Oxford United Women were eliminated from the Adobe Women’s FA Cup in the Fifth Round as Lucy Fitzgerald’s penalty saw Charlton Athletic through to the Quarter Finals.
Facing the side ten points clear at the top of WSL 2, United made the unbeaten Addicks work hard for their victory, and it never looked like there was a gap over more than a division between the two sides.
United started strongly and the first 15 minutes were spent largely in the Charlton half, with Grace Palmer and Holly Manders driving the side forward from midfield.
Goalkeeper Bethany-May Wookey had a quieter half than she might have anticipated, and as half time approached, it was the U’s asking most of the questions. First, a Maisey Barker left-wing cross was spilled by Charlton keeper Anna Pedersen, but she managed to grab hold of the ball with Nicole Barrett closing in.
Then, a minute before the break, Emma Thompson managed to get a shot away but it was too close to Pedersen, who collected the ball with no problem.
The worry was that the visitors had another gear to find and that they would put Oxford under pressure in the second half, and that proved to be the case.
The Addicks were aggressive in the press, forcing the U’s defence into the occasional error, although the United back line looked composed when they were able to pass the ball around the pacy Charlton forwards.
Ten minutes into the second half came the closest call yet as a corner was headed back towards goal and Wookey had to dive to her left to palm the ball aside, having seen it late through the crowd in front of her.
Despite the visitors’ pressure, Oxford had their moments when they were able to break clear, and Thompson came close to getting on the end of a Manders cross at the back post.
However, with 15 minutes remaining, disaster struck for the Yellows following a goalmouth scramble, as the ball struck Palmer’s outstretched arm on the goal line, leaving the referee with no option but to award a penalty to the visitors and show the United Player of the Match the red card.
Fitzgerald coolly converted the spot kick and, with the extra player, Charlton controlled the final few minutes of the match, without unduly troubling Wookey’s goal again.
A disappointing result, but a performance that the team can be proud of as they took the WSL 2 leaders all the way.
United: Wookey, Gibson, Wiseman, Bedeau, Casley (Kendell 89), Barrett (Sealey 82), Thompson, Palmer, Barker (Provan 82), Bussey (Richardson 63), Manders
