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Football London
Football London
Sport
Megan Armitage

London City Lionesses derby thriller clouded by Fleming injury

London City Lionesses admitted their dramatic derby win over Charlton Athletic was overshadowed by Charlotte Fleming being rushed off in an ambulance.

Lionesses clawed their way to a 4-3 victory in the Barclays Women's Championship but only after a 30-minute delay for the midfielder to be treated in second-half extra-time.

The 20-year-old clashed with Charlton's Kiera Skeels in the 92nd minute and went down in agony, holding her right leg.

Head coach Melissa Phillips was thrilled with her team's gritty performances but kept Fleming's recovery at the forefront of her mind.

She said: "We don't know anything about Charlotte just yet, she's been taken to be assessed and get a scan, but it didn't look good.

"As much as we're enjoying three points on the road and the response from the team, I think our hearts are all with Charlotte.

"We are hoping for the best and know she is in great hands with our medical team."

The late injury caught the Lionesses cold, and after a lengthy pause in play, Charlton were able to knock another in with a backheel finish by Caroline Henson.

But the visitors' strong start had already sealed them the victory, with four different goalscorers and strong work from set pieces.

Phillips said: "It's always a tough place to come play here, and the way we started the game really put a stamp on it.

"The way Charlton come in our direction, we then really found it in ourselves to get our foot on the ball a bit more, control possession and get within the game.

"We were clinical in pieces today, which was fantastic to see and then the two goals at the end. I think that's an Amy Rodgers special that we've seen all season.

"Fantastic to go up by four, and we were disappointed to concede the third goal, but we kind of wiped that out with the nature that it went at the end."

Jamie Lee-Napier, Atlanta Primus, Amy Rodgers and Lily Agg all found the back of the net in a show of teamwork and passion, according to Phillips.

She said: "It's a team that's unselfish with integrity. There are no egos within the group. It's fantastic to see multiple goal scorers. It doesn't matter where they come from as long as they come.

"And that's true. You look at Atlanta [Primus] when anybody goes down, the next player gets up, and Atlanta stepped in today and was absolutely fantastic and a real key to the game."

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