Needham Market have started their season with a heavy 6-0 defeat to St Albans City at Bloomfields.
First half goals from Alicia Povey and a brace from Olivia Syson gave the away side a commanding half time lead.
They continued to be ruthless and added an extra three with Syson completing her hatrick, Povey adding her second before Hollie Thornton rounded off the scoring.
It has been a busy summer with lots of change with Needham starting the game with 8 debutants between the starting 11 and the bench.
The warning shots were fired from the visitors early on as returning number 1 goalkeeper Danni Clarke rolled back the years to make a magnificent double save.
It has been a long road for Clarke, who completed her first tier 5 match after rupturing an Achillies 15 minutes into the club’s debut season at this level 2 seasons ago - it looked like she had never been away with a brilliant performance.
The pressure continued as Povey dispossessed Needham on the edge of their own box and fired high into the net.
Needham gained some composure and played some neat stuff but failed to make an impression on the opposition goal and found themselves three down at the break with Syson scoringa quick brace.
St Albans continued to be strong in the second half and could have extended the lead with a couple of early chances before Povey made sure with her brace to make it four.
Syson completed her hatrick as she tapped home from close range on the break as the team ran the whole of the field after a Needham free kick at the edge of the away box.
Thornton rounded off the scoring with still a quarter of the game to go but it was Needham who looked likely to grab a consolation but just lacked the cutting edge.
A tough start for a much-revamped squad as they set to face Bowers away next on the road.
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