Crewe Alexandra 2 (Finney 38, Mandron 45+3), Charlton 1 (Burstow 80).

Guinness at hand, Kevin Nolan sofa-surfs from a safe distance.

Let's deal with events in their order of importance. We'll put last things first; finish as we mean to go on; put the cart, as it were, before the horse. In other words, turn our attention to the liveliest incident offered up by this scruffy meeting of sub-mediocre League One sides. And it happened just eight seconds prior to its bitter end.

Charlton had halved Crewe's two-goal lead and were pressing frantically in search of an equaliser. Albie Morgan's deep cross from the left was kept alive by Mason Burstow's determination to make a chance for Elliot Lee, who shot instantly on the turn. His effort spiralled high in the air off a defensive block, evaded Dave Richards' desperate attempt to reach it, cannoned off the underside of the bar and crossed the line. Referee Robert Lewis, whose officiating had been impartially that of a buffoon, motioned upfield and off headed the jubilant Addicks to celebrate a highly unlikely escape. They were in for a nasty shock.

Unluckily for Johnnie Jackson's chaps, the nearest of Lewis's assistants was on hand to see that justice was done. This portly, grey-haired nosy parker had spotted Jonathan Leko up to no good alongside the struggling keeper on his goalline. Whether his presence affected Richards' ability to save Lee's shot is open to argument but the point is equally irrelevant. Leko was both offside and interfering and, following several minutes of heated debate, the "goal" was correctly disallowed. Not that Lewis emerged from the debacle with any credit. His performance, during which he came close to losing control, was bilaterally incompetent.

With the safety margin separating them from the division's bottom three, among them Crewe, steadily shrinking, Charlton were left to ponder the assumption that they are "too good to go down", a theory lazily trotted out by yours truly from time to time. They've invented novel ways to lose games, have dried up in front of goal, and are in danger of freefall.

This game against far from formidable underdogs Crewe was there for the taking during its opening half hour. The Addicks were in effortless control, proved unable to convert even one of several acceptable chances, then succumbed to a two-goal salvo shortly before the break. You might have recognised a recurring theme.

In the early going, Diallang Jaiyesimi's attempt to convert Ben Purrington's cross was superbly blocked by Travis Johnson, while Lee was similarly crowded out by Tom Lowery as he tried to force Leko's dipping centre past Richards. Lee also hooked a close range shot narrowly wide as the Addicks stayed on top. Gradually, however, the Railwaymen improved with Oliver Finney dragging a bobbling shot wide and Luke Offord's volley forcing a sharp save from Stephen Henderson. The tide had turned and, almost inevitably, the visitors capsized. A manageable goalless situation turned abruptly into a two-goal deficit, with both of Alex's successes attributable to errors by Henderson, who was deputising for new dad Craig McGillivray.

There was accuracy, if little bite, behind the shot delivered by Mikael Mandron seven minutes before half-time and Henderson was down early to make a fairly routine save. Unfortunately, his parry fell to Finney, who gratefully finished from six yards. Bad turned to worse for Charlton's experienced keeper as he wandered from his line, with all the vagueness of an elderly jaywalker crossing Hyde Park Corner during rush hour, to deal with Lowery's setpiece. Caught in traffic, he was a bewildered witness to the header deftly flicked into his vacated goal by Mandron.

In Crewe's goal, meanwhile, Richards distinguished himself as the Addicks sought the breakthrough they needed. His fine save thwarted Washington early in the second half, while sharp reflexes defied substitute Burstow after the lively Washington dispossessed Billy Sass-Davies on the right byline. An on-target effort from Sean Clare was also repelled by the defiant keeper.

There were ten minutes remaining when Burstow scored his first-ever league goal to set up the controversial added time drama. Staying alert as George Dobson's raking pass set up the luckless Washington to sting Richards' palms with another fierce drive, the irrepressible kid anticipated the airborne rebound, leaped high and looped a header neatly under the bar. His maiden strike in a Charlton shirt was undermined by this depressing result but young Mason is off and running. Enjoy him while you can - if you know what I mean.

Jackson's post-game reaction to both the defeat and the added time controversy was admirably restrained, if understandably frustrated. "He [Richards] saw it all the way and tried to save it and couldn't. I thought the goal should have stood. It was too little too late anyway...it's easy to come out and have a go when you've got nothing to lose. Where was that in that period I'm talking about in the first half where we lost our intensity and lost our way?" Beats me, boss but as soon as I know, you'll know, count on that. We're all in this together.

Crewe: Richards, Offord, Sass-Davies, Williams, Madron, Lowery, Finney (Griffiths 86), Robertson (Murphy 84), Johnson, Porter, Long. Not
used: Jaaskalainen, Lawton, Ainley, Tabiner.

Charlton: Henderson, Clare, Pearce, Famewo, Purrington (Burstow 58), Jaiyesimi (Blackett-Taylor 58), Gilbey (Morgan 76), Dobson, Lee
Leko, Washington. Not used: Harness, Matthews, Inniss, Watson.

Referee: Robert Lewis. Att: 3,558.

Gateshead 0 Charlton 2 (Stockley 30 54)

After seeing off Aston Villa's youngsters in the Papa John Trophy at The Valley on Tuesday, Charlton's attention switched further north as second round FA Cup visitors to Gateshead in front of ITV's cameras on Friday evening. Driven by Johnnie Jackson's refreshing attitude to Cup football, they're becoming unlikely knockout specialists.

Without a posh chap in their line-up, Gateshead (or the Heed as they're known locally) stand for solidly working class values. Nothing wrong, of course, with the kind of aristocratic polish supplied by the likes of Villa's Finley Thorndike or Jaden Philogene-Bidace, elegant coves who run you ragged while sporting figurative topper, tails and a cane. But Mike Williamson's belts-and-braces blokes were primed and ready for Charlton's visit. ITV had clearly chosen this tie for its giant-killing potential and despite the Addicks' excellent Cup record against lower league opposition, they smelled upset in the frigid Tyneside air.

The bulk of the pre-match attention centred on the plucky underdogs, though ex-Addick Graham Stuart stood up gamely for his former club. His fellow pundit Chris Waddle smugly assumed a Heed victory was a better than even shot, while irksome co-commentator Jermaine Beckford was unapologetically in the black-and-white corner. Until, needless to say, Charlton scored for a second time.

Before that point was reached, the visitors lived dangerously. Had their hosts not regularly froze in front of goal, we might have been recounting a totally different outcome. Disastrous finishing let them down on several key occasions, the earliest of them the third minute drive which Cedwyn Scott sent into the sidenet from a promising position. Scott's effort, viewed alongside later attempts, was a comparative model of accuracy; the Tynesiders got in behind Charlton's rearguard with alarming frequency to set up clearcut chances but just as regularly missed the target. Cows, backsides and banjos spring to mind.

Scott's near thing was followed by the mess made by top scorer Macaulay Langstaff of a golden chance laid on for him by Adam Campbell. Receiving Campbell's cross beyond the far post, Langstaff took a steadying touch before blasting haplessly over the bar. Minutes later, he was handed a lesson in ruthlessness as Charlton eased into the lead.

Switching from defence to attack by surging into the home half, hard running Akin Famewo's clever chip found Conor Washington making ground in the inside left channel. Stop-start acceleration disposed of Washington's marker on his way to the byline and made space for a deliberately shortened cross aimed for Jayden Stockley' blond head. Showing scant regard for the advancing vintage of co-managers Williamson and Gregg Olley, the onrushing striker deposited them both, ball and all, into the net behind Jake Chapman.

Stockley's opener was to prove decisive though the Addicks were never in a position of comfort. They continued to be vulnerable to counter-attack and were prised open by Olley's delivery which picked out Campbell in space to the left of goal. The latter's left-footed drive was parried by Stephen Henderson, with the rebound falling conveniently on to his right foot. Campbell's second effort flew harmlessly wide of the target and the Addicks had survived again, more by luck than judgement.

For a second time, the Heed paid a bitter price for their profligacy, as the visitors doubled their lead on 54 minutes. The architect of Charlton's clincher was Diallang Jaiyesimi, who was beginning to fade after an impressive first half. The winger's dinked centre was met by Ben Purrington's instant shot on the turn and appeared to have extended the left back's recent burst of scoring. An unwitting deflection off Stockley said otherwise.

Still Gateshead, to their credit, refused to surrender. Sent through by Williams' pass, Langstaff fired horribly wide but by the time Henderson saved miraculously from substitute Jack Hunter and Louis Storey, with Williamson's header rebounding off the woodwork, Jackson's anything but soft Southerners had booked their place in the third round draw. It's already heady stuff as well as unfamiliar territory. Shame Charlton's league commitments get in the way.

Charlton: Henderson, Clare, Elewere, Famewo, Purrington (Souare 81), Gilbey, Dobson, Lee (Morgan 66), Stockley, Washington (Davison 73), Jaiyesimi (Leko 73). Not used: McGillivray, Gunter, Arter, Watson, Kirk.

Referee: Tom Reeves.

Charlton 2 (Burstow 15, Stockley 42,pen) Aston Villa u-21s 1 (Thorndike 40).

There's none so zealous as a convert and, as a new disciple, I won't hear a word against the Papa John Trophy. I've never tried their pizza but the competition bearing their name has been nothing but fun since Charlton put six past Crawley Town back in August. OK, there was that unpleasant blip at Orient last month but they were qualified for the knockout stages by then and can be forgiven for taking their eye off the ball. Could have happened to anyone.

On a chilly Tuesday evening, Aston Villa's young guns breezed into The Valley with three League One scalps already hanging from their belts and clearly expecting to make the Addicks their latest victims. The entire club is on the crest of a wave following the arrival of Steven Gerrard as first team manager; the trickledown effect could hardly fail to permeate through the junior ranks. This was the perfect opportunity for the u-21 Villans to impress the great man.

Rising to the challenge, Johnnie Jackson chose a strong team, backed it with a useful bench and met Villa head on. Charlton's attacking intent was made clear in the early going when Mason Burstow pounced on Oliwier Zych's errant pass but screwed his shot woefully wide. The teenager made almost immediate amends but not before Harry Arter's slip presented Lamare Bogarde with a similar chance which he dragged wide of Nathan Harness' right hand post.

After 15 minutes of exhilarating but error-strewn football, Burstow fired Charlton in front with a sumptuous strike. Assessing Albie Morgan's cleverly floated ball as it sailed over his right shoulder, he unleashed a ferocious left-footed volley which reduced Zych to mere bystander as it exploded into the net behind him. Notice had been served on the confident Midlanders that beating their latest League One opponents was to be no formality.

Rattled they might have been but Mark Delaney's youthful side had bite as well as skill in their make-up. Cameron Archer's shot slid dangerously close to a post while Arter's sliding interception of Caleb Chukwuemeka's hard-driven low cross was critical. The visitors were menacing every time they crossed into home territory and it was no surprise when they equalised five minutes before the break. There was pure quality to the pass threaded through Charlton's rearguard by Chukwuemeka and cool precision to the finish applied by Finley Thorndike. It was a terrific goal scored by a kid bearing a name which wouldn't have looked out of place on the West End stage before the war. An outstanding moniker, matched only by a defender called Jaden Philogene-Bidace, not to mention a substitute answering to Tristan Abideen-Goodridge, who replaced Caleb Chukwuemeka. Great names - report filling names!

Villa were on par for only two minutes before Jayden Stockley's sharp turn proved too much for Tim Iroegbunam (!) whose clumsy tackle cut his legs from under him. Applying the ideal punishment to the crime, Stockley patiently waited until the visitors' pointless protests had abated before dispatching a no-nonsense penalty past Oliwier(?) Zych. Difficult to know what No. 50 Sil Swinkels made of it; that's Sil Swinkels, a generational riposte to Ben Watson.

Tuesday's second half was an altogether quieter affair, reasonably well managed by Jackson's mixture of youth and experience. Morgan came close to putting useful distance between the sides with a 25-yard free kick which rebounded harmlessly off a post before Harness came into his own to protect the lead. His reaction save from Thorndike, sprung clear by his one-two with Iroegbunam, was made with an outstretched foot and was followed by bravery at Archer's feet as they disputed a loose ball. A first half replacement for unlucky Charles Clayden, meanwhile, Corey Blackett-Taylor's pace and elusiveness was a handful for the visitors and provided the Addicks with a helpful attacking outlet. Charlton even handled four added minutes with elegant ease, an art in itself and one not altogether mastered at senior level.

Treating his cup commitments with a gravity unfamiliar to Charlton fans, Jackson's attention will now switch to the FA Cup second round trip to Gateshead on Friday. Their ruthless 4-0 dismissal of Havant & Waterlooville in the first round signalled new intent so expect a strong selection and unremitting effort. After all, winning beats any alternative they've come up with yet...

Charlton: Harness, Gunter, Elewere, Bakrin, Arter (Henry 74), Morgan, Clayden (Blackett-Taylor 38), Kirk, Watson, Stockley
(Leko 64), Burstow (Davison 64). Not used: Harvey, Chin, Ness.

Villa u-21: Zych, Philogene-Bidace, Archer, Bogarde, Chrisene (Barber 61), Chukwuemeka (Abideen-Goodridge 77), Iroegbunam,
Swinkels, Feeney, Ealing, Thorndike. Not used: Marshall, Reedin, Sewell, Hart, Afoka.

Referee: Christopher Pollard. Att: 1,283 (356 visiting).

Shrewsbury Town 1 (Udoh 90+3) Charlton 0

Kevin Nolan reporting from New Meadow.

An old sickeningly familiar failing proved to be Charlton's downfall in bitterly cold Shropshire on Saturday. It sent them down from the Championship 18 months ago (Birmingham City), denied them a shot at last season's play-offs (Crewe) and already this time around has cost them dearly (Lincoln City and now Shrewsbury). No prizes for guessing we're talking about their chronic vulnerability to the added time goal.

Johnnie Jackson followed Lee Bowyer and Nigel Adkins as the latest manager (er, caretaker) to fall foul of what must be considered Charlton's curse. In this case, four minutes were added. They proved more than enough for the Shrews to settle a grim, colourless clash in the 93rd minute - helped, it must be said, by a sliver of luck handed them by otherwise impeccable referee Tom Nield. During the untidy sequence of defensive headers which half-cleared Luke Leahy's huge throw from the right touchline, Nield missed Sam Cosgrove's artful nudge which removed George Dobson from contention as they converged under a dropping ball on the 18-yard line. The ball eventually broke to Daniel Udoh, who chose the sensible option of drilling it past a blameless Craig McGillivray.

Udoh's opportunistic strike sent the Salop faithful home, warmed by the matchless glow of last gasp victory. For the 949 frozen wayfarers at the opposite end of the ground, the aftermath was somewhat different, Many had battled unreliable trains to reach the venue and the very least they deserved was to celebrate the better-than-nothing point on offer as the added time board made its fateful appearance. Experience is the best of teachers, of course, and an air of fatalism diluted their inevitable disappointment. They've seen it all before, so their pain was dull rather than acute.

Jackson's reaction to his first defeat since taking temporary charge was philosophical. "The nature of the goal was disappointing, a long throw into our box...I expect us to deal with those situations -we don't. But it was a foul on Dobson." The caretaker boss paid tribute to the near-thousand travellers who had left warmer Southern climes to sample what Northerners regard as soft weather. It gets much grimmer as soon as you cross the M-6 toll. Or even Watford Gap.

The figures, meanwhile, inform us that Charlton enjoyed a 62% edge in possession, one of those meaningless statistics which turn a football match into "a proposition by Wittgenstein." They certainly had the better of things and until that 93rd minute aberration, handled their hosts with ease. The few chances, though, were equally shared. And Town's late goal was the only statistic which ultimately mattered.

The first of those chances fell to tall striker Tom Bloxham, who met Rekeil Pyke's perfect cutback with a venomous drive, which McGillivray spectacularly fingertipped over the bar. Charlton's fine keeper has been doing his bit - and more - through a succession of close encounters. Apparently he should have done more to keep out Udoh's matchwinner, a crisp daisycutter from inside the penalty area. Getting down alertly and achieving the slightest of touches meant he "could have done more to keep it out." Let's clear up any doubt or confusion. McGillivray had no chance - and you may quote me.

In Town's goal was Marko Marosi who responded in kind with an outstanding save to divert the low shot from Alex Gilbey, which was creeping into his right bottom corner. The rest of the first half settled down into a miasma of dourness, during which it would have been permissible to doze off in balmier circumstances. The second stanza was only slightly livelier and, from Charlton's viewpoint, picked up as Corey Blackett-Taylor began to exploit a tiring home defence. The free-running wide man's withering injection of pace brought him to the right byline, from where he measured a dinked cross, which was met by Conor Washington's head but superbly saved by Marosi, who also blocked Washington's attempt to convert the rebound. Town's agile keeper completed a rewarding afternoon's work by expertly fielding Elliott Lee's crisp effort.

With five by now at the back and reinforced by two shielding midfielders in front of them, Steve Cotterill's stubborn side had clearly settled for a point as the fourth official brandished his game-changing minutes board. But they crowded into Charlton's penalty area for Leahy's Hail Mary throw, caused the disorder they sought and benefitted from referee Nield's tolerant view of Cosgrove's physicality as a mere "coming together" in football's newest and daftest of cliches. Charlton's latest exercise in added time futility was complete, leaving an unavoidable statistical question. Is there a team in Leagues One and Two which has conceded more 90+ goals. It's hard to think of one. So sort it out, Johnnie! It's giving us a reputation for being soft-bellied Southerners.

Shrewsbury: Marosi, Leahy, Pennington, Vela, Udoh, Bowman, Ogbeta, Pyke (Leshabela 32), Bennett. Bloxham (Cosgrove 69), Nurse. Not used: Burgoyne, Caton, Wilson, Kaninda, Craig. Booked: Udoh.

Charlton: McGillivray, Clare, Purrington. Famewo, Souare, Gilbey, Lee, Dobson, Davison (Leko 62), Blackett-Taylor (Jaiyesimi 72), Washington. Not used: Henderson, Gunter, Morgan, Kirk, Watson. Booked: Famewo, Souare, Clare.

Referee: Tom Nield. Att 6,158 (949 visiting).

Burton Albion 0 Charlton 1 (Purrington 28')

Kevin Nolan reports from a tetchy Pirelli Stadium.

Organised, determined and, where necessary, hardnosed, Charlton continued their renaissance under the twin-stewardship of Johnnie Jackson and Jason Euell with this fractious, occasionally violent victory over feisty Burton Albion in balmy South Staffordshire.

The dynamic duo were in animated form on the sidelines, finding time for sporadic verbal fisticuffs with Albion boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, which threatened to boil over from time to time. An industrial challenge by Kane Hemmings on Jason Pearce, from which the Brewers' striker walked away without censure, was the catalyst for one heated difference of opinion. Having already been booked for simulation in seeking a penalty from referee Trevor Kettle, Hemmings should have seen red, a point Jackson was at pains to make to JFH in the close quarters of the Pirelli Stadium's poorly designed coaching areas.

Kettle, never the most popular official in S.E.7, had already shown red cards to Jayden Stockley and ex-Addick Deji Oshilaja after an 18th minute flashpoint, which was not without its comical side. As an Elliot Lee corner was cleared upfield, all eyes naturally followed the ball; all eyes, that is, except those belonging to Stockley and Oshilaja, who were detained by their own mano-a-mano conflict in Burton's penalty area. While they rolled in the dirt, Kettle made a U-turn and led the caravan back to get to the bottom of things. Holding each by an ear, he asserted his authority.

Kettle: "What's all this? You'd better have a good explanation or you're both for the high jump!"

Stockley: "He started it"

Oshilaja: "No, I didn't, he did! And he carried on after I said fainlights!"

Kettle: "That's enough. Both of you off. And see me in my office before you leave the stadium. You haven't heard the
last of this. You've let your clubs down. You've let your managers down. But most of all, you've let yourselves down."

Never one to sit on a fence, except for that one time when he accidentally scored for Charlton against Chelsea at
Stamford Bridge, Hasselbaink assured us that "Kane tells me the keeper (Craig McGillivray) caught him and he didn't dive. And Deji says Stockley hit him but he didn't retaliate. So that's both situations cleared up. I trust my players. Why would they lie?" Lovely bloke, Jimmy. Always looks for the good in people.

Jackson was more concerned with saluting his players for the battling qualities they displayed in making sure that Ben Purrington's goal, just before the half hour mark, was enough to seal Charlton's third win on the road. "It was a great win, obviously the nature of it," he purred, " I thought we limited them to very few chances. I didn't feel comfortable but it was probably quite comfortable. It doesn't feel that way when you're hanging on and there's 10 minutes to go but I'm really enjoying it... I'm loving it!"

He'll be loving it without the suspended Stockley for three league games; the impressive Akin Famewo will also miss the crucial home game with Plymouth Argyle next Saturday after picking up his fifth booking for time-wasting. Kettle was just as busy as he left the field at half-time. Having booked substitute Harry Arter for a surreptitious, probably salty aside, he was also on the end of a few pithy words from Ben Watson, which he might well have missed. Sometimes it's not so much what you say as the way you say it.

In a game of few chances, the one converted by Purrington was crucial. It was probably conceived at Sparrows Lane and
was based on a short corner routine involving Lee and the excellent Diallang Jaiyesimi. Receiving Lee's right wing
flagkick, Jaiyesimi stood up a precise cross, which Famewo helped on and Purrington glanced inside the far post. Don't you just love it when a plan works out? Because in football it so rarely does.

As this crotchety game wore on, the value of Purrington's goal became obvious. Defences were on top in a bitter war of attrition, with the Addicks' best moment the scorer's second half cross-cum-shot which Ben Garratt pawed to safety the closest they came to doubling their lead. For the Brewers, Joe Powell's irresistible surge into the penalty area set up a ferocious drive, which McGillivray bravely parried at his near post. There was little else of note though Hasselbaink disagreed.

"If you look at it, they didn't give us too many problems and the second half was all us," remarked the blink-and-you-missed-it former Addick. His side, it's true, edged the second period, but McGillivray was conspicuously underworked. The Powell save and the fielding of a few crosses was the extent of his involvement.

Not that Charlton were exactly dynamic. Their performance was more dogged than dashing, less daring than disciplined. Not one player let the side down, with doughty warrior Pearce, Famewo, Lee and the coolly competent Sean Clare worthy of special mention. With Stockley and Famewo unavailable for the crunch visit of Plymouth, Jackson's juggling of personnel will be sorely tested by suspensions and injuries. They've already given this league more than a head start. Catch-up starts now. So buckle up.

Burton: Garratt, Borthwick-Jackson (Blake-Tracy 15), Oshilaja, Powell, Hemmings, Akins (Chapman 73), O'Connor, Shaughnessy, Amadi-Holloway, Leak, Mancienne (Lakin 68). Not used: Balcombe, Patrick, Gilligan, Maddox.

Charlton: McGillivray, Clare, Purrington, Famewo, Pearce, Jaiyesimi (Elewere 83), Gilbey, Lee, Dobson, Stockley, Davison (Blackett-Taylor 68). Not used: Henderson, Morgan, Kirk, Watson.

Referee: Trevor Kettle. Att: 3,555.

Leyton Orient 1 (Smyth 73) Charlton 0

By Kevin Nolan at The Breyer Group Stadium (aka Brisbane Road)

Making eight changes from the first teamers who blitzed Havant & Waterlooville with four late goals in the FA Cup on Saturday, Johnnie Jackson sent out a painfully young side to face Leyton Orient three days later. His Papa John starters included two 19 year-old debutants (Richard Chin and Nazir Bakrin), with "experience" supplied by Albie Morgan, Josh Davison and Deji Elewere, mere kids themselves in football terms.

Orient manager Kenny Jackett responded in kind, making nine changes from the side which beat Ebbsfleet United 1-0 and naming seven academy graduates to face the Addicks. Only Shad Ogie and Hector Kyprianou survived from the team which advanced to the second round of the world's oldest football competition. Both the tyro Jackson and the old sweat Jackett clearly prioritised the FA Cup over the Papa John's Trophy. For them (and most of us) it's the difference between sit-down steak and takeaway pizza.

What rolled out in front of us at The Breyer Group Stadium was essentially a youth team clash to decide which club won the group and got to play at home in the next round. With both teams already qualified, precisely 1,530 Os fans were on hand to "jubilantly celebrate" (as the club's official website put it) Paul Smyth's late matchwinner. Behind the opposite goal, some 762 disgruntled Charlton diehards questioned why Smyth had rarely been as clinical in the more famous red-and-white.

With Jackson in hands-on charge in the coaching area, the young Addicks controlled the first half, played some nice stuff and were a shade unfortunate not to take a lead with them into half-time. They were also committed to a build-from-the-back policy which involved the exchange of totally needless passes across their penalty area, a practice which appears to have been mercifully abandoned by the first team. It was to prove their downfall much later on.

A comparative veteran among so many greenhorns, meanwhile, Albie Morgan was the visitors' midfield hub and produced a peach of a pass which sent Mason Burstow through to fire a rising drive, tipped on to the bar and safety by keeper Rhys Byrne. The East Londoners replied instantly as Tyrese Omotoye cleverly eluded Elewere but was foiled by Nathan Harness' outstretched left leg. A pleasingly end-to-end encounter continued with Harness' lusty clearance flicked on by Burstow for Davison to drag a low shot wide of Byrne's left upright. Davison was then out of luck when his goalbound volley met Morgan's outswinging corner but deflected harmlessly wide off an unwitting Elewere; Ben Dempsey concluded the first half by heading Charles Clayden's left wing cross wastefully wide.

Jackett sent out a more purposeful gang of whippersnappers for the second session and Harness was promptly called on to tip Smyth's header, from Matt Young's cross. over the bar. The former Addick threatened again as Dan Happe's quick-thinking free kick sent him clear to beat Harness to the ball and prod it agonisingly against the foot of a post.

The odds shifted in Charlton's favour when a pair of almost identical fouls by Os' midfielder Anthony Papadopoulos on Morgan, then Burstow, earned yellow cards and inevitable dismissal. Neither offence was especially vicious but referee Purkiss was in no mood for mercy. His draconian attitude had apparently handed the tie to Jackson's lads.

Orient's response to apparent disaster was commendable. A warning shot was fired across Charlton's bows by Ruel Sotiriou, who shot dangerously wide, but their breakthrough was not long delayed. When it arrived, it provided further evidence that playing out from the back is a foolproof recipe for disaster, as proven by the many cock-ups it spawns at every level. On this inauspicious occasion, Harness (Paul Chuckle) and Elewere (Barry Chuckle) combined to gift Smyth his matchwinner. To you...to me...

Harness' pass to Elewere was not only ill-advised but poorly delivered. There was no obvious point to it, not with Smyth loitering nearby and ready to pounce on any error. For his part, Elewere should have solved the problem more responsibly but faltered in possession and had his pocket picked by the diminutive Northern Irishman. Trailing in Smyth's slipstream, he was helpless to intervene as the sharp little forward moved into range and finished efficiently past the advancing Harness.

Smyth's goal might be among the dinosaurs to be picked over in upcoming times. Increasing use of the press has made mucking about at the back as foolish as it always was before the deep thinkers introduced it as the very latest fad. To many of us tactical thickos, the swapping of six or seven meaningless passes inside your own penalty area makes no sense. The very act of passing temporarily relinquishes possession and depends not only on the accuracy of its purveyor, but the control of its recipient. And you know what they say...to err is human, to forgive...nah, no way, these self-inflicted goals are beyond forgiveness!

Orient: Byrne, Wood, Happe, Mitchell, Omotoye (Nkrumah 89), Sotiriou, Young, Papadopoulos, Ogie ( Thompson 71), Kyprianou. Smyth (Kemp 85). Not used: Sargeant, Clay, Sweeney, Tanga. Booked: Papadopoulos (sent off), Sotiriou.

Charlton: Harness, Chin(Viggars 71), Bakrin, Elewere, Souare, Morgan, Clayden, Dempsey, Henry, Burstow (Powell 71) Davison (Aouachria 46). Not used: Harvey, O'Connor, Gavin, Ness.

Referee: Sam Purkiss. Att: 2,292(762 visiting).

Charlton 4 (Stockley 28, 34 pen, Purrington 45+2, Pearce 90+2) Southampton u-21 1 (Lancashire 75)

Say what you like about Papa John's Trophy - and most of us already have - but you won't hear a word against it in the SE7 area of London. Charlton's two best performances of a doleful season have been reserved for this much derided competition. Ask any of the doughty 689 (40) souls who braved an early harbinger of winter to watch them dismantle Southampton U-21s with a first half display of slick, fluent football. They'll testify that the ball zipped accurately from player to player with malicious intent as the visitors were outclassed before the break before withdrawing three goals down, grateful that their deficit was not considerably more daunting.

It's only fair to report that the visitors, no doubt on the end of a dressing room dressing down from manager David Horseman, dominated much of the second half, missing a penalty and briefly reducing their arrears, before their hosts finished them off with a fourth goal in added time. But this tie had already been decided by 45 stand-alone minutes of intensity and purpose, during which the Addicks blew them away.

A strong Charlton side, clearly fancying the job, tore from the blocks and created a flurry of chances in the early going. Sean Clare, one of several players with a point to make, shot narrowly wide, as did Ben Purrington following a sharp exchange of passes with Charlie Kirk. Skipper Jason Pearce sent a header from Albie Morgan's corner inches off target as the one-way traffic flowed towards Jack Bycroft's goal. A cluster of corners kept the pressure on but with almost a half hour played, Charlton needed a goal to put the seal on their superiority, a detail duly taken care of by Jayden Stockley's 28th minute breakthrough.

Morgan's partially cleared right wing corner was re-cycled by George Dobson to its taker, who crossed precisely for Purrington to head forcefully against the bar. A hectic scramble featuring blocked efforts by Purrington and Pearce was resolved by Stockley, who prodded the opener over the line through a thicket of prone bodies. Four minutes later, Stockley increased the lead from the penalty spot after Bycroft upended the combative Clare. His spotkick was struck with ferocious power and rebounded almost to his feet.

The young Saints were in danger of capsizing completely but Kirk let them off the hook by blazing well over the bar after the excellent Morgan's crunching tackle squirted the ball to his feet. They were not so lucky two minutes into added time when George Dobson worked a short corner with Morgan and crossed from the left to the far post, where Purrington nodded in the Addicks' third.

Purrington's goal completed an exhilarating first half, during which first-team fringe players such as Clare, Dobson, Kirk and Diallang Jaiyesimi reminded Nigel Adkins of their availability and ability. Nothing had been seen of the visitors as an attacking force until Ramello Mitchell cut into the penalty area from the left and was ruthlessly chopped down by Adam Matthews as he shaped to shoot. Caleb Watts hit the penalty firmly enough but, diving to his right, Nathan Harness saved brilliantly.

Had Watts scored, Southampton's eventual success 15 minutes from the end might have made the closing stages a bit tricker for Johnnie Jackson's men. But he didn't score and Olly Lancashire's 75th minute goal, which he nodded past Harness from Kami Doyle's centre was no more than a consolation. Even that was nullified by Pearce, who bundled in from all of twelve inches when Stockley headed another of Morgan's corners back across goal to him.

When Nigel Adkins names the starting XI to face Lincoln City, he will be facing an embarrassment of riches, if the evidence he gathered at The Valley on Tuesday evening can be taken seriously. There were sturdy contributions made by Clare and Dobson, more uneven performances from the unquestionably talented Kirk and Jaiyesimi, while Deji Elewere, despite his youth, made a convincing claim for inclusion with his precocious coolness. Meanwhile, the ability of Corey Blackett-Taylor, who relieved Kirk and tore Southampton's left-sided defence to tormented shreds, speaks for itself. Charlton have all the parts at hand; It's Adkins' task to form a settled whole from them. He could do worse than seek inspiration from this pleasing performance and the annihilation of Crawley Town in the same competition back on August 31st.

Never thought I'd say this but the Papa Doc Trophy is growing on me. Roll on the November 9th showdown with Leyton Orient. We must not allow our commitments in League One to distract us, not with Wembley in our sights.

Charlton: Harness, Matthews, Elewere, Pearce, Purrington, Clare (Dempsey 77), Kirk (Blackett-Taylor 75), Morgan, Dobson, Jaiyesimi (Clayden 61), Stockley. Not used: Beadle, Famewo, Bakrin, Burstow. Booked: Dobson, Clayden, Morgan, Pearce.

Southampton U-21: Bycroft, Smallbone (Ballard 46), Lancashire, Simeu, Olufunwa, Watts, Chauke, Mitchell, Payne, Otseh-Taiwo (Davey 82), Doyle. Not used: Wright, Smith, Burnett, Pambou. Booked: Simeu.

Referee David Rock. Att: 869 (40 visiting).

Gillingham 1 (Purrington o.g 56) Charlton 1 (Lee 18).

Owners of a one-goal lead (and good value for it) at half-time on a gorgeous Kentish evening, Charlton seemed on course to stop the recent rot of disappointing results at Priestfield. Masters of midfield, where the canny nous of Ben Watson combined with the ceaseless industry of Elliot
Lee to control the key exchanges, they also had, in Corey Blackett-Taylor, a force of nature in unstoppable mood on either flank.

A blend of pace, power and skill, Blackett-Taylor's treatment of left back Robbie McKenzie bordered on cruel and unusual punishment. He had already turned the defender inside out on the right wing before popping up on the other side to continue the process. McKenzie duly followed him but was beaten by the youngster's stop-start acceleration which brought him into the space he needed to find Lee with a hard low cross. A firm finish from Lee put the Addicks into a deserved 18th minute lead which they seemed more than capable of increasing.

Blackett-Taylor had already provided an inviting chance for Conor Washington to volley wide, then was off target himself when set up by Ben Purrington. Charlton were briefly rampant and should have doubled their lead when Lee's glorious pass sent Washington through; Jack Tucker's last ditch tackle snuffed out the danger but a second goal seemed inevitable. "It's just a shame we didn't score a few more goals in that important time," ruefully remarked Nigel Adkins, an understandable reaction if a trifle optimistic in regretting the lack of "a few more goals." Blimey, steady on there, Nige. Your chaps would have been grateful for even one more.

It's fair to say, though, that the Addicks had been as good in the first half here as they'd been embarrassingly bad during the same period at Adams Park three days previously. Their defence, organised by old soldier Jason Pearce and given muscle by Sam Lavelle, was sound while Albie Morgan responded to Lee's reassuring presence with his best performance so far this season. Up front, Josh Davison protected the ball, fought for his rights, and was a busy handful. It was the perfect half but it couldn't - and didn't - last.

The interval replacement of McKenzie by Danny Lloyd was inevitable while Steve Evans' introduction of Gerald Sithole for Charlie Kelman helped Gills to match up more effectively in the middle of the park. But it was the growing influence of skipper Kyle Dempsey which tipped the balance in Gillingham's favour. Carrying the fight into the Addicks' heartland, Dempsey demanded the ball and used it to devastating effect.

Adkins' Addicks had already survived a raucous -and possibly justified - penalty appeal for handball and a warning shot across their bows when Craig McGillivray saved smartly from Lloyd before they conceded just 11 minutes after the break. It was Dempsey who did the damage by working a short corner on the left, where Lee was unsupported, cutting into the penalty area and shooting powerfully against the far post. Purrington was an innocent victim in turning the rebound into his own net. With over a half hour left on the clock, the visitors were in sudden danger of capsizing. But they weren't entirely finished themselves. With cover doubled on him when in possession, Blackett-Taylor was quieter after the break but still had his moments. Bursting clear on the right, his firm, accurate cross was driven goalwards by Davison but saved magnificently by Cumming. The Chelsea loanee was even more impressive in making an instinctive one-handed stop to keep out Lavelle's close range volley. At the other end, meanwhile, Lloyd took aim from long distance and almost uprooted the left upright with a venomous drive.

A late post-script to an evenly fought clash was almost supplied by Jayden Stockley, who headed Alex Gilbey's outswinging corner narrowly over the bar but Charlton, by that time, were thankful for a point. It inched them above Crewe and Shrewsbury into 21st place in the League One table. Hardly cause for celebration but so much better than nothing. Because for the time being, the Addicks' priority must be to climb out of the division's relegation basement. Once that's accomplished, the sky's the limit -well mid-table anyway. One small step at a time and before you know it, you're looking up not down.

Gillingham: Cumming, Ehmer, Tucker, MacDonald, Dempsey, Kelman (Sithole 46), Lee, McKenzie (Lloyd 46), Adshead, Bennett (Tutonda 74), Oliver. Not used: Chapman, Reeves, Akinde, Akehurst. Booked: Ehmer, Lee.

Charlton: McGillivray, Matthews, Pearce, Lavelle, Purrington, Watson, Lee (Gilbey 74), Morgan, Blackett-Taylor, Washington (Leko 46), Davison (Stockley 80). Not used: Harness, Famewo, Kirk, Clare.

Referee: Keith Stroud.