Charlton Women returned to the top of the Barclays Women’s Championship with a 1-0 success over south London rivals Crystal Palace at the VBS Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Substitute Freda Ayisi produced what proved to be the match-winning moment on 63 minutes, reacting quickest to fire home after her initial effort was saved by Demi Lambourne.
The Addicks started strongly in Sutton and created a number of chances within the opening 10 minutes. The pick of the bunch went to Angela Addison, who rattled the crossbar with a half-volley.
At the other end, Izzy Atkinson could only shoot against the side-netting after being picked out by Shanade Hopcroft.
The game was temporarily suspended on the stroke of first-half stoppage-time as Freya Godfrey required immediate treatment after colliding with a Palace player.
Following an extended break in play, Godfrey was stretchered off and replaced by Kayleigh Green ahead of the restart.
The intensity of the contest continued in the second period and Green almost made an immediate impact. The substitute did well to control the ball in the box before sending a half-volley over the crossbar.
Green was soon involved again, this time running down the right wing and pulling the ball back for Ayisi, whose first shot was kept out by Lambourne but she made no mistake with the rebound to give Charlton the lead.
Karen Hills’ side stood firm to frustrate the Eagles for the remainder of the clash and complete a league double over their neighbours.
Crystal Palace: Lambourne, Reilly (Percival 65), Everett (c), Nolan, Gibbons, Potter, Hopcroft, Blanchard (Guyatt 82), Sharpe (Watson 82), Atkinson (Dennis 65), Hughes
Subs (not used): Negri, Johnson, Filbey, Sibley
Charlton: Rogers, McKenna, N’Dow, Johnson (McGowan 82), Addison (Pearse 88), Humphrey (Ayisi 55) Longhurst (c) (Ross 55), Godfrey (Green 45), Skeels, Roe, Filis
Subs (not used): Gray, Rutherford, Bashford, O’Rourke
Goal: Ayisi 63
Booked: Johnson 75, Ayisi 90