Report: Charlton Athletic Women 2-1 Bristol City Women.

Match Report sponsor: University of the West of England

THE BACKGROUND

This weekend’s round of fixtures was the last Championship action before a two-week international break, with both sides looking to head into the break on a positive note.

City and Charlton both picked up victories a week prior with the Robins overcoming Sunderland 2-1 at the High Performance Centre and the Addicks getting the better of Watford 4-0.

Lauren Smith made one change to her side that beat the Black Cats as Izzy Cook dropped out the squad with a minor thigh injury, which saw Jesse Woolley start on the left wing.

WHAT HAPPENED

It was all City in the early exchanges as Aimee Palmer saw a half volley whistle past the post, before forcing Eartha Cumings into an acrobatic stop to push away her in-swinging cross.

Hannah Godfrey then bravely blocked Abi Harrison’s attempt on goal, which was soon followed by the game’s opener. Ffion Morgan’s back pass to Fran Bentley came up short and Emma Follis was hand to pick off the loose pass and poke home in the seventh minute.

The Robins looked to bounce back immediate as Harrison again tested Cumings as well as Aggie Beever-Jones trying her luck, but to no avail.

Beth Roe let fly from distance twice for the hosts, one attempt was comfortably dealt with by Fran Bentley and the other flew past the post.

City weren’t to be denied of their equaliser before half-time as Harrison conjured up a leveller. The forward showcased brilliant strength to shrug off Hannah Godfrey and finish from the tightest of angles.  

As the second half began the game opened up as both sides looking to hit each other on the transition.

City came agonisingly close to a second as Harrison worked her way to the byline and pulled the ball back to find Melissa Johnson, who lifted her effort over the bar.

With twenty minutes to go Kiera Skeels had the ball in the back of the net for the Addicks, however the assistant had their flag raised for offside. Fran Bentley was then called into action to produce a stunning save as she denied substitute Sophie Quirk, tipping the curling shot onto the woodwork.

However, Charlton would snatch a winner late on. Follis secured her brace, and with it all three points as she connected with Megan Wynne’s cross to head home in added time.

THE TEAM

City: Bentley, Cataldo, Aspin, Murray, Morgan,, Palmer ©, Kuyken, Cook, Beever-Jones, Johnson, Harrison.

Subs: Whitehouse (GK), Powell, Layzell, Jhamat, O’Connor, Allen, Bull, Davies Wilde, Greenslade.

REACTION

UP NEXT

City Women are next in action on Wednesday night when they travel to the Select Car Leasing Stadium to take on Barclays WSL outfit Reading FC (7:30pm) in the FA Continental Cup.

The Championship will take a two-week break as the international window gets underway, with the Robins next home fixture taking place on Sunday Ocotber 31^st when Sheffield United visit the Robins HPC.