Northampton Town Women won 4-3 away to Needham Market in their third pre-season friendly on Sunday afternoon.
Ruby Heselden, Jade Bell, Mia Richards and Fay Noble scored the Cobblers’ goals as they defeated their opponents, who finished third in the Eastern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division in the 2022-23 season.
The visitors created two early chances, Richards flicking a close-range header wide and Rhea Patel having an effort from a tight angle held by the diving ‘keeper.
But the hosts opened the scoring inside three minutes, a low shot across goal going in off the post.
Northampton looked to respond with Noble, captain Zoe Boote and Bianca Luttman all unable to turn home from near the penalty spot.
The Cobblers did equalise on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, Richards’ inswinging corner causing problems for the defence and allowing Heselden to turn the loose ball home with her knee. The goal was the new signing’s second strike in her last two games.
She was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area a few minutes later, and Needham Market restored their lead from 12 yards.
Luttman volleyed Noble’s deep corner wide at the far post soon after, and the defender’s long ball was pounced on by Bell who nodded past the outrushing ‘keeper to bring the Cobblers level for a second time on the half-an-hour mark.
The hosts’ stopper spilled Beth Artemiou’s floated ball over the top of the defence, and Richards followed-in to roll into the empty net and put her side ahead for the first time in the contest five minutes before the break.
Noble fired across goal and into the bottom corner from the edge of the area to double the advantage less than a minute later.
Needham Market pulled a goal back with a long-range free-kick that was curled into the top corner early in the second half.
However, the visitors stood strong to earn a one-goal win and continue their 100% start to pre-season in a tightly-contested fixture, Bell hitting the post and Kim Farrow testing the ‘keeper on the turn as they looked the extend their margin of victory.
Oldfield and Williams’ side host Ashford Town (Middlesex) in their fourth pre-season friendly next week. Their opponents finished sixth in the FA Women’s National League Division One South East last season.
Cobblers: Katie McLean, Laila Channell, Bianca Luttman, Ruby Heselden, Zoe Boote, Beth Artemiou, Kim Farrow, Fay Noble, Rhea Patel, Mia Richards, Jade Bell
Substitutes: Shannon Cain, Annie Villamartin, Chloe Martin, Trialist