Blues suffer away defeat
Pompey Ladies slipped to their fifth league defeat of the season with a 4-2 reverse at high-flying Charlton.
The visitors got off to a poor start, falling behind to Charley Clifford’s goal with just three minutes on the clock.
It came following a period of Charlton pressure, with Avilla Bergin floating the ball in for her team-mate to head into the top corner.
Blues keeper Courtney Trodd was then called into action moments later, getting down low to save Kit Graham’s free-kick.
But the equaliser arrived midway through the first half after Sharna Capel-Watson intercepted the ball on the halfway line.
She stormed down the pitch and laid it off for Katie James, who squared for Samantha Quayle to convert at the second time of asking.
Charlton were on the ascendency after the interval, however, and Trodd was in fine form to deny both Clifford and Graham.
But they were kept at bay until just before 70 minutes when Capel-Watson could only head the ball on for Graham to lift into the net.
The hosts soon added a third after Pompey twice cleared from the line following a corner and the ball also hit the woodwork before Lee found a gap to slam home.
Clifford then added her second of the afternoon following some confusion in the box and the result seemed cut and dried.
But their opponents kicked into gear and seven minutes of injury-time restored some hope of an unlikely comeback.
Nadine Bazan went close to reducing the deficit, but the left-back’s chipped effort was hacked from the line.
Sarah Kempson did pull a goal back, turning her way past a couple of defenders before cutting inside and finding the net.
And Pompey upped their momentum in the dying moments, but were unable to find another opening.
Blues boss Jay Sadler said: “I'm disappointed by the result, but not disheartened by parts of the performance.
“For long periods of the game we held our own and executed our game plan well. However, we seemed to become wasteful in possession and, ultimately, our mistakes have cost us again.
“We need to eradicate these quickly and we will work hard in the coming weeks to do so.”
Pompey: Trodd, Bazan, Tonks, Currie, Capel-Watson, Kempson, Sievwright, James (Benson 79), Hillier, Stephens (Iusan 63), Quayle
Subs not used: Paines, Peck, Bell