The Charlton women’s team clinched the FA Women’s Premier League (FAWPL) South title on Sunday after beating Crystal Palace 4-0 at the H2T Stadium.
Kit Graham netted all four goals, with the final strike being her 200th for the Addicks in just 207 games. It’s the second time in as many weeks Charlton have beaten their south-east London counterparts, after winning the Capital Cup trophy against them last weekend.
Charlton started the game brightly and took the lead after just eight minutes. Palace were unable to clear their lines in the box and Graham capitalised on the loose ball to calmly fire past goalkeeper Megen Lynch.
The Addicks dominated possession of the ball, though Katie Startup was called into action 20 minutes in when she was quick off her line to beat Gemma Bryan to a loose ball in the area.
Crystal Palace tried to find their way through the half, but Charlton were strong defensively and cut out any showings of a Palace attack.
Two minutes after the restart, Charlton went 2-0 up. Nicole Pepper floated in a perfect free-kick which found Graham, whose header flew past Lynch.
Five minutes later, Graham got her hat-trick when her thunderous strike from the edge of the box was just too powerful for Lynch.
Just before the hour mark, Graham secured her double century for the club. She neatly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make it 4-0 to the Addicks.
Startup was caught off her line in the 61st minute when Bryan tried her luck from distance, luckily the England U19 international got back quickly enough to tip the ball onto the bar and away from danger.
Charlton dominated the rest of the game with neat passing moves, and almost made it five when Griffin sent in a driven cross to Charlotte Gurr, who blasted over.
The Addicks have two home games remaining. Gillingham on Wednesday, May 16th and Chichester on Sunday, May 20th. They will then face Blackburn Rovers in an FAWPL Championship play-off at Brammall Lane, Sheffield on Sunday, May 27th.
Charlton: Startup, Lukasewich (Dixson 89), Coombs, Clifford, Gurr, Churchill, Pittuck, Pepper, Graham (Lee 82), Bennett (Nash 64), Griffin.
Subs (not used): Brunton-Wilde, Parreno-Espinosa.