Charlton Athletic: The WSL 2 club is defying the odds in the promotion race

A previous version of this article was published on April 4.

Hardly anyone was talking about Charlton Athletic becoming title contenders before the Women’s Super League 2 season.

So it’s no surprise manager Karen Hills feels it will be “one of the greatest achievements of her career” if they get promoted.

With one game remaining, his side are top of WSL 2 with 42 points, one point ahead of title rivals Birmingham City and Crystal Palace.

Charlton face Birmingham in a huge game on Saturday, 2 May at 15:00 BST, with Crystal Palace taking on Portsmouth at the same time.

As WSL is expanded Of the 12 to 14 teams next season, the top two in WSL 2 will automatically secure promotion to the WSL, while the third-placed team will face WSL side Leicester in the play-offs on Saturday, May 23.

Charlton have led the way for most of the campaign, but their form has dipped significantly with three defeats in their last four matches.

With one of the lowest budgets in the league, competing against big spenders Newcastle United and Birmingham, as well as Crystal Palace, it has already been a remarkable campaign for the Addicks.

“If you’d told me in pre-season we’d be here at this point, I’d have bitten your hand off,” Hills told BBC Sport.

“These players deserve to be where they are. The amount of work they’ve put in, the way they’ve played and the way they’ve executed everything we’ve asked of them, they deserve all the praise and credit.

“If we get promoted I believe it will probably be one of the best achievements of my career.

“Given where the league is at the moment, what other teams have spent and the quality of the players. I think it would be an incredible achievement.”