• Albion exit the Premier League Cup at the quarter-final stage.
• Albion are beaten after second-half strikes from Kit Graham and Rosie Paye.
• Fliss Gibbons and Charlotte Gurr were denied in one-on-one situations.
• The next match is against Chichester City in the Sussex Challenge Cup Final on 12th March.
*
ALBION 0*
CHARLTON 2
Graham ‘47
Paye ‘60
*
*
Brighton & Hove Albion women’s hopes of Premier League Cup glory were ended as Charlton Athletic won 2-0 in a quarter-final tie at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre.
The game started on a lively note with chances for both sides; Kit Graham’s long-range strike went just past the right-hand post, before Fliss Gibbons fired an attempt straight at Addicks goalkeeper Megen Lynch after being played through one-on-one.
Perry then had another opportunity to break the deadlock after the ball was played out towards the full-back on the left-hand side, but her strike hit the side-netting.
Albion keeper Faye Baker was called into action and superbly intercepted Addicks forward Sam Pittuck after a poor backpass.
Charlotte Gurr was then played through one-on-one with Lynch, but the forward could only fire a shot straight into the hands of Lynch.
The Addicks still carried a threat going forward as Baker made another fine one-handed stop to deny Graham from close range.
Gibbons was next to test Lynch with a low strike from distance, before Pittuck slipped inside the box just as she was about to latch onto Graham’s cross into the box.
Perry troubled the Charlton defence throughout the first half, after seeing her shot cleared off the line before forcing Lynch into a fine, fingertip save.
Amy Taylor then blasted an effort over the crossbar from Gurr’s corner before Jay Blackie's audacious bicycle kick went wide of the post.
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But Albion made the worst-possible start to the second half when Graham’s strike from distance was caught by the wind and sailed past Baker just two minutes after the restart.The Londoners then had a chance to double their advantage just prior to the hour mark as Pittuck was played through one-on-one with Baker, but the Albion keeper made a fine left-handed save.
Charlton did score a second just a minute later though, when Rosie Paye rose highest inside the box to head home from a corner in the 60th minute.
The Seagulls sought to quickly reduce the deficit and some tremendous work by Charley Boswell on the right flank set up a chance for Kirsty Barton, but her glancing header went wide of the post.
Charlton had opportunities to extend their lead; Pittuck and Graham were both played through in one-on-one situations, but some fine defending from Boswell and Deanna Cooper kept the score at 2-0.
Danielle Carlton delivered a dangerous corner into the path of Lucy Somes, who showed some great persistence inside the box before sliding an effort wide.
Carlton then set up Owen with a chance, but she could not get the ball under control and the Addicks progressed into the semi-finals.
*
ALBION: Baker; Boswell, D Cooper, C Cooper (Somes 71), Taylor, Perry; Barton, Blackie, Carlton; Gurr (Owen 63), Gibbons. Sub not used: Rowe.
[h=3]ALBION V DERBY
[/h] TUESDAY 3RD MARCH, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]ALBION V WOLVES
[/h] SATURDAY 14TH MARCH, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]ALBION V NORWICH CITY
[/h] FRIDAY 3RD APRIL, KICK-OFF 3PM
Original article