Report: Bethany England strikes late to beat Charlton

Match reports

4 hours ago

England 90'

Everett 81'

Lloyd-Smith 57'

Davidson 74'

N'Dow 73'

A Bethany England finish at the death sealed all three points for Palace in a dramatic 3-2 win over Charlton in the Barclays Women's Super League.

Summary:

Sharpe is handed her first WSL start of the season, whilst England drops to the bench.

2: Kenney's effort is saved as Charlton start quick
10: Goldie's header hits the post before Larkin misses from close-range after a dangerous set-piece
30: The visitors work a decent opportunity, but the flag is up as Hutton fires wide
36: Flannery's effort from outside the box is caught by Peyraud-Magnin
45: O'Brien heads wide after a superb cross from Sharpe
HT: Palace 0-0 Charlton
51: Successive Palace corners pile the pressure on Charlton, but the visitors hold firm
57: GOAL - Lloyd-Smith's cross-come-shot is turned in by Whitehouse
71: Goal - Flannery hits the bar from the penalty but N'Dow heads in the rebound
74: Goal - Davidson puts Charlton ahead from a rebound
81: GOAL - Everett heads in from a corner and the game is level once more
90: GOAL - England reacts first to Everett's knockdown and puts Palace ahead
FT: Palace 3-2 Charlton

The 360 Engage Stadium was treated to a firecracker of a game as a late Bethany England goal wrapped up all three points for the Eagles.

A goalless first-half was followed by an action-packed second, with five goals scored.

We took the lead via Lexi Lloyd-Smith's cross being mishandled by Sophie Whitehouse, before Elisha N'Dow and Leah Davidson scored to put the Addicks ahead.

Aimee Everett restored parity on 81 minutes with a fine header before England won it on 90 minutes with a finish from close-range.

The first-half was a physical affair, with quality chances coming at a premium.

The visitors had the better of it, with Jodie Hutton and Keira Flannery going close with long-range efforts - with Palace struggling to find that final pass.

Our best chance of the opening 45 fell to Teyah Goldie, whose header crashed against the post on ten minutes.

Abbie Larkin tried to follow it in, but prodded her effort wide from close-range.

Palace could have stolen ahead just before the break, after Molly-Mae Sharpe curled in a super effort with her weaker left foot.

Shannon O'Brien was on the receiving end of it, but her header flashed just wide of the post.

Nothing could seperate the two sides and the game was 0-0 at half-time.

Palace needed something to fall their way, and on 57 minutes - it did.

With the ball being played exclusively in the Charlton half, Teyah Goldie released Lexi Lloyd-Smith on the left-wing.

The No.7 drove down the line and whipped in a goalbound cross - which Sophie Whitehouse punched into her own net.

The strike marked Lloyd-Smith's fourth of the campaign in all competitions, and her second against the Addicks this season.

It was only to last for 14 minutes though, as Charlton were awarded a penalty after Goldie was adjudged to have brought Cassandra Korhonen down.

Keira Flannery's spot-kick smashed the crossbar, but Elisha N'Dow was on hand to blast home the rebound.

Charlton would then take the lead with their next attack, after Jodie Hutton's effort was parried into the path of Leah Davidson - who scored from point-blank range.

The Eagles had been rocked by a quickfire double and needed a response.

That response came just seven minutes later in the form of captain Aimee Everett.

Lloyd-Smith headed Fuka Tsunoda's corner up into the air, and the skipper reacted quickest to nod the ball home.

Palace were level, but there was to be one final twist to the tale.

As the fourth official's board went up to indicate six minutes, Jo Potter's side were on the attack.

Goldie floated a high ball up to the back post and Everett did extremely well to outjump the defender and head it down into a dangerous area.

Substitute Bethany England was there ready to pounce, and she slid the ball past Whitehouse and into the goal.

There was pandemonium in the stands as England was mobbed by teammates - Palace had won it.

Like our last home league clash, it ended 3-2 and Palace had another huge win in the WSL.

The result moves us up to tenth-place in the league - three points clear of the relegation playoff place.

Next up is a trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the Subway Players Cup on Wednesday before we travel to Manchester United on Saturday, 14th November.

Palace: Peyraud-Magnin (GK), Everett, Lloyd-Smith, Sharpe, Ladd, Blanchard (Hopcroft, 86), Larkin, Goldie, Tsunoda, O'Brien (England, 64), Bartrip

Subs: Yañez (GK), Napier, Enge, Weerden, Cosme, Nolan, Swaby

Charlton: Whitehouse (GK), Johnston, N'Dow, Davidson, Kenney (Neville, 86), Fitzgerald, Hutton, Flannery, Lockwood (Korhonen, 63), Skeels, Lobato

Subs: Koivunen (GK), Mason, Humphrey, Azzaro, van Egmond, Robe