A late Atlanta Primus goal was enough for the hosts to take all three points in a narrow 1-0 victory over the Addicks.
Charlton, a player down after Freda Ayisi had been sent off, were unfortunate to see a thunderous Keira Skeels free-kick cannon back off the crossbar before Primus struck five minutes from time to secure a win for the hosts.
Charlton had the first chance of the game when a Beth Roe cross was bundled wide.
Primus had a shot blocked wide and the resulting corner flicked off Sarah Ewens’ head and trickled into Sian Rogers’ arms. Kyra Carusa then had a couple of chances, most notably one from point-blank range that was brilliantly saved by Rogers’ legs.
Charlton’s bright spark was Angela Addison, marauding down the left flank. The winger was the provider for the best chance her side had in the first 45, with one cross finding Roe at the far post but the full-back could only blaze over.
With minutes remaining in the half, a goalmouth scramble from a corner saw Rogers save well and then a shot blocked before Lois Roche headed clear.
A bright start to the second half by the Addicks saw Skeels head a corner goalwards before Johnson was played in for a chance that was saved by Yanez.
Charlton should have opened the scoring just before the hour mark when Bashford started a good move that saw the ball find Addison, whose effort spun to Lauren Bruton. The midfielder’s shot in turn found Johnson at the back post, but Yanez just managed to scramble the ball past the post for a corner.
Ayisi was shown two yellow cards in quick succession on 63 minutes when she brought Primus down with a late tackle.
There was 10 minutes left on the clock when Emma Follis was brought down inches outside the penalty area. Skeels stepped up to take the free kick and powered it goalwards, but was unlucky to see the ball crash against the woodwork.
The winning goal came five minutes later when Primus’ first-time shot from 20 yards out went through a wall of players and nestled in the bottom corner of Rogers’ net.
Charlton: Rogers, N’Dow, Johnson, Simpkins (Logan 89), Ayisi, Bruton (Follis 74), Addison (Hennessy 89), Skeels, Roche (Bashford 46), O’Rourke, Roe.
Subs (not used): Gray, Lindbaek, Bashford, Henson, Ross.
London City Lionesses: Yanez, Neville, Girasoli (Napier 58), Rodgers, Carusa, Bennett, Nolan, Ewens (Muya 58), Primus, Joel (Shepherd 74), Hopcroft.
Subs (not used): Cull, Fitzgerald, Heuchan, Kitching
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