Hitchin Belles v Needham Market Women | 01.11.2026 | Eastern Region's Womens League Division One North |
A Match winning goal by birthday girl Keira Topple gave Needham Market a massive 4-3 away victory at Hitchin Belles to elevate them out of the drop zone and up the table.
The first half was a crazy roller coaster with five goals as the home team raced into a two-goal lead thanks to a brace from Kayleigh Gray but Needham finished the stronger and scored three thanks to a double from Mia Etheridge-Golding and Sophia Gillingham.
It was just as action packed in the second period with the home side equalising from the spot thanks to Holly Thomson before Danni Clarke saved a second spot kick and then Topple’s curler to win the game.
Needham have been used to going behind early in games but there wasn’t even a minute played when the home team took the lead with pacey Hollie Quince out sprinting Chelsea Brett and putting over a perfect cross for Gray to head home from close range at the back post.
Ten minutes later it was an action replay with the same combination linking again for Gray this time to tap home from the middle of the six-yard box.
It was another 2-0 deficit to come back from, but the visitors stuck to their task well and started to play some good passing football without too much threat.
Then came the game changing moment as Etheridge-Golding picked up the ball outside the box and with not the cleanest strike managed to score thanks to a poor fumble from the home keeper.
And that moment led to a complete turnaround as in as many minutes they were level thanks to the unlikeliest scorer in Gillingham, who poked home from close range after captain Etheridge-Golding flicked a header into her path from a corner.
It was a great moment for her to record her first goal for the senior side after her journey coming through the Academy and Development Team, and not long after that brilliant moment, Etheridge-Golding had put the visitors ahead with a beautifully buried low shot from the dee.
Chances still came as Topple was denied by a fine save from close range with the momentum of the game completely changed at the break.
The home side did come out determined in the second half and were given a chance to level after a needless foul by Lexi Debeham ended in a penalty that was dispatched by Thomson.
And in this to and fro contest it looked like another momentum shift when a second spot kick for a harsh handball was given to the hosts, but this time Thomson was denied by Clarke at full stretch with a big hand to palm it round the left-hand post.
Who would win it was anyone’s guess with both sides looking potent against nervy defences, but it was to be the visitors that gave the final nail in the coffin on Halloween weekend as the hosts allowed Topple to run towards the box unchallenged and she opened her body to curl one into the far corner.
It was apt that Topple would score the winner on her Birthday and it was such a clever finish although right at the end the hosts looked to have missed an open goal with the last kick of this extraordinary game.
It was a big win for the team after starting the day in the drop zone and it elevates them up to 7th although only one point still above it as we hopefully start to look up after two wins on the bounce.
The development team got back to winning ways with a big 4-0 away victory against Arlesford Colne Rangers Ladies in Suffolk League action.
It was a welcome return to winning ways with Maddie Lee-Steward scoring a brace and further goals from Kim Stock and Immy Porch to round off a brilliant double win for the club with the Devs now sitting 4th in the Premiership.