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Charlton Athletic won this south London derby against Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday at Selhurst Park.  Emily Simpkins gave Charlton the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute, and Melissa Johnson doubled their lead just before half time.  Fliss Gibbons got a goal back for Palace during the second half with a brilliant free kick.  There was a record attendance for a Palace home match with 1,969 fans there to watch.

In the opening ten minutes, Simpkins put a low shot wide for Charlton whilst Crystal Palace saw a scramble in the penalty box cleared then a low cross claimed by Sian Rogers.  In the 11th minute, Rogers got to Paige Bailey-Gayle’s through ball first to stop another attack from the home side.

The Palace fans behind the goal were singing and creating a good atmosphere with their flags hung up along the back of the stand.

Charlton were awarded a penalty when Johnson was brought down by Fran Kitching in the area after being played through.  Simpkins scored from the spot to give the Addicks the lead in the 17th minute.

There were a couple of stoppages for injuries that broke play up during the first half.  The next chance didn’t come until two minutes before half time when Palace saw a Molly Sharpe effort from a corner blocked.

Charlton made it 2-0 in the 45th minute.  They broke forward and Angela Addison played a great through ball to Johnson who took a couple of touches and finished low into the net.

Tegan McGowan almost extended Charlton’s lead further in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time when she turned in box then sent a shot against the crossbar.

The away side had the first second half chance when Ella Rutherford’s dipping shot from 25 yards went just over in 51st minute. 

Palace appealed loudly for a penalty in the 59th minute after Elise Hughes and Elisha N’Dow clashed in the area but the referee and assistant decided not to give a spot kick.

Shauna Guyatt was brought down just outside the area three minutes later and Palace were given a free kick in a dangerous position.  Gibbons stepped up to take the kick and scored superbly from around 20 yards to get the Eagles back into the match.

The home side then had a few chances in quick succession with Bailey-Gayle sending in a cross that no one could get onto, then seconds later Hughes saw her effort deflected wide.  From the corner, Anna Filbey’s effort went into the Rogers hands. 

At the other end, Johnson had a shot saved then caught by Kitching in the 73rd minute, then Rutherford sent a shot wide three minutes later.

Bailey-Gayle put in another dangerous cross for Palace in the 80th minute but it was easily caught by Rogers. 

Charlton had a couple of chances in the 83rd minute as they looked to wrap the game up.  Emma Follis’ low cross was cleared behind by Annabel Johnson before it could reach its target.  Then there were a couple of blocks from the corner by the home side before Simpkins low driven shot was saved by post.

Palace came agonisingly close to equalising in the 87th minute when Hughes put an effort inches wide of the post from Annabel Blanchard’s low cross.  The home side had the final chance of the game in the 90th minute when Filbey’s shot from 30 yards flew not far wide.

Charlton’s win sees them remain in fourth place in the Championship, though now only four points behind new leaders London City Lionesses.  Crystal Palace drop down a couple of places to seventh. Both sides are in Conti Cup action next weekend with Palace at home to Lewes at Hayes Lane whilst Charlton are at home to Bristol City at The Oakwood.

Line ups

Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Kitching, Reilly, Johnson (c), Fibley, Gibbons, Olding (Guyatt 46’), Haines (Arthur 79’), Barton (Doran 90’+2), Bailey-Gayle, Sharpe (Hughes 46’), Sibley (Blanchard 79’)

Unused substitutes: Waldie, Negri, Noble

Goals – Gibbons 64’

Charlton Athletic (4-1-4-1): Rogers, Roe, N’Dow, Skeels, Henson, Ross, McGowan (Follis 57’), Simpkins (c), Rutherford, Addison (Bruton 74’), Johnson

Unused substitutes: Gray, Newborough, Ayisi, Logan, Bashford, O’Rourke, Bell

Goals – Simpkins (pen) 17’, Johnson 45’

Bookings – N’Dow 40’, Roe 57’, Henson 62’

Referee – Melissa Burgin

Attendance – 1,969