A bright start from the Addicks saw Ellie Bailes open the scoring after eight minutes but Albion pulled one back soon after and a close game went until the hour mark before another goal came.

The clash changed when technical director Paul Mortimer brought Kim Dixson off the bench and Bryan (3), Jenny Newman and substitute Fliss Gibbons took the game away from the visitors.

It looked good for Charlton early on. Seagulls` goalkeeper Charlotte Sole came to the edge of the area but could only clear to Bailes, the midfielder calmly curled the ball into the top corner to break the deadlock.

The lead lasted little more than ten minutes, though, and Brighton were back on level terms with their first attack of the game when a Kirsty Barton corner was turned home by Kim Stenning.

Emma Beckett was unlucky not to hit the target with a drive on the stroke of half time but the game was far from easy for the hosts at that point.

Beckett had a couple more sighters after the interval before Dixson entered the fray and inspired her side to put the game beyond reach.

On 62 minutes, PHSC plc Player of the Match Gemma Bryan re-instated Charlton’s lead with a stunning volley on the turn.

Two goals in quick succession then gave the Addicks some daylight. Newman turned past Sole from a Beckett corner on 74 minutes.

Three minutes later it was four as Bryan collected the ball on the left, cut in a fired into the near post.

Sole saved very well shortly after, tipping a Dixson shot wide but Bryan completed her treble on 85 minutes.

A clever through ball from Charley Clifford was taken well in her stride and the striker stroked the ball past Sole.

Barton pulled an excellent 35-yarder back for Brighton with four minutes remaining but it was Gibbons who had the final say, heading a Sinead Boyer cross home at the far post.

Charlton finished the game with 10 players and two injuries – Harley Bennett and Ellie Stenning limping off with ankle injuries.

After the game, Mortimer said: “We started really brightly and then stopped.

“We stopped doing the simple things and it doesn’t matter what team you are playing, if you keep giving them the ball back they grow in confidence and that is what happened.

“It was almost like we had energy for 10 minutes and then we didn’t. It made the game difficult for us and we had some frank words at half time about people livening their acts up.

“They were the better team in the second half of the first half but to the girls’ credit they stuck at it, saw out some tricky periods and ended up worthy winners.

“We scored multiple goals and the final finish was better than it has been for a while so I am quite pleased with that.”

Charlton: Lynch, Boyer, Alden, Daniels, Bennett (Butler 15mins), Clifford, Bailes (Dixson 58mins), Beckett, Stenning, Newman, Bryan (Gibbons 87mins). Subs (not used): Gibson.