Charlton Athletic 1 Everton 0

A SOLITARY goal from Charlton’s England striker Eniola Aluko saw the female Addicks crowned FA Cup champions at Upton Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

The 18-year-old, who is expected to be a key member of the national team that competes in this summer’s European Championships despite the fact the tournament coincides with her A-Level exams, scored the decisive goal against opponents Everton in the 58th minute.

She reacted quickest to a long throughball by Maidstone-based centre-half Emma Coss, and when the Toffees goalkeeper opted to remain on her line, Aluko finished coolly from close range.

The goal, and eventual victory, was no more than the Addicks deserved, and after defeat in the past two finals, Charlton finally claimed their first FA Cup trophy.

Strike duo Aluko and Ann-Marie Heatherson, the latter playing her first competitive game since early March, were a real handful and the winning margin would have been greater had two Heatherson efforts not rebounded from the post.

“When you hit posts and bars you start to wonder if it will be your day,” admitted Addicks boss Keith Boanas.

“But we've been in contention for all three trophies in what has been without doubt the toughest ever season in women's football, so after only just missing out on the Premier League Cup and the league again, it would have been a travesty if we'd not cracked it in the FA Cup final. I thought we deserved to win.”

Aluko, who made her debut for the senior England side aged just 17, described scoring the winning goal as the best feeling in the world.

"Once I knew I was going to get a touch before the goalkeeper, it was just a matter of placing it to the side,” she added. "When I saw it was going in it was the best feeling I've ever had in my life by far.”