Newly promoted Ipswich Town visit The Valley this Sunday (2pm kick off) and the two sides could not be further apart in the very early season form charts.
The Tractor Girls have so far struggled with the step up to the WSL 2. They have lost both their games and shipped five goals without response. Last weekend, Charlton followed up derby day delight with a 2-1 win in Durham.
The first half performance at Maiden Castle, Durham was uninspiring to say the least and Beth Hepple’s 100th goal for Durham was the only real moment of excitement, bar a couple of dangerous but overhit corners for the Addicks. Substitutions again proved the turning point for Karen Hills’ side, with Gillian Kenney and Lucy Fitzgerald both scoring their maiden goals off the bench. It must be noted that Charlotte Newsham had a particularly impressive game and seemed a real threat down the right hand side.
Newsham will be facing a familiar foe on Sunday with former Addick Beth Roe making her return to The Valley, this time in the blue of the visiting team. Former teammates have been bad luck for Roe already with Ellie Brazil, Mary Bashford and Atlanta Primus causing damage in Southampton’s 4-0 win over the Suffolk side on opening day.
Karen Hills will have some selection headaches this week. Not only will Katie Bradley be back from suspension but her side have looked better after making changes in both games so far. It could be argued that Hills wants to keep things tight before introducing attacking impetus from the bench but that is a risky game to play. If there is any match to attack from the off then surely this is it, and Fitzgerald, Kenney and Mary McAteer will be desperate to be in the starting eleven.
Tickets for this weekends fixtures can be purchased here:
Or at the ticket office on match day.