it was going in! The girls always laugh because I only score important goals and it was clear from our celebrations that this one was important.
“It was a big game that we had to win and I’m just happy I could play my part to contribute to that but hats off to the girls as they all battled to the end”.
A pleasing aspect a side the win is that Needham showed they could grind out a result against tough opponents, adding on top to a rare clean sheet that gives young Evie McKane another confidence boost after being nominated player of the match in her debut against Sudbury.
Warren Lewis-Claxton commented on his team: “I am delighted to come away with 3 points, it was a tough game, but an overall excellent team performance from us. We had several chances including a goal line clearance, but it took a moment of brilliance from Mia to grab the win.
“We defended well throughout the whole game and limited their chances. To top that off with a clean sheet made was perfect as winning these types of games means a lot because of the hard work we put on the pitch”.
Aside from beating a fellow top six side it was a weekend when the stars aligned with most results going Needham’s way as they moved back up the table and closed the gap on the top three.
Warren concluded: “This result really pushes us on and closes the gap with those above us after today’s matches”.
Comments