SECOND HALF COMEBACK SECURES DRAW FOR WOMEN

Cambridge City Women v Needham Market Women | 11.10.2026 |

A late Anna Sullivan strike salvaged a brilliant come back point in a thrilling 3-3 draw away at Cambridge City.

It has been tough start to the season for the team and that looked to continue as they found themselves 3-1 down at the break thanks to goals from Jess Morley, Tilly Almeida-King and Sophie Billing.

Skipper Mia Etheridge-Golding had pulled one back at 2-0 before the second half comeback that was started by Chloe Brame before Sullivan’s late intervention earning a deserved point.

As has been the trend so far this season, Needham started slowly and found themselves behind after only a few minutes again, with captain Morley converting an early spot kick given for handball against Lexie Debenham.

The lead was doubled within the first 10 minutes as Almeida-King was played through and she made no mistake as like last week the task was becoming a tall order so early on. 

But Needham did settle into the game without further damage and got themselves a foothold thanks to Etheridge-Golding scoring a captain’s header from a pinpoint Ella Edwards corner.

They were back into it for about a minute and then conceded again as Billing was played through this time and scored proving you can be most vulnerable when you have just scored yourselves.

But from that point the away side took more control of the game and could have reduced the arrears just before the break when Chelsea Brett was denied from range.

Needham were in the same position as last week and needed an early goal to avoid the same result and they went close early when the keeper denied Edwards.

But the pressure was growing and it eventually told from a brilliant ball from Etheridge-Golding that Brame got to first and managed to chip over the on-rushing keeper into the empty net.

Chances came and went and it looked like another week where the slow start was going to be too much to get back.

But not this week as Sullivan picked up a second ball at the edge of the area and on the turn, she smashed one high into the top right-hand corner to spark euphoric celebrations on the touchline. 

Although it wasn’t a winner the comeback showed great strength of character and could well be the catalyst for Needham to well and truly start making a move up the table. 

The development team got a resounding 7-1 league cup win against Suffolk championship side Ipswich Wanderers at Bloomfields.

Progression to the next round was emphatic thanks to braces from Eve Boggis and Lola Hunting with further goals for Montana Smith, Rhianna Kiwomya and Megan Mcrae-Robinson as she continues her comeback from injury.

MARKETMEN PICK UP POINT AT HOME

Needham Market v Anstey Nomads | 10.10.2026 | Bloomfields | Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division Game 10 |

Manager Tom Rothery and Kell Fiddy reflect on the draw with Anstey Nomads.

 

See the bottom of the report for a selection of photos from Ben Pooley.

Needham Market responded to last weekend's defeat at Rushall Olympic, with a hard fought 1-1 draw at home to Anstey Nomads.

Ahead of the clash between the ninth and eighth placed teams in the Southern League Premier Central Division, Tom Rothery made 2 changes - Ryan Miles and the suspended Dan Morphew dropped out of the team that lost at Rushall Olympic last weekend, with Academy graduate Kell Fiddy (making his maiden First Team League start) and Marcel Lewis completing the starting eleven.

Arguably a fair result, Kevin Bastos (8') gave the away side the lead, which Kyle Hammond (32') cancelled out with the spoils shared.

Anstey, though, started the brighter - forcing James Bradbrook (2') to claim a long range effort dipping effort underneath his crossbar. 

Needham however went close soon after, Marcel Lewis (3') weaved onto the left-hand edge of the box, only to flash a great strike just wide of the far post. 

Anstey (8') broke the deadlock, Tonge drove into space down the left wing, after robbing Tevan Allen of possession, to cross low for Kevin Bastos to turn home into the bottom near corner.

The game gradually sparked into life, at the other end, great defending from Ben Hunter (10') to win back possession quickly turned defence into attack - threading Liam Pearce through on the left-hand side whose great squared ball was intercepted. 

Home stopper Bradbrook (16') was alert to gather Harley Price's long ball just inside his area, as Kell Fiddy (17') was on hand to brilliantly block a shot from 6-yards out down the Needham right.

A big save from Bradbrook (20') prevented Anstey from doubling their lead, Courey Grantham raced onto the left-hand side, albeit the Needham Number One produced a big save off his line to tip a near post shot crucially just wide, into the side-netting.

Ollie Saunders (27') worked space to shoot from 20-yards out but saw his effort blocked, as Needham grew into the game as time elapsed.

Excellent football (28') from Needham forced a good save from Harley Price, Kyle Hammond beat Elliot Hartmann as Marcel Lewis threaded Luke Ingram through into space, outside the area, whose low fierce strike was well held by Price - diving low to his left.

More brilliant football from Needham (32') brought the Marketmen a rather deserved equaliser, courtesy of Kyle Hammond's third league goal of the campaign - and fourth in all competitions. After going through the gears with every passing moment, the Reds recycled possession with multiple players involved, Liam Pearce cleverly slipped the midfielder free on the left-hand side to hammer home into the bottom near corner!!

Needham, galvanised by the goal, were suddenly on the front foot and almost took the lead (38'), MOTM Liam Pearce exploited space on the right-hand edge of the box, although fired his strike narrowly wide of the bottom near corner, with Price rooted.

After the restart, which saw both teams go into the break level, Liam Pearce (53') drifted through onto the left-hand side only to square a great low ball across the face of goal narrowly wide of the bottom far corner.

Another solid tackle from Kell Fiddy (58'), prior to a good gather by Bradbrook - as Chitiza looked to latch onto the ball close to goal - denied Anstey, while a second caution for Anstey saw Wauchope enter the referee's notebook for a foul on Pearce.

Ryan Miles (65') replaced Marcel Lewis, as Needham went close (72').

Liam Pearce held the ball up in the area to tee up the arriving Ben Hunter who wrapped his shot, from just outside of the box, agonisingly just wide of the bottom left-hand corner.

Bradbrook (75') pulled off an outrageous save to claw a close range header from a corner outrageously away at his bottom left-hand corner, who made another exception near post save (76') across to his opposite post to tip it wide.

Tonge (78') was denied by a sharp near post stop from Bradbrook, sharply down at his bottom left-hand corner, as Harlyn Palmer (79') replaced goalscorer Kyle Hammond.

Luke Ingram (81') fired agonisingly wide of the bottom left-hand corner, in an end-to-end frenzied second half.

Anstey dragged a shot just wide (85'), while Bradbrook moments later saved excellently with his foot at his near, left-hand, post which Anstey squared the rebound across but tapped a golden chance wide at point blank range.

James Coton (87') was brought on for Ingram, as Ryan Miles (93') jinked into space but fired a golden chance just over.

Needham collected a point, ahead of a short trip on Tuesday night to fellow Suffolk side Bury Town.

Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond (79' Palmer), 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 7 Luke Ingram (87' Coton), 8 Ollie Saunders, 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 16 Marcel Lewis (65' Miles), 17 Ben Hunter, 19 Kellen Fiddy. Subs: 10 Ryan Miles, 15 James Coton, 18 Harlyn Palmer. 

Anstey Nomads:- 1 Harley Price, 2 Elliot Hartmann, 3 Oscar Tonge (84' A.Smith), 4 Jonty Bouch, 5 Darien Wauchope, 6 Tobias Liversidge, 7 Kevin Bastos (61' Rose), 8 Henry Bestwick (C), 9 Courey Grantham (71' Annable), 10 Tendai Chitiza, 28 Tristen Thomas (HT' Kirby-Moore). Subs: 12 Jordan Annable, 14 Harvey Kirby-Moore, 15 Ethan Smith, 16 Alfie Smith, 17 Luis Rose. 

Booked: Tobias Liversidge (46'), Darien Wauchope (59').

Goals: Kyle Hammond (32') Kevin Bastos (8').

Att: 319.

Needham Market MOTM: 12 Liam Pearce. 

PHOTOS TAKEN BY BEN POOLEY

BREEDEN QUICKFIRE TREBLE GUIDES YOUNG REDS TO COMFORTABLE WIN OVER STOWMARKET

Needham Market U18 v Stowmarket Town U18 | 08.10.2026 | Bloomfields | Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Central Division |

Needham Market Under-18's recorded back to back wins in all competitions, responding from two consecutive home league defeats, to thrash Stowmarket Town 5-0 at Bloomfields.

Debutant Zac Collings (14') opened the scoring with a fantastic strike, before a thirteen minute first half hat-trick from Alex Breeden (23', 29' 36'pen) gave Luke Betts' side a big lead at the break, after a rather one-sided first half.

Stow however enjoyed spells of possession second half, but were unable to trouble Jake Bloom much in the Needham goal, with Danylo Konik (83') rounding off the scoring late on.

Fin Brock (4') bullet headed a pinpoint right wing cross to the far post just agonisingly wide of the bottom far corner, as Aden Chandler (6') weaved into space 25-yards out onto the right only to curl a great strike just over the top far corner.

The young Marketmen (14') broke the deadlock, a partially cleared right wing corner was volleyed ferociously with precision into the bottom right-hand corner by Zac Collings, from inside the area on his Under-18's debut. 

Riley Parker (20') met a partially cleared left wing cross with a exquisite well hit volley arrowing towards the roof of the net, forcing goalkeeper Jack Plumb to react sharply to fly up and tip it over.

The young Reds (23') doubled their lead deservedly, after being rather in control of proceedings Alex Breeden was fed by Aden Chandler to turn into space from 25-yards and rifle home into the bottom left-hand corner, leaving keeper Plumb rooted.

Breeden (28'), found in a similar area from his goal, turned and again shot low towards the same corner - though Plumb watched it well to hold, which moments later in the 29th minute Breeden's low deflected strike from the right-hand edge of the box nestled into the bottom far corner to make it 3-0 with his second goal of the night.

Needham meanwhile created a half chance to add a fourth, Collings (33') was fed driving into Stow's half on the counter, the midfielder exploited space until the edge of the area where he threaded Aden Chandler down the right wing whose first time deflected cross was held by Plumb on his line.

Chandler was fed ghosting onto the right byline (35') before being fouled for a penalty, which Breeden (36') cooly slotted into the bottom left-hand corner to complete his hat-trick and make it 4-0 before the break.

Needham (45') cut in dangerously onto the left-hand edge of the box only to see a deflected shot turned behind into the side-netting for a corner. 

Fin Brock (45'+2') volleyed high and over, latching onto a sliced initial thunderous volley that stayed in play, as Luke Betts' side led 4-0 at the break.

After the restart, Stow (57') hit the front of the near, right-hand, post, with substitute Charlie Fox well placed to block the shot on the rebound. 

Jake Bloom (63') was alert to tip Sonnie Thompson-Arnold's unmarked shot from the edge of the area just wide of his bottom left-hand corner, as Aiden King (65') was cautioned for a foul on Kaio Brittain.

Needham stopper Bloom (66') smashed the ball forward in search of substitute Leyton Upson whose headed flick on set up Alfie Mark to volley low but straight at Plumb. 

Fin Brock (67') raced through smartly onto the left-hand byline to pull a great ball back to the edge of the six yard box, only for a Stow defender to be the first to the ball to clear.

Stow (72') skewed a shot wide, while Bloom held onto a low 81st minute free-kick. 

Danylo Konik (83') made it 5-0, sharply twisting and turning through onto the edge of the box to wrap home smartly into the bottom right-hand corner.

Needham U18's switch focus to a trip to Southend United in the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday, with the weekend prior's fixtures pitting the Reserves away to Netherton United (3pm) and the U23's host Little Oakley on the 3G.

MOTM Alex Breeden said, "Yeah, absolutely buzzing. Good vibes in the changing room and we especially needed that win to get back to winning ways. Great effort from all the lads today. I think especially today we had that connection and that positivity that got us over the line. So, great to have three points and looking forward to next week and reserves on Saturday. 

"Yeah, I know, we needed that (win) as a team. We've had some tough experiences so far. So, to get those three points is definitely massive for us as a group."

On hitting a hat-trick, "too many to count (in his career)! But no, yeah, it's great to get on the score sheet again. I've had a bit of a goal drought myself, so to have that is a great feeling and just want to keep going up from here really." 

Asked if he'd scored many first half hat-tricks within 13 minutes, the forward said, "no, I think that's probably one of my first to be honest. So, yeah, great feeling. I mean, it just gives me much more confidence than I had previous weeks to keep going now really. 

"Yeah, so I think (first goal) I just received it from one of the wide players and I kind of just had that feeling and had that thought that I need to get some goals. And really just looked up, pulled the trigger and I got quite lucky with the goalie's positioning, but, yeah, it's a good feeling. My second goal, once again, around the 18-yard box. Tough angle, but took a deflection and managed to go on the side net and buzzing to get a brace, and then finally managed to get a pen to seal the hat-trick. So, yeah, it's a great feeling for me and go on from here."  

"We needed those three points and we're not putting the title out of reach just yet. We know we can get there and we've got a good enough squad to get it. With the 16s coming in as well, they add a great value to the team. So we know we can push for the title."

But last week's FA Youth Cup win and obviously Tuesday are both massive games. Yeah, two huge games. I mean, this competition itself is a big one and we want to go as far as we can.

Looking ahead to Tuesday's FA Youth Cup game at Southend United Breeden added, "Braintree was a great away win and that really gave us confidence going into this week. Southend will be a tough game, but we've got the quality to do it, especially away at their ground. We've got the capability to go all the way, really."

Previewing the Reserves trip to Netherton United on Saturday, "yeah, Saturday's game will be another tough one. The Reserves always are with the young squads, but look, we've just got to stay positive through the highs and lows and hopefully try and get all three points on the board because we really need that. And it's coming. We're just falling short a couple of games, but we know we can do it. 

Needham Market:- 1 Jake Bloom, 2 Kaio Brittain, 3 Danylo Konik (88' Collings), 4 Dan Thompson (C), 5 Riley Coote, 6 Riley Parker, 7 Aden Chandler (70' Mohsen), 8 Zac Collings (56' Fox), 9 Alfie Mark (74' Breeden), 10 Alex Breeden (62' Upson), 18 Fin Brock (70' Ali). Subs: 14 Charlie Fox, 15 Leyton Upson, 16 Jamil Ali, 17 Jaxon Mohsen. 

Stowmarket Town:- 1 Jack Plumb, 12 Callum Theobald, 3 Cameron Studd (54' Bennett), 6 Josh Grimwood, 5 Linton Field-Smith (54' Calver), 4 Tobias Goodhand, 8 Aiden King (C) (68' King), 10 Luke Budgen, 14 Jayden Bailey, 11 Florin Baitan (62' Cox), 9 Sonnie Thompson-Arnold. Subs: 15 Reggie Cox, 17 Oscar King, 2 Seb Bennett, 16 Ross Coupe (92' On), 7 Sam Calver. 

Booked: Aiden King (65')

Goals: Zac Collings (14'), Alex Breeden (23', 29', 36'pen), Danylo Konik (83').

WOMEN BEATEN AT DUNSTABLE

Needham Market found more pain on the road as they were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Dunstable in Bedfordshire.

The home side blitzed into a three goal lead thanks to goals from Gemma Whitchurch, Zara McKenzie and Amy Leach with Millie Bloom pulling one back for the visitors.

Needham missed a late penalty before the break and that would be crucial as they couldn’t force their way back into the game and saw their chances killed off by a late Monet-Grace Willie sucker punch.

The start of the game couldn’t have been much worse as first Whitchurch scored a deflected second minute opener and the there was little time to catch breathe when Mckenzie only minutes later went through one on one to make it two.

Needham did have five minutes of chaos free football but found themselves breached again by a long-range strike from Leach.

The clock had not even ticked beyond 15 minutes; it was already a mountain to climb for the visitors to get something from the game. 

But to the teams credit they did eventually settle and got back into the proceedings with Bloom scoring from close range after an Ella Edwards corner.

They had a brilliant chance to bring themselves right back into it when a late first half penalty was given for Handball, but Keira Topple saw her spot kick saved.

Needham had more of the possession in the second half but failed to create too many clear chances to get back into although returning Charlotte McGrath saw a drive saved late on.

And just to rub salt into the wounds the home side rounded off the scoring deep into stoppage time the ball was played over the top to Willie, who ran through and completed a miserable day on the road.  

It was double trouble for Needham Sunday as the development team suffered their first league defeat of the season with a 3-1 home defeat to Woodbridge. 

Eve Boggis scored the only goal of the game from a home persuasion but in positive news both Ciera Flatt and Megan McCrae-Robinson came on to start their journeys back to the first team picture after length injury layoffs. 

PLAYER DEPARTURES

The Club have decided to accelerate progression of a number of young, talented players in our Academy and to that end have decided to release Josh Curry to whom we extend our grateful thanks for his services, and Myles Cowling who is emigrating later in the year to Australia. Myles has contributed greatly to the Club and was last seasons “Supporters player of the Year “ and “Players player of the Year.”

 

We can only wish both players all the very best in the future and record our gratitude for their contributions.

MARKETMEN DEFEATED BY PICS

Rushall Olympic v Needham Market | 03.10.2026 | Dales Lane | The Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division Game 9 |

POST MATCH REACTION FROM MOTM LIAM PEARCE AND MANAGER TOM ROTHERY (LINK)

 

Rushall Olympic inflicted a first league defeat in five matches on Needham Market, in a 5-3 defeat for the Marketmen, after the Pics had lost 3 of their last 4 games and last match prior to the clash at Dales Lane.

Tom Rothery made two changes to Tuesday's 4-0 home win over Stamford, Jake Dye (ankle) and Marcel Lewis (on the bench) made way for Luke Ingram and Ben Hunter.

Luke Yates (6'), Lewis Corbett (24') and Osaze Okuonghae (41') gave the Pics a 3-0 lead, albeit Luke Ingram from the penalty spot (44') reduced the deficit at the break.

Yates on the other hand restored Rushall's three goal advantage, which Liam Pearce (53') cancelled out with a poachers finish for 4-2.

Dan Morphew (83') was sent off to compound more disappointment on the Marketmen with home captain Liam McAlinden (84') hitting a fifth goal from the spot. Needham MOTM Liam Pearce (91') continued his red hot scoring run by netting his eighth Needham goal to round off proceedings with a 5-3 defeat for the Suffolk side.

James Bradbrook (30 seconds) held a low shot at his near left-hand post, ahead of claiming a right wing cross on his line in the fifth minute.
Rushall though (6') broke the deadlock as Luke Yates finished low at close range.

Rushall (9') forced a good stop from Bradbrook. Alcock drove onto the right forcing the Needham keeper to block the shot well at his near left-hand post, as the rebound was headed at goal only for Dan Morphew to head off the line. The linesman's flag went up on the follow up as Bradbrook made another sharp save at his near post.

Bradbrook meanwhile (13') picked out Ryan Miles with a great long ball to flick Kyle Hammond through but his effort goes over.

Hammond (16') nearly latched onto a great defence splitting pass but for keeper Taylor to just get there first to clear.

Needham began to find their rhythm (20'), patient build-up play saw Tevan Allen found on the right-hand edge of the area only to fire over.

More neat passing from the Suffolk side (22') saw Hammond look to set Pearce through into the area but a touch off a defender meant the ball fell to Ollie Saunders - from 20-yards out - whose low shot at the bottom right corner was held by the home goalkeeper.

The Pics (24') doubled their lead though as Lewis Corbett headed home a cross at close range.

The hosts (28') were denied again by Bradbrook, a right wing cross (28') found Liam McAlinden in the area whose low header across goal was held smartly by Bradbrook.

Carter Lycett was fed in space on the left-hand edge of the box (31'), but curled over the top far corner.

Tommy Smith (34') was cautioned, as Pearce and Ingram (38') linked up only for the latter to fire high and over from just outside the area.

The Pics made it 3-0 on 41 minutes,after a left wing free-kick was headed back across goal and headed home by Okuonghae.

Needham (44') reduced the deficit back to 2 goals after a handball.

Luke Ingram cooly fired into the right-hand corner from the spot!

Rushall (50') restored their 3 goal advantage, a right wing corner was met by Luke Yates to head home his second goal of the afternoon at the far post.

The Marketmen responded almost instantly (53'), Ben Hunter raced into the area whose deflected effort fell to Liam Pearce lurking to stab home at point blank range!

Rushall (57') glanced a left wing cross just wide of the near post, who fed a man free (62') on the left-hand side only to curl narrowly over the bar.

Needham then made a double change (64') Miles and Saunders were withdrawn for Marcel Lewis and Kell Fiddy.

Tommy Smith (72') worked space to shoot in space on the left-hand edge of the box but fired straight at Taylor, as Lewis lashed narrowly wide moments later.

McAlinden (79') crossed straight at Bradbrook, prior to Needham introducing Harlyn Palmer and James Coton (82') for Ben Hunter and Luke Ingram.

Allen and Alex Moore (81') were both booked, while the Suffolk side (83') were reduced to ten men after Dan Morphew (83') was sent off for a foul in his own area, which McAlinden (84') converted into the bottom left-hand corner - despite Bradbrook getting to the ball, restoring the hosts' 3 goal lead for 5-2.

Bradbrook (87') denied the hosts at point blank range following a low left wing cross, although Needham refused to give in and grabbed a third goal, albeit another consolation.

MOTM Pearce (91') picked up another brace - making it eight goals in eight games in all competitions and a third league goal in two games, latching onto a poor defensive pass to break through onto the right-hand side and cleverly find the top near corner, reducing the deficit to 5-3.

Needham return to Bloomfields on Saturday (3pm) at home to Anstey Nomads in the League.

Rushall Olympic:- 1 Ollie Taylor, 2 Todd Alcock, 3 Carter Lycett, 4 Aurio Teixeira (88' Concannon), 5 Jordaan Brown, 6 Osaze Okuonghae (90'+4' Oliver), 7 Lewis Corbett (90'+2' Burton), 8 Alex Moore, 9 Kaiman Anderson, 10 Luke Yates (90' Benbow), 11 Liam McAlinden. Subs: 12 Brad Burton, 14 Sam Oliver, 15 Jack Concannon, 16 Tyler Roberts, 19 Luke Benbow.

Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 3 Tommy Smith, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram (82' Coton), 8 Ollie Saunders (64' Fiddy), 10 Ryan Miles (64' Lewis), 11 Tevan Allen, 12 Liam Pearce, 17 Ben Hunter (82' Palmer). Subs: 15 James Coton, 16 Marcel Lewis, 18 Harlyn Palmer, 19 Kellen Fiddy.

Booked: Tommy Smith (34'), Tevan Allen (81'), Alex Moore (81'), Marcel Lewis (87').
Sent Off: Dan Morphew (83').
Goals: Luke Yates (6', 50'), Lewis Corbett (24'), Osaze Okuonghae (41'), Liam McAlinded (84'pen); Luke Ingram (44'pen), Liam Pearce (53', 90'+1')