West Ham United 0 Charlton 5
Karen Hills' Addicks scored five goals to secure an impressive pre-season victory over Women's Super League side West Ham United as Charlton prepare for the start of the 2023/24 season.
Hills' side dominated possession in the opening moments, taking a 1-0 lead within the first two minutes as Kiera Skeels executed a superb header from a corner.
Just moments after Charlton's goal, West Ham nearly equalised with a powerful shot from the 18-yard box. However, Sian Rogers showcased her skills by leaping and expertly tipping the ball over the post.
As the half went on, it became a tightly contested affair with Charlton goalkeeper, Rogers, making another impressive double-punch save to keep the Addicks ahead.
While the match remained in the balance it was Charlton who went into the break with a one-goal lead.
With some well-timed substitutions, Charlton maintained a high level of possession and continued to press West Ham. This pressure eventually paid off in the 68th minute when Freda Ayisi delivered a fantastic assist to Melissa Johnson inside the box. Johnson made no mistake and slotted the ball home, putting Charlton in a commanding position with a 2-0 lead.
In the 71st minute, Charlton displayed some brilliant teamwork once again. Johnson and Ayisi combined effectively. Ayisi cleverly rolled the ball into Johnson's path, and Johnson made no mistake as she pulled the trigger and scored her second goal of the game.
West Ham were finding it difficult to progress past their own half, and Charlton took advantage of this. Kate Longhurst took a shot from the 10 yard box that hit the crossbar and rebounded near the penalty spot. The ball was perfectly recovered by Angela Addison, who calmly slotted it back into the net, giving Charlton a lead of 4-0 with 15 minutes remaining.
In the final moments of the game, with just nine minutes left, Charlton added another. Addison received a long ball and with precision and finesse, she chipped the ball over the goalkeeper, resulting in Charlton's final goal of the afternoon. This remarkable display of skill and composure not only showcased Addison's talent but also highlighted Charlton's determination to maintain their dominance until the very end.
It was an outstanding performance by the Addicks from start to finish. Their teamwork, goal-scoring prowess, and ability to exploit their opponent's weaknesses were on full display. The Addicks host Sheffield United at The Valley in their opening league game of the season on Sunday, August 27th. Click here to get your tickets.
