Women’s football: Charlton suffer first Championship loss of season as Eagles sunk by injury-time goal

Charlton suffered their first defeat of the season in the FA Women’s Championship with a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool at Prenton Park on Sunday.

A Rachel Furness double, Jade Bailey and a late strike from Kirsty Linnett saw the Reds run out comfortable winners.

Addicks manager Riteesh Mishra: “Everybody expected us to lose the game, they are clearly one of the best teams in the division, but we were coming into the game with quite a lot of confidence and we wanted to try and frustrate them and try and nick something.

“For large parts of the game we did do that. I am not sure it was a 4-0 game if I am being honest – there are things that I am pleased with from the performance, we defended well at times and had some good passage of play.

“We showed that we can compete and that we have improved since last season. I think that Liverpool would say that we gave them a difficult game this afternoon, but it is no consolation, we want to pick up points wherever we go.”

Natasha Fenton’s injury-time winner gave Blackburn Rovers their first win of the season with a 3-2 victory at Crystal Palace.

An evenly matched first half saw Cherelle Khassal’s 13th-minute goal cancelled out by Jade Richards’ header for the visitors 12 minutes later.

Bianca Baptiste’s strike early in the second half put Palace in control, but Ellie Stewart’s 69th minute penalty brought Rovers back level before Fenton’s late cross went into the goal.

Palace forward Baptiste said: “It’s gutting to lose like that at the end. The girls did well. We have a new squad this season so working as a team is key. Everyone does well individually, we should have dominated the game better.

“The goal was probably one of my best ones this season. I came in a bit forward, I had a feeling the player would collect the ball, and I just got there first, gave it my everything and ran as fast as I could. When I saw the keeper coming out, I just placed it in a certain position I thought I could easily get.

“Next week we have an important match against London Bees and we need to pick up points from that.

“We’re gutted right now, especially with our performance, but at the same time we need to reflect, go again and be ready to set up for London Bees and dominate that game.”

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