Charlton Athletic Women defeat Lewes to continue fine Championship start
By Yashas Mudumbai
Charlton Athletic Women continued their perfect start to the FA Women’s Championship with a 4-1 victory on Sunday to end Lewes’ unbeaten streak.
Charley Clifford put the home side ahead, before Charlotte Gurr extended the Addicks advantage.
Lewes’ Avilla Bergin hit back from the spot, but Lily Agg made it three with Kit Graham scoring late into the match.
The game opened with a cagey five minutes, but a ninth minute goal from Clifford settled any nerves Charlton may have felt before the match.
When Lewes’ defence were unable to clear the ball from the six-yard area from a Gemma Bryan cross, Clifford took full advantage to put the South Londoners ahead.
As Charlton continued to press forward through Graham, Lewes’ strikers were unable to get a foothold in the game – ensuring there was to be no repeat of the five goals they conceded in their last meeting against Lewes.
And in the 60th minute, a fantastic crossfield ball from Amelia Ritchie set up Graham to lay the ball through to Gurr for an easy finish.
Lewes got a penalty after a tackle from behind was penalised and Avilla Bergin calmly slotted in.
Hopes of a comeback were short-lived when substitute Agg curled in a shot from eight yards.
Clifford said: “We’ve not really had a great week in training but we knew we had to come out and put things right, which we fortunately did.
“We played them off the park. We can always rely on Kit to score a goal. Even when we are under the cosh, Kit will always pop up and we know how good she is.”
“Hopefully we can go up there (Manchester United) and give them a really good game.”
Graham was able to cap off a splendid display by finishing past Nina Wilson in the Lewes goal with five minutes to go.
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pics by Keith Gillard