Blues on course for top three finish
Ellie Bloomfield and Gemma Hillier were on target as Pompey beat Charlton 2-0 at Privett Park.
The result saw the Blues move to within three points of second-placed Coventry with three games of the season remaining.
Gemma Simmonds found the net following a short corner routine in the opening stages, but her celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.
They did break the deadlock late in the first half, however, when Bloomfield slotted home after Lucy Quinn’s free-kick had rebounded off the wall.
The hosts received an injury blow after the interval as Tiffany Taylor walked off gingerly with a suspected dislocated shoulder.
But Pompey continued to press and secured victory in stoppage-time when Gemma Hillier latched onto Sarah Kempson’s pass and lofted the ball over the Addicks keeper.
Joint Blues boss Perry Northeast said: “We said beforehand that we wanted to end the campaign with some good performances, so the result was key.
“The top three was our target at the start of the season and we’ve set ourselves up nicely for that.
“The squad has been stretched in recent weeks, but the players who have come in have done a decent job.
“I think 2-0 was a fair scoreline and we certainly deserved the three points. Ellie and Gemma both hadn’t netted in recent weeks, so it nice to see them come up with the goods.
“Sadie Blakely pulled off a couple of fine saves at the other end of the pitch, but wasn’t troubled for most of the afternoon.”
Pompey: Blakely; Frampton, Taylor (Russell), Schumann-Edwards, Bazan; Quinn (Moulton), Simmonds (Seabright), Bloomfield, Clark; Hillier (c), Wilson
Photo: Jordan Hampton
Photo: Jordan Hampton