Lowestoft Town began their season with a 4-1 home defeat to Needham Market in the Women's FA Cup at Crown Meadow on Sunday afternoon. Lauren Goulder had given Lowestoft a lead which they deservedly had at Half Time but Needham Market took their opportunities in the second half to secure the win and send the Trawler Girls out of the FA Cup.

In what was the first competitive game of the season for the Trawler Girls and the fifth for visitors Needham Market who play one level higher in the pyramid than Lowestoft. Lowestoft came in as underdogs with nothing to lose and everything to gain from the afternoon.

The club were delighted to welcome a late new addition to the squad in the form of experienced midfielder Ellie Hunter formally of Mulbarton Wanderers, signed in time for Friday's 12pm deadline and who went straight into the starting line up for the game.

This was a landmark day for the club following the Ladies re-birth in Summer 2025, it brought about the first FA Cup appearance in the modern era of Trawler Girls plus it was the first occasion where spectator admission was charged and the team certainly played their part in a great cup tie.

Lowestoft knew the size of the task in this game and went with a back four of Marcie Prettyman, Fran Heaney, Mia Wilson and captain Charnelle Riggall, the defence worked very hard and were fabulous in the initial phases of the game as Needham dominated possession but the Lowestoft defence stood firm and prevented any danger on the goal.

On 19 minutes came the moment of the afternoon as Lauren Goulder received the ball on the right, cut inside Chelsea Brett and finished superbly beyond Danielle Clarke in the Needham goal. It was a great moment for Goulder and the squad as Needham looked shell shocked.

Lowestoft had the ball in the net again on the half hour mark but the goal was ruled out for offside. Lowestoft maintained their positivity through the first half with all players ensuring their responsibilities were maintained and the team went in with a thoroughly deserved Half time lead.

Lowestoft still knew the size of the task and to get through this cup tie it was going to take the same performance level, same concentration and a bit more to have any chance, unfortunately that didn't happen and Needham were allowed to get back into the game.

Four minutes into the second half the visitors floated a corner that Mia Etheridge-Golding was easily able to tap in at the back post. Nine minutes later Lowestoft got their warning as another corner came in which Etheridge-Golding chested it but somehow it was stopped on the line.

Just before the hour mark Needham completed the turn around as Keira Topple found herself in plenty of space and finished well into the corner. It was desperately disappointing for Lowestoft to see the game slip away in 15 second half minutes after such a promising opening 45 minutes.

Lowestoft never recovered as further chances for Needham followed who were now in charge of the fixture but Chloe Pearce was doing her best to prevent more damage but on 70 minutes Topple added her second after a mix up in the Lowestoft defence caused saw Topple easily able to knock the ball into the empty net.

Corners were the undoing of Lowestoft through the second half and with a couple of minutes of normal time remaining, Anna Sullivan had another easy chance from close range which she wasn't going to miss and stabbed home to make the 4-1 win for Needham Market.

After such a good start to the game, the way the goals were gifted to Needham Market will be desperately disappointing for all connected to the Trawler Girls, as Lowestoft have aims to reach regional football themselves the second 45 minutes provided good learning and evidence of the standards especially in concentration you need to be at for the full 90 minutes to have any chance of beating regional opposition.

Highlights from the afternoon were the goal from Lauren Goulder and leading at Half Time in the team's first FA Cup tie since the ladies re-birth in 2025 and a Player of the Match performance from Ellie Hunter on her debut. The crowd of 107 was also a massive positive as the town came out in force to support the ladies.

The ladies bow out of the FA Cup with lots to be proud of and lots to learn as focus now switches to the title defence and the opening day of the League season this coming Sunday 13th September when the Trawler Girls travel to Mulbarton Wanderers to get their campaign underway with what is on paper one of the most challenging away fixtures of the season.

Up the Trawler Girls!

By Darrell Allen