Women’s football: Charlton Athletic unable to upset Brighton in FA Cup quarter-final

Charlton Women were unable to cause an upset in the delayed 2021 FA Cup as Fliss Gibbons’ cracking finish sealed a 1-0 win for Brighton on Wednesday night.

Jess King hit the underside of the bar early on for the Addicks at the People’s Pension Stadium.

Brighton had chances to be ahead before Rinsola Babajide’s header was met with aplomb by Gibbons on the volley, her strike nestling neatly in the corner of the net.

Mia Ross drew a sharp reaction save from Megan Walsh right at the death as Charlton almost forced extra-time, but Brighton completed the job to ensure the semi-finals will be an all-Women’s Super League affair.

Addicks boss Karen Hills said: “I’m extremely proud of them. They worked so hard, and they gave absolutely everything against a very good WSL team that I believe are moving in a positive direction.

“From minute one right to the very end we created some really good chances. You can be disappointed because we lost the game – and no-one likes to lose games – but they put in an amazing shift.

“It would have been a key moment for us if Jess had scored early on.

“But then you’ve still got to play a good Brighton side for another 83 minutes, so there was always going to be the main thing, which was to stay in the game.

“We were physically fit, we got up and down the pitch and we matched them. For a Charlton team, it was one of the best performances that I’ve been involved in.”

To follow the action and sign up for The FA Player’s live Barclay’s FA Women’s Super League coverage visit womenscompetitons.thefa.com