C&K Basildon Ladies midfielder Stacey Little was delighted to finish her illustrious career with a 4-3 win over former club Charlton Athletic.

Little hung up her boots after the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division.

And the former West Ham United star, who captained C&K Basildon on her final appearance, was pleased to retire after securing another win.

Little said: “Getting the win in my final game was amazing.

“We probably weren’t expected to get anything from the game against a very strong Charlton side so it felt even better to take all three points and every single one of us worked our socks off to ensure we got the win.

“I did actually say to Steve (Tilson) and Zoe (Rushen) that I didn’t want the armband.

“For me, it was just another game and I didn’t want anything to be taken away from that fact just because it was my last game.

“It did mean a lot to captain the girls out for a last time and I am thankful to both Steve and Zoe for giving me that opportunity.”

Two goals from Theresa Addison, on her first start, helped C&K Basildon claim a narrow win.

C&K Basildon opened the scoring in the 12th minute, when Theresa Addison beat the advancing goalkeeper.

However, Charlton were level after 21 minutes, when Grace Coombs volleyed a corner into the roof of the net.

C&K Basildon were back in front on the half hour mark, thanks to a 30-yard volley by Addison.

Tilson’s side doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when Aysha Bentick’s header, from Amy Nash’s corner, was saved at point blank range but Zoe Rushen was first to the loose ball to give C&K Basildon a two-goal advantage at half time.

Kit Graham reduced the deficit with 20 minutes to play, but Jay Blackie added a fourth for the visitors five minutes later.

Although Graham completed her brace late on, C&K Basildon secured the three points to bring the curtain down on Little’s career in style.

And she says she has many highlights from her time on the pitch.

Little added: “Joining Charlton, who were at the highest level of women’s football was a highlight.

“It was an amazing experience to come up against some of the best players in England including Faye White, Fara Williams, Jill Scott, Rachel Yankey, Sue Smith and Kelly Smith.

“Then joining the club I love and have grown up supporting, West Ham, was amazing.

“I had an incredible couple of seasons where we narrowly missed out on a couple of occasions on winning the league. I eventually became captain and lifted the Essex County Cup, which was a difficult season for the club, and then of course I worked with club legend Julian Dicks.

“And now I have finished off with an amazing season with C&K Basildon. We set out to finish in the top six and retain the Essex County Cup, and we achieved both with some fantastic results along the way.”

The Essex County Cup triumph was also memorable for Little for another reason, as her boyfriend proposed soon after the win.

Little explained: “Our final was on the Thursday and his 30th birthday was the following day so I had arranged a surprise party for him.

“The surprise soon flipped round on me as he popped the question there in front of our families and all his friends.

“We go to New York at the end of the month and that’s where he was going to do it but he thought I would maybe expect it.

“I can definitely say I wasn’t expecting it that night at Basildon Ford Sports & Social Club.”