AFC Bournemouth bowed out of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup after going down 6-0 at the hands of Championship leaders Charlton Athletic at Vitality Stadium on Sunday.

The Cherries held the second-tier high-fliers in an evenly-matched first half before the Addicks netted four times in the space of 14 second-half minutes to effectively kill off the tie.

Steve Cuss’s team exited the competition with their heads held high having reached the third round for the first time in their history.

Kelly Fripp and Maisy Smith were both drafted into the Cherries starting line-up as boss Cuss made two changes following the second-round win over Swindon Town a fortnight ago.

Tegan McGowan, teed up by Freya Godfrey, poked the first chance wide of the target as the visitors threatened early on.

Cherries skipper Gemma Hillier saw a goalbound effort blocked by a defender after Alisha Buckingham’s fifth-minute corner had fallen for her just inside the 18-yard box.

Referee Jordan Lee took centre stage in the 16^th minute, the official turning down a penalty appeal after Elisha N’Dow had clearly handled Hillier’s cross.

Cherries goalkeeper Daniela Kosińska got down smartly to smother Karin Muya‘s low drive before Bethan Roe lifted a free-kick from 25 yards over the crossbar.

Addicks captain Kiera Skeels met Roe’s corner with a near-post header which flashed past the post before McGowan fired high over the crossbar.

While the visitors had the lion’s share of possession in the first half, the Cherries defended resolutely to restrict their chances to a minimum.

Charlton forced a flurry of corners towards the end of the opening period, with Kosińska tipping a header from Skeels over the crossbar from Roe’s delivery on the stroke of half-time.

Muya opened the scoring ten minutes into the second half, the Chelsea academy graduate drilling a low shot past Kosińska from close range.

And the Addicks quickly doubled their lead when Muya’s looping cross struck Melissa Johnson and ricocheted off Katie James before going over the line.

Muya grabbed her second and the Addicks’ third when she swept home Rebecca McKenna’s driven cross in the 61^st minute.

Kosińska made a top-drawer save to keep out Angela Addison’s firm header, the Cherries goalkeeper diving full length to her right to push it on to the post.

Substitute Addison made it 4-0 after 69 minutes when she prodded the ball home from inside the six-yard box after being picked out by Godfrey’s centre.

Elin Starck, the granddaughter of former Cherries player and assistant manager Stuart Morgan, came on to make her first-team debut, replacing Fripp in the 69^th minute.

Charlton forged further ahead when Johnson got her name on the scoresheet, the striker slotting home after Addison had crossed from the left before Carla Humphrey completed the scoring late on. 

AFC Bournemouth: Kosińska, Jones, A Treweek, Fripp (Starck, 69), Smith, Venditto (Elliott, 79), James, Hillier (Elkins, 67), Buckingham (Gladwell, 67), Cooper (Gilroy, 67), McGuinness.

Unused sub: Scadding (g/k).

Charlton Athletic: Gray, McKenna, Ross, N’Dow, Johnson, McGowan (Humphrey, 62), Godfrey (O’Rourke, 70), Muya (Addison, 62), Skeels, Bashford (Longhurst, 62), Roe (Ayisi, 70).

Unused sub: Rogers (g/k).

Referee: Jordan Lee.