Blackburn 2 Crystal Palace 2 – Last-gasp Fenton strike denies Eagles maximum points

BY MATT JONES

Natasha Fenton’s late strike helped Blackburn Rovers battle back for a point in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

It looked like Annabel Johnson’s 87th-minute goal would earn the visitors their first victory of 2021.

But after missing a series of opportunities earlier in the second half, Blackburn got the goal they deserved in injury time. 

The visitors had the best of the early chances, with one goalmouth scramble eventually cleared and Siobhan Wilson seeing a close-range effort saved. 

Rovers grew into the game though and scored with their first real shot, as Jade Richards powerfully headed home Emma Doyle’s corner. 

The lead did not last long though as Palace struck back through Cherelle Khassal, volleying home when picked out unmarked by Wilson’s terrific cross from the left. 

She could have had a second moments later, again finding space in the box only for Alex Brooks to superbly save. 

At the other end, Chloe Morgan was on hand to deny Doyle after a surge forward.

Blackburn started brightly after the break and should have retaken the lead as Saffron Jordan squandered four chances. 

The striker was first thwarted inside the box, before failing to truly test Morgan with a chance from close range. 

The third effort was much tougher, angled towards the far corner and requiring a full-length save, whilst a thumping effort from 18 yards was easily claimed.

And after all that pressure it was Palace who scored in the dying minutes when Johnson bundled the ball over the line after Brooks dropped a header.

But they could not hold on as Fenton slammed home from inside the box when a corner was not cleared. 

Palace substitute Andria Georgiou said: “It was tough. We haven’t had a game for three weeks, so I thought the girls did really well. 

“One point would have been great, but once we scored the second, I thought we were coming away with three, which would have been great.

“We have to remember it was an away game and one point is better than none. We just go into next week buzzing and hopefully take three points at home.

“Not having a game for three weeks was a big gap. You obviously want to go away and get the three, but we’ll take the one point on board, and it is a good one away from home.

“We’re training hard and we’re in quite a bit. The intensity in training has been great and it’s good competition.”

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