MARKETWOMEN OVERTURN TWO GOAL DEFICIT TO RISE UP TABLE

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.

MARKETMEN SQUANDER THREE GOAL LEAD TO DRAW AT REDDITCH

Redditch United v Needham Market | 31.10.2026 | Valley Stadium | The Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division Game 15 |

REACTION | Tom Rothery, Luke Ingram Post Match Interviews | Redditch United v Needham Market | 31.10.2026 |

A goal-frenzy second half saw five goals scored between the two teams as Redditch United overturned a 3-0 deficit to draw 3-3 with Needham Market at the Valley Stadium.

Needham - who in the 94th minute sat 4th but dropped to 8th at the final whistle - made one change to the side that drew at home to Leighton Town on Tuesday night, Jake Dye (ankle injury) dropped out with Dan Morphew returning to the starting eleven. The only other changes saw James Coton drop out the squad, in action for Mildenhall Town, with Academy striker Henry Vieira joining the returning Ollie Saunders in completing the bench. 

The two sides went into the game with equal league form, with Needham only a place higher in third due to goal difference - both winning 3, drawing 2 and losing one of their last six as 13th hosted 6th. Redditch went into the clash with 3 wins, 1 draw and one defeat at the Valley Stadium, while Needham sit 5th in the league away table winning 4 and losing 2 of their 6 league matches on the road.

When the two sides face one another, generally they are hotly contested affairs with whoever is at home coming out on top in 8 of the 13 total meetings - with Needham the only away victors in that time. Coincidentally the last 4 meetings have seen the team at home victorious - Needham winning 5 of the 14 encounters, drawing 4 and losing 4.

Needham went into the break deservedly in front, Luke Ingram (7') dispatched from the spot after Straw fouled Lewis. Ingram, taking his season tally to four goals, swept home a second (51') after a fantastic move, which Liam Pearce (57') followed up his assist with a clever low finish of his own soon after to put Needham into the ascendancy - netting his 12th goal for the club and 7th league goal of the season. Redditch through struck twice in the 70th minute and clawed a point at the very death to ensure a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw.

James Bradbrook (5') claimed a right wing cross-shot at his near post, while Marcel Lewis (6') looked to latch onto a through-ball into the area but had his outstretched leg clipped, with the referee confidently pointing to the spot.

Luke Ingram (7') fired home expertly into the bottom left-hand corner to break the deadlock, 1-0 Needham.

Needham kept on the front foot, Kyle Hammond (12') fired just wide of the bottom far, left-hand, corner while Liam Pearce (13') saw a close range shot blocked.

Szhem Whyte-Hall (14') volleyed over in space from outside the area, while Stan Straw (20'), who conceded the penalty made the exact same foul on Pearce out on the left wing and received the first caution of the afternoon.

Liam Pearce saw a ferocious shot (21') cleared crucially off the line, as Needham maintained their good start.

Great intricate football from the Marketmen (25') saw Liam Pearce and Luke Ingram link up to feed Marcel Lewis onto the right-hand side of the area whose ball towards Miles was gathered by Brown.

Needham led at the break after Ingram's early penalty, with the Marketmen also starting well after the break Marcel Lewis (47') weaved into space only to fire wide of the near left-hand post close to goal.

Jake Watkiss (50') was cautioned, prior to Needham doubling their lead on 51 minutes.

Great football saw Needham quickly break onto the left-hand side through Liam Pearce - who rounded Shambrook, the ball was then squared on a plate for Ingram arriving from 16-yards out to fire home into the bottom near, right-hand, corner to double our lead, and double Ingram's goal tally for the campaign to 4, making it 2-0 to Needham.

Needham swiftly added a third goal on 57 minutes. Clinical football ended with Liam Pearce being found free outside the box to lash home into the bottom right-hand corner, for his 7th league goal of the campaign!

The game suddenly exploded into life with the temperature increasingly massively, as Redditch swiftly scored two in a matter of seconds to bring the game back to life. Home substitute Dan Sweeney (69') was fed in space outside the area to turn and shoot across goal to Bradbrook's right albeit the keeper tipped it wide, which Redditch pulled two goals back in the following minute (70'). 

First Da Silva turned home from the resulting corner, as Fielding found the bottom right corner after Sweeney's pass.

The visitors withdrew Ryan Miles for Ollie Saunders (73'), before Liam Pearce (77') whipped a great right wing cross into Jake Watkiss free at the back post, but it just evaded the latter at close range.

Needham made two late changes, Josh Tennial (91') replaced Lewis and Palmer (93') was introduced for Watkiss.

A last minute foul from Keiran Morphew - which saw the Needham skipper cautioned, and Dan Morphew also carded for dissent - proved to be decisive as Redditch snatched an equaliser. Dan Sweeney (95') curled home a free-kick from just outside the box into the top right corner.

Needham, who are now the joint second top scorers in the division (32 in 15 games) and are unbeaten in six league matches, return to Bloomfields Saturday - for the visit of Stourbridge (3pm).

Redditch United:- 1 Rory Brown, 2 Joel Shambrook, 4 Morgan Owen, 5 Stan Straw, 6 Gus Mafuta (56' Soleman), 7 Harrison Hazard (58' Da Silva), 12 Danny King, 15 William Fielding (92' Willow) , 17 Szhem Whyte-Hall (71' Beedie), 18 Tyler Bruck (56' Sweeney), 20 Robbie Bunn (C).
Subs: 3 Jack Willow, 11 Aram Soleman, 14 Alezandro Da Silva, 16 Dan Sweeney, 21 Sam Beedie.

Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Watkiss (93' Palmer), 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C), 6 Dan Morphew, 7 Luke Ingram, 10 Ryan Miles (73' Saunders), 12 Liam Pearce, 16 Marcel Lewis (91' Tennial), 17 Ben Hunter, 20 Kell Fiddy.
Subs: 3 Tyler Wright, 8 Ollie Saunders, 11 Josh Tennial, 15 Henry Vieira, 18 Harlyn Palmer.

Booked: Stan Straw (20'), Jake Watkiss (50'), Keiran Morphew (95'), Dan Morphew (95').

Goals: Alezandro Da Silva (70'), Billy Fielding (70'), Dan Sweeney (95'); Luke Ingram (7'pen, 51'), Liam Pearce (57')

Needham MOTM: 7 Luke Ingram.

LEWIS STUNNER RESCUES POINT

Needham Market v Leighton Town | 27.10.2026 | Bloomfields | The Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division Game 14 |

https://youtu.be/mFHWVNzEWXI?is=4GO_SSZStOAJMZ0g

 

Needham Market dropped a place to sixth in the league table after being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw with 21st side Leighton Town at Bloomfields.

Tom Rothery made two changes from the FA Trophy defeat to Wingate and Finchley, Keiran Morphew and Jake Watkiss returned to the starting eleven with Tyler Wright and Harlyn Palmer on the bench. Harry Hopkins and Charlie Skinner dropped off the bench and were in action for the Reserves.

The draw makes it five league games unbeaten for the Reds, ending the visitors' losing run after Manu Oku-William struck in the 12th minute, until Marcel Lewis (72') equalised to collect a point for the Marketmen.

Needham started brightly, Marcel Lewis (6') curled a good 20-yard free-kick - that was prompted by his dangerous run - round the wall but it's well held by Nightingale.

Ryan Miles (8') met a fizzed low left wing cross at the near post close to goal, only for Nightingale to shovel it away, though Leighton broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 12th minute.

A left wing cross, after a slip from Ben Hunter, was headed into the bottom left-hand corner by Oke-William unmarked at the far post.

Keiran Morphew (16') glanced a dangerous Marcel Lewis header towards goal at the near post but saw it headed away from goal by a defender standing a yard ahead of the line.

Needham went close in the 22nd minute, Jake Watkiss was slipped through onto the left-hand side of the box only to wrap a great effort narrowly wide of the top far corner.

The Marketmen continued to probe for an equaliser, Ryan Miles (24') was threaded through on goal in the area but saw his shot tipped behind by the onrushing Nightingale. Lewis' corner moments later was glanced onto Keiran Morphew, but the latter's stretching header from 12-yards out went over.

Watkiss (28') whipped a cross-shot over from the left wing, while Marcel Lewis (30') was played through in the area by Liam Pearce but wrapped his shot just wide of the bottom corner.

Nightingale (42') rushed off his line to intercept Ingram's flick on from a long ball towards Liam Pearce, gathering possession.

At the other end, Avan Jones (45'+2') flashed a ferocious low strike narrowly wide of the bottom far corner, while Liam Pearce (45'+3') picked out Ingram in the centre whose first time half-volley was held by the diving Nightingale at his right-hand post.

Needham changed formation from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 at the break, and went close early into the second half (47'), Liam Pearce was set free down the left into the area whose close range low strike was saved at the near post.

Needham created a good chance (52'), Jake Watkiss' left wing cross picked out Jake Dye at the far post but Nightingale held onto his effort.

James Bradbrook (57') meanwhile was down smartly low to his left-hand side to hold a shot from the edge of the box, as Tyler Wright (65') made his league debut in place of Ryan Miles.

Liam Pearce was found in the area but saw his sixty-ninth minute effort deflected, as Leighton put bodies in the way with 3 players helping it away from goal.

The Reds found the breakthrough in the 72nd minute, an excellently worked equaliser saw James Bradbrook's long kick fed onto Kyle Hammond by Watkiss to tee up Marcel Lewis to curl a stunning strike into the top far, left-hand, corner!!

Bradbrook was on hand to thwart Tiago Cerqueira's low first time well hit volley (73'), as Watkiss' thunderous low strike (82') was blocked.

Great control from Ingram (87') in the area, who drives towards goal but pokes low and straight at Nightingale.

James Coton (88') replaced Keiran Morphew, while Bradbrook could only parry a 90th minute dangerous ball across the face of goal but the almost certain tap in was denied by Tyler Wright on the line.

Pearce (92') saw his great strike blocked by McClelland, as the points were shared.

Needham travel to Redditch United on Saturday (31st October, 3pm).

Needham Market:- 1 James Bradbrook, 2 Jake Dye, 4 Kyle Hammond, 5 Keiran Morphew (C) (88' Coton), 7 Luke Ingram, 10 Ryan Miles (65' Wright), 12 Liam Pearce, 14 Jake Watkiss, 16 Marcel Lewis, 17 Ben Hunter, 19 Kell Fiddy.
Subs: 3 Tyler Wright, 11 Josh Tennial, 15 James Coton, 18 Harlyn Palmer.

Leighton Town:- 1 Benjamin Nightingale, 2 Avan Jones (76' Perry), 3 James Dobson, 4 Josh Odell, 5 Luke Pyman, 6 Sam McClelland, 7 Samuel King (83' Guzynski), 8 Euan Warlow, 9 Manu Oke-William, 10 Kobe Chong (79' Vukoje), 11 Kyal Williams (C) (63' Cerqueira).
Subs: 12 Stefan Vukoje, 14 Tiago Cerqueira, 15 Marco Silvestri, 16 Reece Perry, 17 Marcel Guzynski.

Booked: Luke Ingram (96').
Goals: Marcel Lewis (72'); Manu Oke-William (12')
Att: 267.
Needham MOTM chosen by match sponsor Keith Nunn: 16 Marcel Lewis