Stevenage FC

Stevenage moved into the top half of the table last week and to stay there, they will need three points against tricky opposition as they travel to Ipswich to face Needham Market this weekend.

Background Check

The history of Needham Market is hard to find online. Yet we can trace the club back to 2018-19 when they took part in the Suffolk Women’s and Girls’ League. They finished an admirable second place losing just three games and winning the remaining nineteen scoring one hundred and twenty one goals and conceding just seventeen. Those fifty-seven points unbelievably led to Needham missing out on top spot behind East Bergholt United, who wone two games more than their rivals. Needham were the only team to beat East Bergholt that season, but that was scant reward, especially considering their opponents also beat them in the Cup Final. What was a reward was a promotion into the ERWFL Division One North – scuppered for the first two seasons by COVID. However as 2021-22 rolled around, Needham were ready to attack and with thirty-one points, topped the division earning a promotion to the top tier of the ERWFL. It was a good debut season for the Marketwomen. A third place finish, one above Stevenage, and over 50 goals was a highlight, alongside Molly Hall and her sixteen goals during the season, although the narrow semi-final defeat to Stevenage in the League Cup was reason to be frustrated. This season, Needham sit in eighth, ten points away from their position in the last campaign.

Head to Head

With the history of Needham Market only accessible up to 2018, and the fact that they, and Boro’, were in very different leagues, there is only last season to call upon. Despite this anomaly, there are still four contests to look back on, the first – an outstanding eight-two victory at The County Ground as Amy Makewell netted four goals alongside an Emily Schofield brace. Needham avenged that defeat at Bloomfields with a solitary goal from Lois Balfour separating the sides. The fabled trilogy was decided as Needham hosted Boro’ in the aforementioned semi-final of the League Cup where despite two goals from Lina Nagib – the most by a Marketwoman against Boro’ – Stevenage netted three to advance to the final.

This season saw a game played just last month where an exciting draw was played out. Goals from Sophie Hendy and Matilda Thomas-O’Keefe were cancelled out by goals from Mia Etheridge Golding and Lucy Loomes meaning the points were shared.

Team News

Needham will likely name a similar side to the one that suffered defeat against Barking last week. There will be familiar names from this preview with Etheridge Golding, Hall, Nagib, Balfour and Loomes all featuring in their previous outing. Paige Wakefield scored their only goal and will likely be in contention too.

The Boro’ boss hinted towards the possible inclusion of a young Katie Boyle in his recent interview and so there remains a possibility of her being named in one of the next few squads. New signings Beatrice Rogers and Niamh Day will be hoping to be named on the teamsheet again, while Anna Baker-Re returned from injury as a substitute last week and will be hoping for more minutes here.

Ones to watch

Lina Nagib and Molly Hall are on fire this season with twenty-two goals between them. Eleanor Rossiter and Paige Wakefield have been named the opposition player of the match on seven occasions with the former slightly ahead with four. Etheridge Golding has started nineteen games this season, with only Nagib playing in more games than her in total so far this campaign.

Kelsey Millen will play her 50^th game for Stevenage if she is selected this weekend, an amazing milestone in less than two seasons at the club. Lilia Dempsey and Hannah Bodily remain the only two everpresents this season. Lucy Webster returned to light training this week, but is unlikely to feature before the end of the season whilst Sarah Payne continues her rehabilitation too.

Tale of the Tape – The Season So Far…

Needham Market

Needham have had a topsy turvy season so far. Their first two wins of the season against St Albans and Kings Lynn wielded 11 goals scored and three conceded, but defeat to Luton and Wroxham immediately afterwards saw 9 in the against column and just two scored. A stunning run in the FA Cup saw the Marketwomen finally defeated by West Bromwich Albion, whilst they also march on in the Suffolk County Cup where they have scored nineteen in two games without reply. The five-nil County Cup win against AFC Sudbury Reserves at the close of last month is the last victory for Market, who are on a run of three losses on the bounce. Real Bedford, Haringey Borough and Barking have all won at Bloomfields in the last four weeks with the last win for Needham at home coming back in December with a four-one victory over Bowers & Pitsea.

Home Form

Stevenage

Boro’ have had an excellent start to 2024 after an inconsistent start to the season. The four wins out of five so far, with just one draw against this weekend’s opponents, is the joint longest run without losing this season, although including the tail end of 2023, the run stretches to eight. More importantly for Stevenage, they have conquered any lingering worries about being caught up in a relegation battle and instead of scrabbling around tenth, are now in the top half of the table with the possibility of finishing the weekend in fourth.

Away Form

Around the Grounds

With most teams in County Cup or League Plate action, there are only two ERWFL matches, which have implications for the end of the season. Wroxham battle St Albans with the former vying with Boro’ for the fourth place slot at the end of play being one place, and one point better off than Stevenage. St Albans however are one point off the drop zone with a game in hand over AFC Dunstable. This is that game and a win would provide some breathing room with only seven games remaining after this. Needham can end up in seventh place with a win, leapfrogging Luton Town who have an unbelievable five games in hand over most clubs.

ERWFL Premier

Wroxham v St Albans

Needham Market v Stevenage FCW

ERWFL League Plate Quarter Final

Wodson Park v Barking

County Cups

Royston Town v Harpenden Town

Mulbarton Wanderers v Kings Lynn Town

AFC Dunstable v Biggleswade United Reds

Luton Town v Woburn and Wavendon Lionesses

Real Bedford v Wootton Blue Cross Lionesses

U23 watch

The Under 23s have had an awesome start to the year as well. Two wins against Thetford Town and Newmarket Town have placed the youngsters a point away from possible salvation despite having played more games. The last three games have all been cup matches, with two wins in the County Trophy and a victory against Stanway Pegasus in the League Plate. Their quarter final match will take place next week, but this weekend they will host Thetford Town at The Herts FA County Ground in Letchworth, hoping for another notch on their wall of fame.