Charlton Women begin their league programme at The Valley on Sunday against newly promoted Portsmouth (kick off 2pm)

After coming agonisingly close last season the Charlton players will be aware that they need to be sharper out of the blocks this season if they are to gain promotion to the Women's Super League.

Last year, at The Valley in their first game of the season against Sheffield United, they surrendered a 1-0 lead in the 91st minute and thus dropped two points. The following week they drew 0-0 at Reading despite playing against ten women for most of the second half. They were back at The Valley for the third game only to find themselves 0-3 down at half time against Watford. They staged a come back but nevertheless lost 2-3 to the team which would finish bottom of the league in April.  Six wins and one draw from the next seven games saw them shoot up the table but those dropped points at the start were ultimately to prove crucial.

There should be plenty of optimism in the camp after the team held WSL outfit Aston Villa to a 2-2 draw at The Valley last Sunday.

https://www.charltonafc.com/news/match-report-charlton-2-aston-villa-2

It is risky to draw conclusions from friendlies but they have every right draw confidence from that result which, but for a 95th minute Villa goal, would have been a win.  Conceding late goals, however, was a bit of an Achilles heal last season and Karen Hills will surely be looking for greater fitness and better game management this time around.

Tickets for the Portsmouth game are available here:

https://booking.cafc.co.uk/en-GB/categories/Womens%20Home%20Games

Why not get down to The Valley and help form a bumper crowd which helps carry our women through to a three point start?