Charlton’s women completed an excellent second-half turnaround to secure a 2-1 victory over Durham at Maiden Castle on Sunday afternoon.

After falling behind to a first-half strike from the hosts, goals from super subs Gillian Keney and Lucy Fitzgerald late on sealed the win and ensured all three points would be heading back to south London.

Karen Hills’ side raced out of the blocks, coming close on two occasions early on. Ellie Mason sent a brilliant strike arrowing towards the bottom right-hand corner which was only kept out by a good Cat Sheppard save, before Kiera Skeels’ looping header from the resulting corner was cleared off the line.

It was Charlton who dominated the first half hour with Mason seeing another shot well blocked in the box on 26 minutes, but with a pivotal spell shortly after saw the home side go ahead against the run of play.

After Beth Hepple had hit the underside of the crossbar with a sweet strike from 25 yards, the Durham number seven completed the job by getting her goal just four minutes later as she was the first to react to a cross into the box from the right, pouncing to fire home from close range.

Before the break, Charlotte Newsham tried her luck with a dipping shot from distance which Sheppard was equal to, ensuring that the hosts would head into the break with a narrow advantage.

The Addicks emerged for the second half intent on regaining their foothold on the game. Sheppard continued to frustrate as she kept out Newsham once again with another effort which was bound for the bottom corner.

But just as it they did a week earlier, Hills’ substitutions would change the game. A triple switch on the hour saw Chime, Fitzgerald and Mary McAteer enter the fray, before Kenney followed suit nine minutes later.

Indeed, the subs would certainly make their impact. With 15 minutes remaining, Kenney drew the visitors level with her first goal in English football.

After Fitzgerald’s initial effort came back off the base of the post, the American was on hand to fire home the rebound to make it 1-1.

With their tails up Charlton pushed for the winner. Jodie Hutton came close when her dipping shot from just outside the box went past the post, but it was only a matter of time before the Addicks got the winner they deserved.

With seven minutes remaining, Newsham’s ball into the box from the right was latched onto by Fitzgerald, who turned neatly before firing home to complete the turnaround.

That goal made sure that it’s maximum points for Charlton this season with two wins from two and they will be hoping to continue their good start to the campaign as they host Ipswich Town at The Valley next Sunday.

Durham: Sheppard. Ayre, Briggs, Toland, S Wilson, Hepple, Lambert, Blake (Watson 81), Ede (McFarland 70), Speckmaier (Pritchard 64), Foster.

Subs (not used): King, Robson, Salicki, E Wilson, Stobbs, Jones.

Goal: Hepple 32

Charlton: Whitehouse, Mason, Newsham, Ross (Fitzgerald 60), N’Dow, Flannery, Bissell (McAteer 60), Hutton, Muya (Chime 60), Skeels, Thestrup (Kenney 69).

Subs (not used): Pedersen, Pearse, Barratt, Finlayson, Lobato.

Goals: Kenney 75, Fitzgerald 83