Women’s football round-up: Skeels’ stoppage time goal earns Charlton a draw at Sheffield United

Charlton Athletic Women scored a last-minute leveller as they signed off 2023 with a 2-2 draw at Sheffield United on Sunday.

Jodie Hutton and Ashley Hodson gave the Blades a 2-0 lead in the first half, but Angela Addison pulled one back in the 60th minute.

Kiera Skeels scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time to secure a point for Karen Hills’ side as they moved up to second in the Championship, only behind leaders Birmingham City on goal difference.

“I’m extremely happy,” Hills told CharltonTV.

“It was a game of two halves. Sheffield had better quality of passing and their shape looked a little bit better – we struggled to deal with it.

“We came out in the second half and we knew we had another couple of gears in us.

“We knew we needed to be better with our quality on the ball. We needed to shorten up the game a little bit and we came out and we had that belief.

“We knew we had people on the bench who could contribute to trying to get back into the game.

“I’m super proud of the players because that was a huge point for us. The players were disappointed at half-time – we don’t concede many goals from open play.

“The way we came out and had that belief in each other in the second half was pleasing to see.

“Luckily we managed to keep going and picked the point up at the end. The players thoroughly deserved that based on the second-half performance.”

Crystal Palace could only secure a point at Reading on Sunday.

The Eagles went ahead through Elise Hughes in the 30th minute but Lauren Wade equalised for the hosts nine minutes later.

Laura Kaminski’s side are fourth in the table and have a game in hand over the three teams above them in the league heading into the Christmas break.

Millwall Lionesses were unable to bounce back from their FA Cup exit the week before as they suffered a 3-1 defeat against Dorking Wanderers in the London & South East Regional Premier Division.

Millwall were 3-0 down at the interval with Shannon Drewe pulling one back in the 52nd minute.

Lionesses are back in action against Sutton United on January 7.

Chelsea got back to winning ways in the Super League with a 3-0 win at Bristol City on Sunday.

It was the perfect response to their loss at title rivals Arsenal the weekend before.

Lauren James, Erin Cuthbert and Sam Kerr scored Chelsea’s goals at Ashton Gate.

Niamh Charles was sent off in the sixth minute of stoppage time for two bookable offences.

Blues midfielder Cuthbert said: “It was a really professional performance given it was off the back of a defeat and a draw which we were really disappointed in.

“Everyone has tough periods in a season. It’s just how you manage it and you need to make sure it doesn’t go on and on.

“We needed to make sure we nipped it in the bud, which we did. We had a few honest conversations, as we always do whether we win or we lose. Most of all we learned a lot from those games and we moved the ball a lot quicker.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD