Pompey beaten by Charlton
Pompey Ladies suffered their first defeat of the season, as Charlton eased to a comfortable 4-1 victory at Privett Park.
The hosts started the game brightly, with both Gemma Simmonds and Lucy Quinn going close in the opening stages.
And Quinn then hit a 30-yard free-kick into the side netting as the Blues continued to find openings.
But the Londoners soon grew into the contest and broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when Gemma Shepherd chipped a shot over Courtney Trodd.
Kit Graham then fired home from the edge of the box to give Charlton a two-goal cushion heading into the interval.
Pompey tried to find a route back into the game following the restart and Lucy Quinn forced a smart save from Megen Lynch before Shannon Sievwright saw her free-kick fly inches over the bar.
But the Addicks extended their advantage just past the hour mark, with Jenny Newman on hand to score when Nikita Whinnett’s initial effort was blocked.
And they added a fourth late on when Shepherd’s cross was laid off by Lauren Parsons for Whinnett to drive home.
There was still time for Pompey to grab a consolation, however, with Quinn’s audacious effort from out wide flying into the top corner.
Blues boss Perry Northeast said: “Charlton were good value for the three points, although the 4-1 scoreline is tough to take.
“We were missing four key players with more than 1,000 Premier League appearances between them and they could all have made a difference, although I don’t want to use that as too much of an excuse.
“There were plenty of clear-cut chances for us and normally we would have taken more of them, while our opponents grafted really hard.
“Not enough of our players won their individual battles and if that happens then you’re going to struggle collectively.
“It’s given us all something to think about, but I don’t need to ask for a reaction because I know I’ll get one when we face Brighton in the League Cup on Sunday.”
Pompey: Trodd; Bazan (Currie 74), Rutherford, Bloomfield, Frampton (Taylor 65); Atkinson (Tewkesbury 55), Sievwright, Simmonds, Quinn; Hillier, Umotong