← All club news
Club news

LATE GUTTING DEFEAT FOR MARKETWOMEN

Needham Market snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after collapsing late on to lose 3-2 to Costessey Sports in Norfolk. 

An entertaining first half saw the only goal coming from Adele Stalnionis, but there were several chances for either side.

It was never going to stay 1-0 in what turned out to be a quite extraordinary second half, with the hosts levelling through Sofia Odell before late drama saw Jae Lewis-Samuel put Needham back in front from the spot, only for Odell to level again and then Chloe Moulton to win it in stoppage time.

The action started straight away when Keira Topple thought she had put the visitors in front, but the goal was ruled out for an apparent foul on the keeper by Lewis-Samuel that looked more like a penalty than a foul on the goalkeeper.

Costessey had a few half chances, but it was Needham that missed a golden opportunity to take the lead when a brilliant cross from Chloe Brame found Anna Sullivan six yards out, but she could only hit it straight at the keeper.

The home side felt they should have been ahead when Amy Brunning made a brilliant save before Chelsea Brett had to make a clearance off the line from the rebound.

The pivotal moment of the half came when a direct ball from midfield was controlled perfectly by Stalnionis, who spun and left her marker for dead before burying the ball across goal into the far corner.

Needham finished the half strongly and had chances to double their lead, but it remained a solitary-goal advantage at the break.

The home side hit back in a whirlwind opening five minutes of the second half, with the ball breaking to Odell on the left side of the Needham penalty area and she lobbed Brunning before Thea Hackney ran through and should have put the home side ahead.

Needham weathered that storm and took control of the game, creating a host of chances, many of which were created and finished by Stalnionis.

She had the beating of her full-back and twice got clear to shoot from the right, but went near post on both occasions and was denied.

Lewis-Samuel was next to be denied as she turned her marker and burst clear into the area, only to shoot straight at the keeper, while Stalnionis got clear again, but her poke beyond the on-rushing keeper went agonisingly wide.

Then came the late drama, with Lewis-Samuel thinking she had won it four minutes from time after converting a penalty when she was pulled back in the box.

But Needham lost their composure and failed to keep possession, allowing a long ball towards Odell, who, in a similar position to her first goal, took advantage of a defensive mistake and lofted one across goal into the far side netting.

It was painful to take, but there was another sting in the tale when a deep cross was flashed across the front of the box and an unmarked Moulton scooped the ball over Brunning to give the home side all three points from a remarkable finish to the game.

The Development team made it back-to-back home wins to start the league campaign with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Ipswich Valley Rangers.

Paige Pugh scored twice, while an own goal and a strike from Lilly Leeks helped the home side build a commanding 4-1 half-time lead.

Goals were harder to come by in the second half, but Needham did add a fifth through Lola Hunting to maintain their 100 per cent record and sit joint top of the table with Woodbridge Town.

More from the terraces