Durham suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Charlton Athletic in their first game of 2025 at Maiden Castle in the Barclays Women’s Championship.
Kayleigh Barton’s 45th-minute chip gave the Addicks the lead before Atlanta Primus doubled their advantage with 15 minutes left to play.
Becky Salicki’s stoppage-time goal was merely a consolation for the Blues as the London side earned their first league win of 2025.
Durham nearly took the lead 30 seconds into the game as Aimee Claypole’s shot was blocked.
Charlton came agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 11th minute as the outstretched Ellie Brazil tapped the ball to the wrong side of the post.
The Addicks finally found the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time through Kayleigh Barton who lobbed Durham goalkeeper Tatiana Saunders into an empty net.
Aimee Claypole’s close-range header was cleared off the line by a Charlton body in the 52nd minutes – appeals for handball denied by the officials.
Barton and Becky Salicki came together in a clash of heads in the 72nd minute, but luckily, both were able to carry on after a long period of stoppage.
Charlton doubled their lead on 75 minutes courtesy of substitute Atlanta Primus who slotted into the centre of the goal.
Durham managed to get a goal back after a scramble in the six-yard box in the sixth minute of added time fell to Becky Salicki who forced the ball home to reduce the deficit.
The result keeps the Blues fourth in the Championship, the Addicks reduce the gap between the sides to two points in eighth.