Charlton Athletic Women fight back to draw 2-2 against Blackburn
Melissa Johnson’s close-range strike rescued a point for Charlton in a 2-2 draw against lowly Blackburn Rovers in the Women’s Championship.
Quality first-half goals from Millie Chandarana and Saffron Jordan gave Rovers a two-goal cushion at the break.
But the Addicks were relentless in the second half and goals from Emily Simpkins and striker Johnson brought them level.
Chandarana opened the scoring for Blackburn in the 22nd minute against the run of play, pinching the ball from her opponent Beth Roe before curling the ball into the top-right corner from outside the box.
Momentum swayed, and just six minutes later Jordan struck a beautiful volley off her right foot into the same corner to double the lead for Gemma Donnelly’s side.
Despite Charlton regaining control, the next big chance of the half went Rovers’ way too. Jade Richards hit the bar from a corner before the rebound was skewed wide.
The home side did come close before the break, when Johnson poked wide after some good wing-play by substitute Tegan McGowan.
Karen Hills’ side started the second half quickly. Freda Ayisi won a penalty within five minutes, and Simpkins converted.
The home side kept pushing, and eventually levelled the score with 20 minutes to go, with Johnson smuggling the ball in from a busy six-yard box following a corner.
Johnson had another effort in stoppage time, but Shanell Salgado saved on the line to leave the Charlton comeback only partially complete.
Unfortunately we didn’t come out of the blocks in the first half, and obviously credit to Blackburn for taking those two goals.
Charlton manager Karen Hills said: “We can’t afford at this level to give a team a two goal headstart.
“We recognise that as a group and I thought the girls when we took them in at half time, they took on all the information we asked them to. They came out and they showed that togetherness.”
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PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
