Report: Dominant Palace defeat Charlton in Subway Players Cup

Summary:

A heavily rotated Palace side dismantled fellow WSL side Charlton Athletic, with goals from Hopcroft, O'Brien and Lloyd-Smith.

• Potter makes eight changes to the starting lineup, whilst Sharpe is handed the armband
• 12: Cosme snapshot flies wide
• 20: Humphrey takes aim from outside the box, but her shot is too high
• 22: GOAL - Hopcroft scores with a super effort from outside the box
• 45: Fitzgerald gets in behind but makes a mess of her touch and Napier is there to clean up
• HT: Palace 1-0 Charlton
• 50: Bartrip is brave and heads away a dangerous effort amidst a high Charlton boot
• 62: GOAL - O'Brien's strike is deflected past Koivunen and into the net
• 64: Charlton go so close to scoring but are denied by the woodwork
• 90+3: GOAL - Lloyd-Smith puts the icing on the cake with a great finish from outside the box
• FT: Palace 3-0 Charlton

A Shannon O'Brien goal was the difference last week as Palace beat Watford 1-0 in the first game of the League Phase.

Palace went two better this week, beating the Addicks 3-0 under the lights.

Goals from Shanade Hopcroft, Shannon O'Brien and Lexi Lloyd-Smith capped off a very impressive display in South London.

Fresh from her recent call-up to the Ireland squad - Hopcroft bagged the opener with a stunning effort from outside the box on 22 minutes.

The ball landed at her feet from a corner, she took one touch, and fired an effort towards the bottom left corner.

Goalkeeper Anna Koivunen got a hand to it but it wasn't enough. Palace had their lead within 25 minutes.

The visitors began the second-half well and went close on a number of occasions.

Shae Yañez was called into action a number of times and pulled off a string of good saves in the Palace net, whilst substitute Molly Bartrip put in some terrific challenges.

The next goal was crucial - and Palace managed to get it on 62 minutes.

Hard work from Abbie Larkin and O'Brien was rewarded with the two pressing well and winning the ball high.

O'Brien found herself in space in the box and her deflected effort beat the goalkeeper all ends up.

Despite leading by two goals, Palace remained the greater threat and soon added another.

With only seconds remaining on the clock, substitute Lloyd-Smith picked popped up on the left-wing and curled a ball to the back post.

Her effort beat the defenders and the 'keeper and nestled in the bottom corner, marking her third goal in all competitions so far.

This result leaves Palace in second-place in the Subway Players Cup League Phase, only behind Manchester United on goal difference.

Next up for Potter's side is a return to Birmingham as we take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday, 4th October at 14:00 BST.

Tickets for that game can be purchased here!

Palace: Yañez (GK), Napier (Goldie, 71), Enge, Sharpe, Howat, Weerden, Cosme, Nolan, Blanchard (O'Brien, 46), Larkin (England, 71), Hopcroft (Bartrip, 46)

Subs: Erhabor (GK), Everett, Lloyd-Smith, Swaby, Moynihan

Charlton: Koivunen (GK), Mason, Johnston (Korhonen, 45), Humphrey, Azzaro (Hutton, 63), Kenney, Fitzgerald, Lockwood, Waldie, Neville (Lobato, 63), Robe

Subs: Pedersen (GK), N'Dow, Davidson, Flannery, Nelson-Iye