The Addicks returned to winning ways with a 1-0 triumph over Durham at Maiden Castle on Sunday afternoon.
Elisha N’Dow put Charlton ahead in the sixth minute with a towering header at the back post, separating the sides as Karen Hills’ Addicks bounced back from last weekend’s defeat against Reading.
The Addicks drew first blood with their first clear-cut chance of the afternoon. A superb header was looped towards the back post from Kate Longhurst for N’Dow to rise above the opposing defender and head home early on.
Durham were next to threaten, as Mollie Lambert surged down the right flank. The forward hammered a cross across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.
As the clock approached the half-hour mark, Melisa Filis was next to test Noaisha McAloon in between the Durham sticks, though her curling effort was claimed by the stopper.
Charlton continued to threaten with the interval looming, firstly Kayleigh Barton was threaded in behind and the forward honed in on the Durham box before firing low and hard, which was saved by McAloon.
Just moments later, the Durham stopper was called into action once again as Kate Longhurst sent a looping header towards the back post.
The hosts came out after the interval strong and looked threatening on the counter. However, it was the Addicks who posed the first threat of the second-half. An impressive passage of play saw substitute Tegan McGowan square for Barton, whose backheel flick drifted just wide of the post.
As the final whistle approached, the home side accumulated a handful of opportunities, forcing Jessica Gray into making several important saves, the first of which came in the 80th minute as Claire Ditchburn’s side countered with pace. Some neat work in the midfield saw the ball slipped out wide for Beth Hepple and the midfielder rifled an effort goalwards, forcing Gray into making a huge save.
Some goalline heroics from Beth Roe saw the Addicks’ nerves settled as additional time drew closer. Lily Crosthwaite’s drilled effort found its way through a sea of bodies in the box, but fortunately for the Addicks Roe was there to clear off the line.
In the dying embers, Gray produced another outstanding save yet again to deny Amy Andrews one-on-one, securing three points on the road and a clean sheet.
Charlton: Gray, N’Dow, Skeels, McKenna, Roe, Longhurst (Bashford 75), Ross, Addison (McGowan 60), Humphrey (McGowan 60), Filis, Barton (Johnson 75)
Subs (not used): Rogers, O’Rourke, Muya, Pearse, Ayisi
Goal: N’Dow 6
