VICTORY IN THE FA CUP FOR NEEDHAM MARKET WOMEN

Needham Market Women advanced to the next round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 home win over Newmarket Town.

Needham started brightly as Annie Posnett drove smartly into the box before firing narrowly wide of the bottom far corner on 5 minutes, while Cate Jackson raced through a minute later but fired wide into the near side-netting.

Posnett had another good effort on 8 minutes, after the forward drove into space from 25-yards out, her low fierce shot was denied by the keeper at her near post.

Mia Etheridge-Golding then directed a 13th minute header from a long range free-kick wide, as Needham broke the deadlock two minutes later.

Needham remained on the front foot, with a great team goal giving them a well deserved breakthrough, as Chelsea Brett threaded Keira Topple through into the box to cleverly beat the defender, holding up possession well to tee up Annie Posnett to first time, from just outside the area, lob home superbly into the roof of the net.

Keira Topple broke into the area but saw her shot held by the keeper on 22 minutes, as Needham searched for a second goal.

Mia Etheridge-Golding meanwhile saw a well hit 30-yard strike well held by the goalkeeper on 25 minutes, before Newmarket shot wide from a right wing corner a minute later.

Posnett however drove down the wing on 27 minutes, but saw her dangerous cross cleared by the keeper despite a deflection off Topple, while Newmarket began to grow into the game with Needham still pushing for a second goal.

Faith Witmore latched onto a great left wing cross from Posnett on 34 minutes, but shot wide of the far post at close range. 

Laura Bloomfield nearly made it two on 39 minutes, curling a brilliant 40-yard free-kick towards the top far corner only to be denied by the face of the crossbar, as the visitors cleared. 

Newmarket fired wide from distance on 42 minutes, while the away side were awarded a penalty a minute into first half stoppage time, though Griffin fired over from the spot.

The hosts however almost doubled the lead on 45+4 minutes. Annie Posnett's clever corner found Laura Bloomfield whose low strike was denied by the keeper, who punched the ball away from Anna Sullivan lurking, as Needham led at the break.

A fairly even second half saw saw Keira Topple have a ferocious 50th minute long range low strike denied by the foot of the keeper, while Danni Clarke denied a 52nd minute low shot, in an even start to the second half. 

Abi Gibson saw a looping 55th minute strike well held by Clarke, while Laura Bloomfield's 58th minute free-kick from long range was caught by the keeper. 

Newmarket fired a free-kick wide on 61 minutes, before Annie Posnett latched onto a great long ball over the top before beating the defender to fire at goal from distance only to fire over on 67 minutes. 

Keira Topple drove through down the wing, onto a great ball over the top, before driving through into the box only to see her low shot well saved by the onrushing goalkeeper on 92 minutes.

Needham though secured their spot in the Second Qualifying Round on 99 minutes. Great play saw Charlotte McGrath intercept a high clearance from the goalkeeper, with Laura Bloomfield threading Jae Lewis-Samuel through to surge forward and cleverly wrap home an excellent finish into the top corner from 20-yards out. 

Needham return to league action next Sundaywhen they host Stanway Pegasus (2:30pm).