Charlton Athletic finish season with 4-0 loss at FA Women’s Championship champions Leicester
Leicester City put the icing on their FA Women’s Championship cake with an untroubled 4-0 victory over Charlton at the King Power Stadium.
Charlton’s players gave Leicester a sporting roll of honour before kick-off and, although they fired the first shot – a venomous long-range effort by Lois Heuchan straight at Kirstie Levell – they offered little resistance.
Within 60 seconds Eartha Cumings denied Charlie Devlin with her outstretched leg before Remi Allen and Lachante Paul drove over.
The breakthrough was almost overdue when Devlin danced into the penalty area in the 21st minute, leaving two Charlton defenders in her wake, and top scorer Natasha Flint nudged home from six yards via a post.
Devlin was also involved in the second in the 32nd minute with a clever pass for Hannah Cain to skip clear and finish in style.
Leicester showed their threat down the other side as Paul’s cross was headed in by Cain six minutes before half time.
The second half was understandably a slight anti-climax with Leicester dominating without rediscovering their killer touch.
Charlton made a triple substitution at the break and defended more resolutely.
Leicester manager Jonathan Morgan was also able to shuffle his pack with goalkeeper Demi Lambourne being greeted with a special ovation when replacing Levell.
The hosts finally got their fourth goal in debatable circumstances after 85 minutes when Shanna Vassell nudged the ball towards her own goal under challenge from Olivia Ferguson.
Vassell managed to get back to hack clear but the goal was given.
Charlton manager Karen Hills, pictured above, said: “Playing Leicester was an opportunity for us to come to the King Power Stadium – a fantastic stadium – and we were under no pressure.
“It was also an opportunity because Leicester are where we want to be. We didn’t cope with them too well in the first half when they moved the ball incredibly well.
“We regrouped at half time, changed the shape and made changes, and we competed, without being able to create too much.
“I’ve had a look at the fourth goal and I’m not sure it was over the line.
“If that’s cost us a place in the league, it’s unfortunate but it’s beyond my control. We will reflect on this and know that we need to be better if we want to be where Leicester are now.”
To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclays FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitions.thefa.com
PHOTO: KEITH GILLARD
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