The Addicks missed a penalty under a minute into the tie, and dominated, but it was a single Gibbons lob that separated the two sides.

Charlton went straight for the kill, from the kick-off Gibbons touched the ball past Bluebirds keeper Rhian Nokes, who clipped the winger and, after just 18 seconds, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Striker Gemma Bryan’s spot kick was at a comfortable height for Nokes, though, and the stopper pushed the ball to safety.

Skipper Kim Dixson then saw her volley from 20 yards fly over the bar before Nokes saved well from a Kit Graham effort.

The hosts’ first chance of the game came in the 25th minute when Addicks keeper Megen Lynch made a good save at point blank range from a header.

Toni Alden was then the first of many to strike the woodwork as her cross clipped the top of the bar just before half time.

The pressure kept building after the interval and Alden put a free kick over from the edge of the area. The visitors then had a header cleared off the line before Courteney Gibson’s goalbound shot after a solo run cannoned back off the crossbar.

PHSC plc’s Player of the Match Cori Daniels headed an Alden free kick goalbound but Nokes was lucky to see her foot scrape the ball to safety.

Bryan also went close with a free kick before a moment of brilliance from Gibbons saved the day for her side in the 77th minute.

Alden took a quick throw in to Gibbons, who flicked the ball over two defenders and showed great composure to chip the ball over Nokes.

For a few seconds it looked as though the Bluebirds would nick a late equaliser; Nicola Cousins headed one corner over before Lynch made her second point blank save of the match from Cousins, but Charlton held out.

Charlton: Lynch, Boyer, Alden, Daniels, Butler, Dixson, Bailes (Clifford 86), Graham (Beckett 78), Gibson, Gibbons (Stenning 86), Bryan. Sub (not used): Duggan.