Charlton 2 Liverpool 2 – Clifford penalty earns Addicks an important point in FA Women’s Championship
BY SAMUEL DRAPER
Charley Clifford’s stoppage-time penalty rescued a point for Charlton Athletic in an engaging encounter with Liverpool at a snowy Hayes Lane.
Shauna Vassell’s strike midway through the first half gave the Addicks the lead at half-time in the FA Women’s Championship match.
Rachel Furness and Ceri Holland scored for Liverpool, who also hit the bar and the post in interim manager Amber Whiteley’s second match in charge.
The visitors had not played in three weeks, but they had two early chances to lead. First, Niamh Fahey headed wide and then Amalie Thestrup shot straight at the keeper.
In the 18th minute, Charlton got their lead, Jess King advancing quickly before squaring to Vassell to put it past Rachael Laws from close range.
With 10 minutes to play before the break, Missy Bo Kearns hit the bar for the visiting Reds from a free-kick in a promising position. Thestrup’s follow-up header also evaded the net.
With 20 minutes remaining, the visitors hit the post, Jess Clarke’s cross deceiving everyone but not able to hit the target or find someone who could.
The Reds got their deserved equaliser in the 77th minute with Furness converting Ashley Hodson’s cross from close range.
They then took the lead with Holland, who came on at half-time for her Liverpool debut, finishing off another Hodson cross at the far post.
Charlton were awarded a late penalty with a trailing Liverpool defender’s leg causing a foul in the box. Clifford was cool in the circumstances to bury the spot-kick.
Liverpool could have won it still but Eartha Cumings made a fantastic save in the dying seconds to keep the hosts at bay.
Clifford said: “It’s a good draw for us because of where we are in the league.
“We were winning the game, so to let them back in it was gutting. To get the draw, we’re proud of that, and hopefully we can build on the draws and turn them into wins going forward.
“At first, sitting in the stands, I thought it would be alright, but actually getting on there, the snow was increasing and increasing. It is a lot harder than it looks. I’m happy we could play and get a point out of it.
“[The goal] wasn’t the only chance we had either. For us to get those positives in, it was a good first half for us. To go in 1-0 up was good and we have to build on that.
“We need to make sure we get tight and not concede little goals. It’s fine margins we need to work on and hopefully we can turn these draws into wins.”
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