Stevenage produced a stunning second-half performance to reignite their Eastern Region Women's Football League Premier Division promotion charge.

Played at their County Ground home, the Boro girls scored six after the interval as they roared to an 8-2 success over promotion rivals Needham Market.

It puts them four points behind leaders Luton Town although they have played one game more.

The top two were scheduled to play at Letchworth on Sunday but that game has been postponed.

The win over Needham Market was led by four goals from Amy Makewell.

She was involved with the first goal on five minutes although the scorer was Jodie Bellinger, who took control of the ball before dragging it back inside and unleashing a powerful shot past Daisie Gibbs.

Bellinger returned the favour on 18 minutes when her pass deflected into the path of Makewell but Needham Market finally got a foothold in the game and reduced the gap before the break with a strike from outside the area by Eva Hubbard.

The second half saw Stevenage impose themselves on the contest.

They came out strongly and when Lucy Webster took a short free-kick by the halfway line, Anna Re and Kelsey Millen linked up well down the right before sending the ball back to Webster on the edge of the box.

Her low cross was met by Emily Schofield who made it 3-1.

Next Shianne Swarres tested Gibbs, foreshadowing later events, with a lofted shot that was too hot for Gibbs to handle.

She parried the ball downwards and into the path of Schofield who smashed the ball low for Boro's fourth and her second.

Five minutes later, Swarres struck herself.

Millen worked hard down the right to feed Makewell and with her back to goal, she laid off an inviting ball for Swarres.

The Zimbabwean took her time, stepped outside and unleashed another lofted shot that this time cleared Gibbs and dipped under the bar.

Boro were relentless and within minutes had earned a penalty for handball which Makewell converted.

Next came a wild three minutes.

Amy Gooderham's ball in from the right was perfect for Makewell to complete her hat-trick but from the kick-off, Market immediately went down the other end where Molly Hall headed home at the far post.

The flurry of goals was finished with Gooderham and Makewell repeating the trick from two minutes earlier, with Makewell scooping the ball into the net for her fourth.

Stevenage's next action is now scheduled to be on January 8 when they host the side in third place, AFC Sudbury.

 

Stevenage: O'Brien, Re, Webster, Neal, Nebbitt, Price, Swarres, Bodily, Millen, Makewell, Bellinger.

Subs: Schofield, Shephard, Gooderham, Farmer.

Goals: Bellinger 5, Makewell 18, 62, 77, 80, Schofield 47, 53, Swarres 54