Blues are finally back in the WSL after four years out of the top fight a Wilma Liedhammar brace got Blues to win WSL2 Championship on the final day and getting their first win over Charlton in the league at the six time of asking in Charlton’s back yard in front of a record crowd 3,615 at the valley. Amy made three changes with Martha Harris, Lee Geum-Min and Batcheba Louis all coming back into the squad.
FIRST HALF
The first chance of the game came for the hosts when former blues player Ellie Mason shot was saved by Lucy Thomas in the 2nd minute.
In the 13th minute a Lee Geum-Min shot from outside of the box misses towards the left-hand post.
Charlton stated the game better than us came close and had another chance in the 17th minute had a brilliant opportunity when a Jodie Hutton free kick found the head of Ellie Mason but goes wide of the left-hand post.
Blues respond well and could have taken the lead when a Lily Crosthwaite cross found Oceane Hurtre whose shot was well saved by Sophie Whitehouse the rebound came back to Hurtre whose shot was well defended really well from Charlotte Newsham for a corner in the 25th minute.
But two minutes later Blues took the lead when Oceane Hurtre beat Newsham for pace and her cross landed on the head of Wilma Liedhammar who outpower Jodie Hutto to give Blues the lead.
Blues were growing into the game and in the 30th minute another a chance for Blues when a Batcheba Louis shot was easily saved from Whitehouse..
But in the 38th Sophie Whitehouse earned her money when a free kick on the edge of the box was hit by Wilma Liedhammar and Whitehouse tipped it onto the bar the ball rebounded to Louis and her effort went over the bar a phenomenal save by Whitehouse.
The last chance of the first half was a corner from Oceane Hurtre which landed on the head Neve Herron which went over the bar.
HALF TIME CHARLTON ATHLETIC WOMEN 0-1 BLUES WOMEN
SECOND HALF
The first chance of the second half was the girls in blue doubling their lead when another corner from Oceane Hurtre found the head ofLee Geum-Min which found Wilma Liedhammar who turned and found the top corner of the net and the Sweden international got herself a brace a great goal for Blues to score but a bad goal defensively for Charlton to conceded.
Two minutes later in the 56th minute another great chance for Blues to make it 0-3 when a Lily Crosthwaite ball into the box found its way to Asato Miyagawa but her effort landed on top of the net.
The next real chance came in the 72nd minute when an Oceane Hurtre corner was headed wide by Wilma Liedhammar looking for her hat trick.
Charlton’s first chance of the second half came in the 78th minute when a Katie Bradley shot went of the post.
The next chance for Charlton came in the 89th minute when a long range shot from Ellie Mason just whistles pass the post.
In the 102nd minute a Katie Bradley free kick was well saved from Lucy Thomas and went out for a thrown in.
The last nerve moment was a Bradley free kick in the 105th minute but it was cleared away and the referee blow the final whistle, and Blues were back into the WSL.
FULL TIME CHARLTON ATHLETIC WOMEN 0-2 BLUES WOMEN
MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
We are finally back where we belong in the WSL2 after a 4-year absence from the WSL and it is great to be back and it was great to see people like Christie Harrison-Murray who was on the bench yesterday and people like Louise Quinn and Kerys Harrop who felt the difficulty under the previous ownership and especially Christie who has been a great ambassador for are great club who has been everything you want in a blues player guts determination and what you want from a Blues Women’s Captain we needed are experience players turning on Saturday and showing up there experience in Martha Harris & Shaade Hopcroft winning there second WSL2 title. But also, some of the recruitment like my player of the season Lily Crosthwaite and I said when we got her from Durham it was a huge capture for us shows the quality on and off the ball . Yes, players will leave the club and some we know about already in Lucy Quinn announcing this week she will be leaving the club at the end of the season and a great servant for are great club but we need quality in small portions when we are in the WSL nothing to crazy like the Lionesses this season. And we also have to give credit to the gaffer Amy Merricks who has to make the hard decisions after last some us fans were disappointed in. But we have finally gotten over the line. And we be finally playing the likes of Man United Arsneal Chelsea and the rest in the best league in Womens football and its going to be a hell of a ride.
MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Oceane Hurtre I think she was unreal on Saturday her work rate was relentless and her set piece deliverers were unreal and deserves the player of the match.
STEPHEN GILL KRO