Kayleigh Green’s early second half header and Melissa Johnson’s strike at the death was enough to take all three points back to London as Charlton Athletic Women defeated Southampton Women 2-0 at St Mary’s.
Green met Carla Humphrey’s beautiful curling free kick and the ball cannoned off the crossbar and hit the unfortunate Kayla Rendell into the Saints goal.
It was then Johnson who slotted calmly under Rendell deep into added time to crush the Saints who had been pushing for the equaliser.
The home side enjoyed the best spells of the play in the first half but rarely troubled Sian Rogers between the Charlton net in the second period.
The Addicks stretch their unbeaten run to seven games, with the Saints slipping to 4th after a fourth loss this season.
It was Saints who started the better. Some nice intricate play from jemma Purfield and Katie Wilkinson lead to a cut back just escaping the left boot of Pharoah which would’ve and could’ve been an easy tap-in.
Wilkinson then hit the post twenty minutes in. She caught Charlton goalkeeper Sian Rogers off guard and her long-range strike brushed the outside of the post.
It was the away side who then hit the post minutes later. Humphrey’s corner kick landed in Southampton’s six-yard area and bounced off the post in a frantic panic.
Kayleigh Green had a brilliant chance to take the lead. A lofted ball over the top by Carla Humphreys found its way to the Addicks forward who jabbed the ball over from very close range.
It was then the hosts who had the best chance of the half.
Mott delivered a fantastic ball into the box only for the clearance to be collected y Wilkinson. A quick turn of pace and a few passes later, the Saints’ number 9 slotted through Molly Pike but her shot was well saved by outstretched leg of Sian Rogers.
Southampton’s best chance of the second half was through Lexi Lloyd-Smith who curled an effort just over the bar from outside the box.
Purfield saw her free kick sail just over the bar five minutes from time, with the hosts desperately trying to restore parity.
However, it was substitute Johnson who slotted the ball past Rendell to secure the win for the visitors.
Saints XI: Rendall (g/k), Mott, Parnell (c), Peake, Purfield, Kendall, Peplow (Lloyd-Smith 65′), Pike (Griffiths 65′), Morris (Wynne 81′), Wilkinson (Dean 65′), Pharoah.
Charlton XI: Rogers (g/k), McKenna, Skeels, Roe (N’Dow 45′), O’Rourie, Ross, Humphrey, Ayisi (Godfrey 68′), Bashford, Addison, Green (Johnson 68′).
Booked: N’Dow, McKenna
