Charlton signed off their pre-season campaign with a narrow 2-1 loss to West Ham United at The Oakwood on Sunday.
A brace from Yui Hasagawa cancelled out an early Heidi Logan opener as the Hammers came away from their trip across the Thames with a victory.
Charlton made a bright start, pressing West Ham from inside the first minute. Kiera Skeels provided a chance after just 30 seconds that just evaded Melissa Johnson and the defender covered.
The opening stages were even and cagey, but it was the Addicks that took the initiative, taking the lead after 10 minutes. The tenacious Angela Addison closed down the West Ham full-back well and played in Sophie O’Rourke, who took advantage of a slip from Hammers keeper Mackenzie Arnold.
Arnold did well to save O’Rourke’s shot on the turn, but the ball fell kindly for Logan, who slammed home coolly.
West Ham worked their way into the contest after that, finding joy playing the ball over the top of the hosts’ back line and running onto it. They could only find a resolute last line of defence, however.
The first of those balls found Viviane Asseyi in space, but the striker could only lob high and wide, before Hannah Godfrey got back well to deny Izzy Atkinson on the line.
Sian Rogers then foiled Asseyi before Beth Roe did well to clear off the line.
The final few moments were end-to-end, as Logan fed Mia Ross who curled wide, Addison dragged a shot wide when one-on-one with Arnold and Emma Follis fired a free-kick straight at the stopper.
West Ham had chances, too, notably when Atkinson fired into the side netting moments before the half-time whistle went.
The equaliser came not far into the second period, as the home side took a while to wake up. Substitute Keira Flannery saw an effort well saved by Rogers but the resulting corner saw Hasegawa flick home to level the tie.
The leveller did wake Charlton up and they had a few good chances. Addison was played through on goal but Arnold did well to save, while some good build-up play saw the ball spread out wide for Roe who’s cross was flicked just over by Johnson’s head.
In between those two, another Godfrey block foiled Hammers replacement Claudia Walker.
Rogers continued in excellent form through the second half, saving well from Walker and Hasegawa.
Chances kept on coming for Charlton, too, the best of which fell again to Addison, who, once more, could only trouble the side netting.
The winning goal came six minutes from time when Hasegawa curled an unstoppable free kick into the corner of the goal, giving substitute Poppy Soper no chance.
Charlton: Rogers (Soper 80), Johnson (Ayisi 68), Follis (Bashford 80), Simpkins, Addison, Logan (Henson 68), Skeels, O’Rourke, Roe, Godfrey (N’Dow 68), Ross.
West Ham United: Arnold (Hillyerd 75), Smith (Houssein 65), Stringer (Hennessy 65), Brynjarsdottir (Flannery 33), Atkinson, Longhurst, Hasegawa, Kyvag (Evans 46), Fisk, Cissoko, Asseyi (Walker 46)
Attendance: 315
The Addicks will return to the Oakwood to take on London City Lionesses on Sunday, August 28th (4.30pm). Click here to purchase your tickets
Supporters are encouraged, where possible, to purchase tickets in advance - with match tickets subject to a £2 increase on the day of the fixture.
Fans looking for best value can still purchase purchase a season ticket to get behind Karen Hills' side ahead during the forthcoming Barclays Women's Championship campaign.
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