This Sunday, Saints travel to The Valley for their return fixture against Charlton. This match
will be played on the 5th March and kick off will be at 2pm. For those unable to travel to the
match and still want to get behind and support on the girls, live coverage will be streamed on
the FA Player. For all those travelling to the match, we wish you all a safe journey and bring
that noise! It shall be a good match and hopefully this time we can come away with the points.
Last time out
The last time we played Charlton we were new to the league, it was our very first match and we went in not knowing what to expect from the team and league as a whole. This match was
played at St Marys in front of a solid crowd of 2,444, a massive jump in attendance from before we entered the Championship. Unfortunately, after a controversial match, terrible ref and a cheating Charlton the result didn’t end our way. The match started and Saints seemed the more dominant and threatening of the two sides creating early chances. The first of the chances came within the first 6 minutes with Megan Wynne trying her luck, the shot was light and safely saved by their keeper. Wilko was next to try her luck with two chances, one was from a cross by Milly but Wilko didn’t connect well. The second was a free kick which their keeper pushed over the bar. Despite the match starting off well for Saints, it was Charlton who took the lead in the first half. They received a penalty after Emily Simpkins was apparently ‘tripped’ by Wynne, all I saw was her fall over the ball with no connection from Megan. I give her a ‘SEVEN’ for that one. 1-0 Charlton. After their goal the play started to open up and Charlton became more dominant with chances coming close but mounting to nothing, thankfully.
I must say, Kayla had a brilliant game making some great saves throughout. The 46th minute
saw Lucia have a headed chance which was safely saved by the Charlton keeper. The second goal for Charlton was scored in the 47th minute, a clear handball in the build up that the ref didn’t blow for, allowed Johnson to weave her way through and slot the second in. Charlton were practising for the Olympics from a light tussle in the box with Ella Morris, yet again, a penalty was awarded. This time thankfully, our super keeper, Kayla saved the shot.
Morechances come for us the second half but amounted to nothing, the match ended and the Addicks took all 3 points.
A frustrating match where we showed
promise, with plenty of positives. Kayla’s goal keeping, the threat and new physical fitness that the team had worked on since turning professional. But perhaps, the biggest lesson learnt that day, was that there are no easy games in the championship, gamesmanship or lack of, will come into play and giving away cheap free
kicks and opportunities for the opposition to come at us and have a go at scoring.
Lesson well and truly learnt, we then went on an incredible 9 game unbeaten run.
Looking ahead
We head into the match on Sunday sitting nicely at 3rd in the table, only 7 points off top of the table Bristol who has 33 points and 4 points off LCL who sit in second with 30 points. The
match before the international break saw us beating Sunderland in a 1 nil win which saw a
physical midfield battle throughout. A very well played match for our girls in that game, hopefully that momentum carries over the international break and we see us in full force against Charlton. With our away form being a highlight of our season, let’s hope we can continue it, bag those 3 points and carry on our current 3 match unbeaten run.
Charlton are a team that know exactly what to do to get what they want and win the refs
decision. Although, they are a very well played and constructed team, when they don’t bring
their acting and diving skills into the match. They currently sit at 5th in the table with 22 points. They have played 12 matches this season; winning 7, drawing 1 and losing 4. They have scored 20 goals this season and have conceded 15 goals, keeping only 4 clean sheets in the season thus far. Charltons home form is pretty neutral, they’ve won 3, drawn 1 and lost 2 and they’ve scored 10 at home and conceded 8. Let’s hope this Sunday they concede a few more!
Charlton’s top goalscorer for this season is Ellie Simpkins, scoring 5 goals; all 5 being
penalties, from the 20 this season, followed by Melissa Johnson with 4 and Ella Rutherford
with 2. The Addicks will be without Ella Rutherford who has unfortunately done her ACL and
recently had treatment, we wish her well in her recovery.
The last match that Charlton played was in the FA Cup against Birmingham with the Brummies progressing after an extra time winner. Their last league match was against Sheffield United who sit second to bottom in the table, they lost this game 1-0 with a first half
goal from United. Prior to that league game, they played Coventry, who they
only managed to get 1 past.
Overall
Overall, I think we can look forward to a good and well fought match between both teams, frustration may be in the midst though if Charlton play how we all know they do.
Charlton are coming off the back of two losses, one in the league and one in the cup, this being said I feel they’re going to fight hard and hunt for that win. They’re without one of their strike force in this match though, being Ella Rutherford who plays a strong role within the Charlton team. Im looking forward to this match and yet another away day and as far as predictions go, I think Saints are going to win 2-1, conceding a goal but bagging those vital 3 points in the table,
9 matches to go with all to fight for. Hope to see you all Sunday and safe travels, UP THE
SAINTS!
Match officials
Referee -Ffion Eade
Assistant Referee – Amy Purser
Assistant Referee – Adriana Bucur
Fourth Official – Ali Rahjoo
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