Women’s football round-up: Palace face daunting Chelsea test next as Charlton maintain perfect start

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

There was no fairytale start for Crystal Palace in their first-ever appearance in the Women’s Super League as they lost 4-0 against Tottenham at Brisbane Road on Sunday.

Hayley Raso marked her Spurs debut by opening the scoring in the 19th minute.

Jessica Naz, Drew Spence and Olga Ahtinen netted in the second period with the Eagles facing 26 shots – 17 of them on target as keeper
Shae Yanez was kept busy.

And it only gets tougher for the South Londoners tomorrow as they host reigning champions Chelsea at Selhurst Park in a 7.30pm kick off.

Palace manager Laura Kaminski said: “Our main point is that this result does not define our season.

“We’re going to be here to stay and that’s part one of several games throughout the season. We need to really take away the learnings from today.

“We needed that competitive fixture to now really take away the information and work on our improvements.”

Chelsea were 1-0 victors over Aston Villa last Friday with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd scoring in the 36th minute.

Sonia Bompastor collected her first three points in the WSL after succeeding the hugely successful Emma Hayes in the summer.

“The focus was a lot on me – especially coming to this first game.

“I just said maybe that’s no more, it’s a new era, it’s a new coach – so everyone is expecting something from me and I’m fine with that because pressure is something I’ve experienced in my life for so many years.

“It doesn’t give me something negative. It gives me something positive.

“But I said in the press conference before that this game was not only about me – because it is also about the team.

“We had some new players who started their first game in the league – Lucy Bronze and Sandy Baltimore – so it was good, especially for all of us.”

Charlton have made a perfect start in the Women’s Championship and maintained their 100 per cent record with a 2-1 win over Durham at The Valley on Sunday.

Lily Crosthwaite’s 17th-minute goal left the Addicks trailing going into the second period. Katie Bradley equalised from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute and then added another just three minutes later.

Karen Hills’ side have won all three of their league matches.

Charlton head to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.

Bromley-based London City Lionesses are also unbeaten and defeated Bristol City 2-1 at Hayes Lane.

Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Sofia Jakobsson were both on target inside the opening 21 minutes.

City’s Amelie Threstrup cut the deficit with 22 minutes remaining.

Lionesses travel to Sunderland on Sunday.

Millwall Lionesses lost 3-0 at home to Ebbsfleet United in the FA Cup.

AFC Wimbledon were 4-1 victors over Exeter City in the FA WPL Premier Division.

Ashlee Hincks bagged a brace with Emily Donovan and Ellie Dorey also on the scoresheet.

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