The first period was rather scrappy and the Bees could have been a goal up after 15 minutes when a ball to the far side of the area saw Hannah Short mistime a volley wide.

Gemma Bryan’s deflected shot then fell to Kit Graham’s feet, the midfielder netted the chance but was a few yards offside and the goal was chalked off.

Bryan then made a good run, cutting inside, but the support was late getting to her and the striker’s pull back failed to find its way to Ellie Bailes at the edge of the area.

And the forward, who worked as hard as anyone throughout the 90 minutes, saw her first real effort of the game fly straight into Cherie Rowlands’ arms just before half time.

Barnet had the first chance of the second period when Sowden volleyed wide before Bryan won a free kick dangerously close to the Barnet penalty area but Kim Dixson’s free kick was blocked by the visitors’ wall.

Barnet were the first to strike the upright through Cheryl Williams before Sinead Boyer combined well with Courteney Gibson down the right.

The winger’s cross was met by Bryan at the near post but her flicked header hit the angle of bar and post.

Rowlands made a good save from Bryan soon after when Gibson had won the ball back but the Bees keeper stood up well to save before getting back up and punching the ball away from the head of Boyer.

Substitute Emma Beckett saw her cross/shot graze the outside of the far post and Fliss Gibbons dragged a shot wide towards the end of the contest while, at the other end, Lynch made an excllent save from point blank range from Renata Inniss and Gibson blocked Jade Dempster’s follow up.

Charlton: Lynch, Boyer, Alden, Butler, Daniels, Dixson, Bailes, Graham (Beckett 59), Gibson, Gibbons, Bryan. Subs (not used): Bennett, Clifford, Newman, Stenning.