Ipswich Town 1-1 Charlton Althetic
By Ben Tattoo for Impetus at the JobServe Stadium (19/2/26)
Above: Ipswich celebrate after going 1-0 up Photo: Ipswich FC
Fearless Ipswich Town held top of the league Charlton Athletic, with Gillian Kenney’s late equaliser cancelling out Paige Peake’s well-taken penalty at the JobServe Stadium. Both sides shrugged off the bitterly cold wind and rain to play out an entertaining draw, with Charlton salvaging their unbeaten league record in the process.
The Teams
Ipswich made a whopping nine new signings in the January Transfer window, and handed full debuts to two of them, with Kit Graham starting in midfield and Ava Baker lining up on the left wing.
Lucy O’Brien also came into the side to start at number 10, with Colette Cavanagh, Lucy Ashworth-Clifford and Natasha Thomas dropping to the bench.
Charlton were unchanged from their 4-2 win over Durham and lined up in their familiar 4-4-2 shape. Lucy Fitzgerald led the line with Kenney after scoring four goals in her previous three games.
An entertaining draw
Ipswich made early inroads, playing through the midfield several times and forcing a couple of corners. Ipswich were trying to keep the ball on the ground, while the away side were prepared to look more direct and win second balls.
Charlton came the close to opening in the scoring in the 10th minute, when Natalia Negri dropped an in-swinging corner in the six-yard box and Town were fortunate to scramble the ball away.
Baker then weaved her way into the Athletic box before snapping a shot at goal that was well blocked. The home side kept the pressure on and got their rewards when O’Brien was felled in the box by Elisha N’Dow after the Addicks had failed to clear the ball
Town had to wait for their chance to open the scoring, with Karin Muya needing treatment for an injury, but Peake wasn’t phased by the delay, confidently tucking the ball into the bottom corner, with Sophie Whitehouse diving the wrong way.
Town continued to apply the pressure and Graham fired a crisp shot from range that flew wide of the post.
Baker was causing all sorts of problems down the left and in the 32nd minute, she showed her attacking variety, launching a dangerous cross from deep, but Rhianna Dean failed to get a meaningful connection on her shot.
Charlton countered quickly and with their best move of the match so far. Muya played a slick one-two with Charlotte Newsham before seeing her goal bound drive was blocked heroically by Megan Wearing.
Charlton should have been level after creating two excellent chances right before half time.
First, Fitzgerald headed Newsham’s cross powerfully against the crossbar with Negri beaten, then Muya was slipped into the box by Kenney, but the midfielder could only find the side netting from an excellent position.
Both sides made changes at half-time, with Ipswich introducing another new signing into the mix as Princess Ademiluyi, on loan from Gotham, replaced Dean. Chalton’s change came at the back, with Kiera Skeels replacing Lucia Lombato.
As the second half began Charlton showed their intent early on, with Kenney finding space in the box but her low shot was deflected wide by Negri.
In the 58th minute huge opportunity for Ipswich came and went. Maria Boswell delivered a dangerous ball into the box and Ademiluyi beat the advancing Whitehouse to the ball, but the striker headed wide.
Ipswich threw on Jamaica international Thomas for O’Brien as they shifted formation to a 4-4-2 and looked to get the ball forward more quickly.
They were causing havoc from the right-hand side, and another good ball from Boswell found Thomas who headed over.
Ademiluyi and Thomas then used their pace and power to great effect, linking up well down the left to put the Charlton defence on the back foot. This move led to Sophie Peskett receiving the ball centrally, and the winger jinked inside a defender before seeing her rasping shot tipped over by Whitehouse.
The visitors finally began claw their way back into the game as manager Karen Hills made a raft of changes to bring on fresh legs.
First, Emma Bissel, on for Muya, delivered a tantalising cross that eluded everyone and was gratefully gathered by Negri, then the impressive Sophie Bradley drilled a shot just wide from range.
Eventually their pressure paid off. Bradley was again influential, driving towards the right flank before releasing Newsham behind the defensive line and her deadly cross was headed into the bottom corner by Kenney.
Ipswich attacked immediately and had the ball in the net just a minute later, but Ademiluyi’s goal was ruled out due to her handling the ball before she shot.
Wearing’s late injury slowed down what would have been a frantic finish, and both sides had to settle for a draw.
Analysis
It was always going to be a tactically interesting game between two of the most counter-attacking sides in the division who both prefer for the opposition to have the majority of the ball. In their past three matches combined, Ipswich had averaged 34% possession. Charlton had averaged 36%.
Despite the home side lying in 11th place and the away side topping the table, a novice observer would not have been able to tell which was which.
This was Ipswich’s fourth league game unbeaten under new boss David Wright and the Blues look full of confidence. What they lacked though, was a cutting edge in front of goal, with just two of the home side’s 10 shots hitting the target.
Charlton have by far the league’s meanest defence, Peake’s penalty was just the 10th goal Athletic have conceded in the WSL in 16 matches, but Ipswich worked the ball into dangerous positions time and time again and if they keep performing like this, they stand every chance of staying up this season.
For the Addicks, the point puts them nine points clear of second placed Birmingham City, who have a game in hand. With just seven games remaining, they look comfortable favourites to get promoted to the WSL.
Player of the game: Katie Bradley
In an even game, where few players stood out, Bradley was a driving force for Athletic and she was essential for their ball progression. She played a crucial role in the build up to the equaliser and her 8 /15 duals won, shows her huge contribution to her teams’ defensive efforts.
TEAMS: IPSWICH TOWN (4-2-3-1): Negri, Boswell (c), Peake, Wearing, Roe, Graham, Mitchell, O’Brien, Peskett, Baker, Dean. Substitutes: Ademiluyi (for Dean 45’), Meena (for Graham 59’), Thomas (for O’Brien 59’), Ashworth-Clifford (for Baker 70’), Cavanagh (for Mitchell 82’).
Scorer: 1-0 Peake 18′
CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Whitehouse (c), Newsham, N’Dow, Lobato, Mason, Hutton, Flannery, Bradley, Muya, Kenney, Fitzgerald. Substitutes: Skeels (for Lobato 45’), Bissell for (Muya 70’), Lockwood (for Flannery 70’), McAteer (for Hutton 82’), Thestrup (for Fitzgerald 82’).
Scorer: 1-1 Kenney 83’
Follow Impetus on social media:
@ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram and TikTok.
impetusfootball.org 