An Elise Hughes strike helped Charlton make it six games unbeaten after a 1-0 win against Lewes Women at The Oakwood on Sunday.
The Addicks put in a dominant first-half performance and saw off an improved Rooks second period to secure three crucial points. Hughes got the all-important winning goal just after the half an hour mark after persistent pressing from wingers Megan Wynne and Lois Heuchan.
It was that constant pressure on the Lewes backline that gave Charlton their dominant air and the visitors could barely even get out of their own half.
Heuchan and Lois Roche had shots blocked in the first five minutes of the game, with the best chance of the early stages coming when Jorja Fox curled goalwards but found Lewes keeper Tatiana Saunders equal to her effort.
Elisha Sulola then shot wide across goal from a similar position before Fox turned provider, whipping in a dangerous cross that just eluded Wynne at the back post.
Saunders did well to save a Heuchan shot that ricocheted off Hughes before Sulola just failed to get contact on a Heuchan centre.
Mia Ross almost got the scoring underway in spectacular style, seeing her long-range volley brush the top of the crossbar.
But it didn’t matter in the end, as Charlton were in a deserved lead just moments later. Wynne first almost cut out a weak backpass but Saunders did well to tackle her. However, when the ball broke to a Lewes defender, Heuchan cut out her pass and cut back for Hughes to tap into an open net.
Lewes went searching for an equaliser and almost had one immediately but Ini Umotong’s shot was into the side netting. Ayisi then played Umotong back in not long after. The striker’s shot was powerful, but Eartha Cumings was alert to get down low and push it clear of danger.
Lewes came out after the interval with more purpose but failed to really test Cumings for a while. The Addicks shot-stopper saved easily from Paula Howells early on.
Their best chance came from former Charlton youngster Ayisi, who fired in a shot from range that slammed against the woodwork.
Ayisi was the one thorn in Charlton’s side for most of the final stages, but they just couldn’t find a way past a Charlton defence that now has kept five clean sheets on the spin.
Charlton: Cumings, Filbey, Hughes (Olding 90), Sulola (Bruton 74), Wynne, Skeels, Roche, Heuchan, Roe, Fox, Ross.
Subs (not used): Newborough, Jane, Godfrey, Rutherford, Negri.
Goal: Hughes 34
Lewes: Saunders, Cleverley (Hazard 82), Ashworth-Clifford, Noble, Ayisi, McKenna (Hack 46), Umotong (Timms 46), Howells, Dalton, Cross, Cousins.
Subs (not used): Hartley, Salgado, Logan, Collins, Longhurst.
(Photo: Keith Gillard)