Charlton’s Women made it 25 games unbeaten in the WSL2 on Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 win away at Nottingham Forest.
An action-packed game at the City Ground saw Lucy Fitzgerald bag a brace, while Ellie Mason and Kiera Skeels both returned to action off the bench after lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Both sides came out strong with Karin Muya delivering a dangerous ball into the box early in the first half which was blocked by Forest’s defence. At the other end, Forest made several early runs at the box, with no avail for the home side.
It was the Addicks who took the lead in the 19th minute when Fitzgerald bagged her second goal in as many games with a wonderful strike from just outside of the box that curled into the top right-hand corner.
And just three minutes later, Fitzgerald headed in a pinpoint cross from Jodie Hutton’s corner to make it two for the Addicks as she sealed her brace.
Forest fought back, but were wasteful in front of goal, with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah sending a volley from six yards spinning away from goal.
At the other end, Charlton continued to look dangerous with a strike from distance from Keira Flannery that took a deflection and flew just over the crossbar.
Just before the break, Boye-Hlorkah forced Sophie Whitehouse into a good save to keep Charlton’s lead to two going into the break.
The second half began much like the first, with the home side enjoying most of the possession. Joy Omewa made a few notable attempts for Forest, but it didn’t prove fruitful for the home side.
The Addicks began to manage the game more defensively, with Elisha N’Dow and Gloria Siber blocking several of the host's attempts. while Whitehouse continued to show her quality in between the sticks.
Boye-Hlorkah continued to look dangerous with a shot/cross that hit the post before heading a cross to Ebba Hed who knocked the ball into the net, but the flag was up for offside.
Charlton remained 2-0 up and continued managing the game as a defensive unit with Charlotte Newsham and N’Dow making further standout blocks, while Karen Hills welcomed Mason back onto the pitch for her first game since her spell out on the sidelines with 17 minutes remaining, before Skeels also emerged in the 82nd minute for her long-awaited return to action.
The last 10 minutes brought another key effort for the home side, with a long ball from Hed catching the head of Boye-Hlorkah who sent it goalwards, but Whitehouse made yet another impressive save in goal for Charlton, tipping the ball above the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Whitehouse saved her best save for injury time when she flew across her goal to keep out Hed's volley.
Ultimately, it was the Addicks who came away from the game with all three points, keeping their spot five points clear at the top of the WSL2 table.
Charlton’s Women host Durham at The Valley next Sunday, February 15th (KO 12pm GMT) for our annual Football v Homophobia matchday!
Looking to access our 1905 lounge and get to meet the squad post-match?
Charlton Athletic: Whitehouse, Newsham, N’Dow (Skeels 82), Bradley (Lockwood 73), Fitzgerald, Hutton, Muya (McAteer 82), Siber (Mason 73), Thestrup (Kenney 58), Lobato, Flannery
Subs (not used): Pedersen, Ross, Pearse, Bissell
Goals: Fitzgerald 19, 21
Nottingham Forest: Batty, Brougham, Mustaki, Rose (Kiernan 55), Rodgers (Rowe 73), Almqvist, Hed, Omewa, Brown, Murphy, Boye-Hlorkah
Subs (not used): Ferguson, Stapleton, Johnson, Wellings, Green, Smith, Hibbert-Johnson
Booked: Omewa 48 (foul on N’Dow), Brougham 90+2 (dissent), Mustaki 90+5 (foul on McAteer)
