Needham Market have been knocked out of this year’s Eastern Regional League Cup 4-2 against Enfield at Bloomfields.
Enfield had the best of the early chances and on 13 minutes Rhylee Cadwallender put them ahead with further goals from Sam Malyon and Charlotte Dance being separated by Chelsea Brett.
The second became a lot tighter but was sparked into life in the final minutes when Annie Posnett pulled another back to make it a barnstorming finish, but Chelise Fleming made sure in stoppage time.
Needham came into the game buoyed by their first league win of the season but found the early stages tough against Enfield from the South division.
Amy Brunning, who made her club debut in the FA Cup, returned to goal and made a couple of big early saves but was unable to stop Cadwallender from opening the scoring as her shot kissed off the post into the corner of the net.
Enfield continued to dominate and doubled the lead thanks to a Fleming cross being converted by Malyon.
But a quickfire response from the home side suddenly raised hopes of a comeback as Brett moved forward and took advantage of some poor positional play from the goalkeeper to pass into the unguarded gap in the goal.
Like London buses Needham were level within a minute thanks to Ella Edwards, but the joy was short lived because of the linesman’s flag for offside.
The home side pushed for a leveller before the break but were undone by a Dance header from a corner after Brunning had made a smart save to deny Fleming seconds earlier.
It was a bitter blow with the break looming but neither side could wrestle any momentum for long periods of a less eventful second half.
But there was another late twist with Posnett smashing a superb 30-yard free kick that flew into the left-hand top corner.
Needham pushed hard for an equaliser to keep the tie alive but in doing so had to take risks and sadly for the home faithful it led to Enfield wrapping up the tie as Fleming raced through on goal and finished the game.
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