The Addicks started the season with a 3-0 victory after a first-half performance for the history books.
After a second-place finish last season, Charlton wanted to show they were ready to fight again, and that is exactly what happened at The Valley today.
The team started very confidently, looking strong on the ball and holding possession as soon as the whistle was blown.
By the eighth minute, the Reds had already dominated play in the opposition’s half, and this time it resulted in a goal by Ellie Brazil. After the ball was crossed in by Filis, Barton brazenly heel-flicked it into the path of Brazil, who tapped it home to open the scoring.
Conceding a goal didn’t dampen Portsmouth’s attitude, as they won two corners and looked very dangerous on the counterattack. However, the corners didn’t seem to threaten the Charlton backline, which dealt with them calmly.
In the fifteenth minute, the Blues had their best chance of the half when a shot from outside the box rattled the crossbar. The ball bounced off the crossbar into the path of another opposition player, but their shot was handled by Whitehouse.
Our second goal came in the seventeenth minute when another new signing, Hutton, found space in the box and fired the ball into the top corner of the goal!
Shortly after, Brazil scored her second goal of the game when Whitehouse launched the ball down the pitch, reaching Barton. Barton flicked the ball on with her head into Brazil’s path. The striker then ran towards goal, putting the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net.
The confidence continued for the rest of the first half, with several opportunities to increase the scoreline before the halftime whistle.
Portsmouth came into the second half trying to find a way back into the game and succeeded in keeping the Addicks at bay for the majority of the second half.
Both sides had their chances in the second half, but neither team capitalized on their opportunities.
As the half progressed, the Blues seemed to tire, while Hills made substitutions to keep the energy high on her side, giving league debuts to Bradley and Ademiluyi.
The game ended 3-0, with a midfield masterclass from Mel Filis and some show-stopping debuts from the summer signings.
Charlton: Whitehouse, Newsham, N'Dow (Pearse 68), Skeels (c), Humphrey (Bradley 74), Filis, Bashford, Roe, Hutton (O'Rourke 87), Brazil (Muya 68), Barton (Ademiluyi 74)
Subs: (not used): Siber
Goals: Brazil 8 & 23, Hutton 17
Attendance: 632