By Sheffield Utd FC

United Women fell to defeat at home to Charlton Athletic as a second half goal from Ellie Brazil was the difference in a match of fine margins at Bramall Lane.

Head coach Ash Thompson made one change to his team as debutant Charlotte Wardlaw came in, and the Blades started well against a side well fancied to be up the top end of the league again this season, a dangerous early free-kick from Abbie Lafayette drifting behind as it looked like Molly Graham was pulled down inside the box.

Monique Robinson saw a low effort well blocked after running onto a lay off from Ellen Molloy, while Maria Farrugia was lively again, skipping past defenders and driving United up the field.

Charlton did enjoy plenty of the ball and got into some good areas, but Sian Rogers remained relatively untested against her former club as the game reached half-time.

United started the second half well as Molloy twice went close, first seeing a low shot held before curling inches wide after intercepting a cross in from Grace Foy.

But less than a minute later Charlton broke up field and find the decisive strike as Brazil found the far corner from a tight angle and gave United plenty of work to do to get back in the game against a backline which went unbeaten away from home last season.

Eva Butler was introduced along with another debutant in academy graduate Isla Phillips, but the Blades couldn't find the equaliser late on as the visitors held out.


Blades: Rogers, Cowan, Lafayette (Phillips 86), Kinzett, Graham (Connolly-Jackson 90), Wardlaw, Farrugia, Robinson, Molloy, Wilding (Butler 71), Foy.
Unused: Davies, Page, Mackreth.

United Women 0-1 Charlton - match action