Birmingham City 1 Charlton 0
Charlton slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat in the WSL against Birmingham City at St.Andrews.
The hosts started brightly and it was BWSL Player of the Month who looked the most dangerous player on the pitch.
In the 10th minute of the game her corner found the head of Shannon Cooke, who powered a header into the ground, only for it to be well saved by Sophie Whitehouse.
Five minutes later Hurtre had an effort of her own denied by Whitehouse. Picking up a loose ball, she drove at the Charlton defence and fired the shot at the Addicks’ goal, but Whitehouse was equal to the effort.
Charlton then responded with a chance of their own. Ash Neville picking out Jodie Hutton at the back-post, but Hutton couldn’t quite generate the power to trouble Birmingham’s number one, Sophie Baffaley.
Birmingham continued to look dangerous down the left flank through Oceane Hurtre, but Ash Neville was often equal to her, in what was proving to be an entertaining duel.
In the 26th minute came the best chance of the half. Birmingham’s Lisa Naalsund’s 20-yard shot had beat Whitehouse, only to cannon off the crossbar and away to safety.
Charlton would go into the break pleased with their performance.
After the break Charlton came out of the blocks creating two chances, both from Jodie Hutton corners.
First Ash Neville saw her header into the ground saved on the line, before Elisha N’Dow’s flicked effort was superbly stopped by Sophie Baggely.
Birmingham responded almost immediately through Lily Crosthwaite who failed to finish off a dangerous cross from Oceane Hurtre.
Both sides continued to press, and the game was played at a frantic pace. In the 68th minute came the deciding moment.
Oceane Hurtle found herself in behind down the left flank before firing a shot against Sophie Whitehouse’s post, the ball then dropped to Crosthwaite whose low cross back into the box was turned in by Wilma Leidhammer.
Despite that setback, Charlton continued to push and ask questions of the Birmingham defence, but were unable to find an equalise.
Charlton: Whitehouse; Neville, Skeels, N’Dow (Azzaro 82), Mason; Korhonen (Fitzgerald 62), Flannery, van Egmond (Kenney 62), Davidson, Hutton; Lockwood (Lobato 71)
Subs (not used): Koivunen, Pedersen, Robe, Humphrey, Waldie
Birmingham City: Baggaley, Levasseur, Cooke (Leidhammar 46), Lee (Amano 64), Naalsund, Crosthwaite, McKenna, Turner, Hurtré, Miyagawa, Herron
Subs (not used): Thomas, Startup, Harris, Rastocle, Holloway, Corner, Sarri
Goals: Leidhammar 68
Assist: Crosthwaite 68
Booked: Miyagawa 47 (foul)
Referee: Megan Wilson
Attendance: 1410