Charlton Athletic women remain unbeaten at the top of the WSL 2 with a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth at the windy and wet Westleigh Park. Points were shared, as was possession, but the Addicks performed with skill and grit until the final whistle.
Portsmouth started the match strong, with two chances early in the first half. Pompey’s Meg Hornby broke forward from Jazz Bull’s clearance within the first minute, but Sophie Whitehouse made a solid stop for Charlton to keep Portsmouth from taking the lead.
A shot from Lucia Lobato outside the box gave the Addicks the lead in the sixth minute, finding the bottom left-hand corner of the net, bagging her first goal in a Charlton shirt.
Further chances followed for the Addicks with attempts from Jodie Hutton, Lucy Fitzgerald and Karin Muya in the mix, but Pompey's keeper and back line kept the visitors from grabbing a second.
The Addicks continued to drive forward with confidence while dominating possession, but in the 38th minute Portsmouth’s Georgie Freeland levelled it for Pompey bagging an equaliser straight from a corner.
The last seven minutes of the half showed promise for both sides with the Addicks coming close with pinball action in Portsmouth’s box, but ultimately the score remained level going into the break.
As the play continued, so did the battle, with both sides holding equal possession and multiple attempts on goal across the second half.
Portsmouth nearly took the lead in the last 10 minutes with a pinpoint cross into the box when Elisha N’Dow came in with a last minute block, whilst action continued at the other end with a shot from Charlton's number five that was cleared off the line.
The Addicks enter the FA Cup in the Third Round Proper next Sunday, when they face Watford at The Valley! Tickets are on sale now. Make sure you have yours.
Why don’t you make it two? Get behind the reds for Charlton’s last league fixture of the year when they face Nottingham Forest on Sunday, December 21st, KO 2pm GMT!
Portsmouth: Erhabor, Bull, Coan, Freeland, Robowtham (Primmer 46), Jones (Nixon 74), Rutherford (Gale 46), Hornby, Wilding (Collins 88), Humphries, Dahou (Barker 46)
Subs (not used): Woolley, Kennedy, Sheffield
Booked: Hornby 14 (unsporting behaviour)
Goals: Freeland 38
Charlton Athletic: Whitehouse, Newsham, N’Dow, Bradley, Fitzgerald, Hutton, Muya (McAteer 58), Siber (Chime 87), Thestrup (Kenney 58), Lobato, Flannery
Subs (not used): Pedersen, Ross, Bissell, Barratt, Finlayson
Booked: Flannery (foul)
Goals: Lobato 6
Attendance: 606
