Charlton bottom of the FA Women’s Championship after 1-0 loss to Sheffield United

BY SAMUEL DRAPER

Katie Wilkinson’s first-half penalty gave Sheffield United all three points against Charlton Athletic at The Oakwood in the FA Women’s Championship.

Wilkinson’s spot-kick on the half hour gave the Blades the advantage, only for them to lose skipper Leandra Little to two first-half bookings less than 10 minutes later.

Charlton didn’t utilise their numerical advantage in the second half, and home goalkeeper Eartha Cumings was called upon several times as United threatened to run riot.

In the 29th minute, positive play from the visitors saw 17-year-old Lucy Watson brought down in the box by Charley Clifford, and Wilkinson confidently buried the penalty for her eighth goal of the season.

Little left the field after 39 minutes for her second bookable offence, both for taking down Addicks striker Jess King.

But Sheffield United kept creating chances. Jade Pennock’s mazy run deep in the first half cut through the Charlton defence, but her shot was well-saved by Cumings.

Just after the restart, Wilkinson ran through but her shot clipped the post on its way wide, and Cumings then made three great saves in 10 minutes to keep Charlton alive.

First she denied Melissa Johnson with 25 minutes to play, before fantastically tipping Pennock’s 70th minute cracker over the bar. Four minutes later, she also denied Wilkinson a second from close range.

Charlton forced a great stoppage time save from Fran Kitching, but Sheffield United’s dogged defence held on for the three points.

The result leaves Charlton at the foot of the Championship table.

Cumings said: “I feel frustrated, we didn’t create enough chances. We were rattled today. It’s disappointing that we didn’t take advantage of being a player up for so much of the game. It’s something we need to improve on.

“From the start, we felt a bit off, but we grew into the game. Towards the end of the second half, we were the team dominating. It was just too late.

“It’s always nice to make a save, but that’s what you have to do – that’s my job. If I let them in, that’s not so good. But it’s always nice to save them.

“Two weeks could be good for us to refresh and go again and iron out some of the difficulties we’ve been having. We have come off the back of two decent enough performances.

“We should be looking to get points off everybody. We could have got points today. Definitely two weeks on Sunday, we should be looking for a result.

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PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD