London City Lionesses made it five successive clean sheets in the FA Women’s Championship with a narrow win at Charlton Athletic on Thursday evening.
Kallie Balfour got the only goal of the game approaching the interval, allowed to burst into the penalty area, she fired beyond keeper Eartha Cumings into the far corner.
Another powerful effort by Balfour might have found the net but Rachel Newborough made a brave block for the hosts.
Charlton, bottom of the table but with games in hand, almost equalised when Alice Griffiths connected with Ellie Dorey’s cross but Shae Yanez – who has not conceded a goal in 450 minutes – made a fine save.
The victory sees the Lionesses unbeaten in five games, as they cut the gap with fourth-placed Liverpool.
The Addicks had five new signings in their matchday squad, with defender Vyan Sampson starting. Welsh international Emma Plewa (from Crawley Wasps), Katie Godden (17) from Arsenal and Elisha Sulola (from Spurs) all coming off the bench. Forward Angie Dunbar-Bonnie (18) on loan from West Ham and 19-year-old Lexi Lloyd-Smith from Chelsea were both unused subs.
