Karen Hills’ Addicks returned to winning ways with a dominant 3-1 win against Blackburn Rovers at The Valley on Sunday afternoon.
Gracie Pearse, Jodie Hutton and Kayleigh Barton were on all on the scoresheet in SE7, as Tyler Toland netted for the visitors.
We took the lead inside 21 minutes through some superb control from Pearse. Hutton’s corner delivery was whipped into the path of the defender who was able to pluck the ball from the air and poke home our first of the afternoon.
Sophie Whitehouse was called into action moments later, denying the away side with a superb save. Georgia Walters found herself alone in the box, letting fly with a thunderous strike toward the near post, forcing a vital stop from the keeper.
Hutton added our second of the afternoon with the interval looming as she stood over a free-kick 25 yards out. The wing-back, already with an assist under her belt, whipped a curling effort toward the far post, finding the top corner with a sensational strike.
The defender continued to push for the Addicks’ third and her second of the afternoon as she blitzed past the Rovers’ defence after the break. Finding herself one-on-one with the Blackburn stopper, she cannoned and effort into the keeper’s palms ahead of the hour mark.
Karin Muya was in on the action shortly after as she cut in from the flank onto her left foot. Beating the full-back with some neat dribbling, Muya let fly with a low strike, forcing for an important save.
Mary Bashford entered the fray with 22 minutes left on the clock and the midfielder was quick to threaten for the Addicks, clipping the underside of the bar with a well-taken strike on the edge of the box.
Barton was on hand to round off our scoring as stoppage time approached. Two substitutes combined as Gloria Siber nodded on a flick on to the experienced forward, seeing Barton make no mistake in front of goal, finding the back of the net with a slotted finish.
The Addicks’ hopes of a clean sheet win were halted deep into additional time as a set-piece saw the ball fall into the path of Toland at the back post, allowing for a simple finish on the cusp of the full-time whistle.
Charlton: Whitehouse; N’Dow (Barton 46), Skeels (c), Pearse; Newsham, Filis (Bashford 82), Bradley, Hutton; Bissell (Chime 90+3), Brazil (Humphries 90+3), Muya (Siber 82)
Subs (not used): Gray, Stables
Goals: Pearse 21, Hutton 40, Barton 88
Attendance: 432
