Charlton Athletic boost title hopes with victory at Durham | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic have boosted their Barclays Women’s Championship title hopes with a 2-1 victory at Durham this afternoon.

Kayleigh Barton and Atlanta Primus got the goals as The Addicks returned to Barclays Women’s Championship action following the Christmas break with a win.

Durham started the first half brightly but struggled to carve out any meaningful chances against a well-drilled Charlton Athletic side.

It was the visitors who went close in the 11th minute when Karin Muya received the ball on the right. She delivered for Ellie Brazil but she couldn’t convert into an empty net. Brazil had another chance midway through the half off the back of a goal-mouth scramble but she again failed to find the back of the net.

Two minutes before the break, Charlton Athletic really should have been ahead when Muya found herself one-on-one with Tatiana Saunders but the home keeper came out on top. The Addicks then broke the deadlock moments later when Saunders made an error and Barton looped the ball home.

Durham came out for the second half keen to get back on terms and they went close in quick succession. First, Aimee Claypole hit the post with a header before The Wildcats rattled the bar through a corner just a couple of minutes later.

The hosts’ hopes of getting back in the game were ended 15 minutes from time. Durham gifted possession to the visitors with Atlanta Primus picking the ball up 25 yards from goal. She advanced towards goal and fired a deflected effort beyond Saunders.

Durham almost reduced the arrears deep in second half stoppage time but visiting keeper Sophie Whitehouse bravely denied Eleanor Ryan-Doyle. The Wildcats did finally make the breakthrough when Becky Salicki bundled in from a corner but it was too little, too late.

Durham now turn their attention towards a Subway Women’s League Cup quarter-final at Chelsea on Wednesday evening while Charlton Athletic play host to Sheffield United at The Valley next weekend.