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Charlton 4 (Kermorgant 47,51, Obika 79, Jackson 85) Bristol City 1 (Reid 59).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Love ’em or only like ’em, the end of season play-offs have proved visionary and have made just about every league game important. The traditional mid-table bore (usually scoreless) eked out by teams with no incentive left is nowadays little more than a ghastly memory in the minds of dinosaurs like your reporter. It disappeared along with Cup Finals regularly ruined by injury in pre-substitute days and teams having to do without key players because the FA duffers habitually scheduled international fixtures to clash with full league schedules. It’s a brave new world now and none the worse for it.

On Saturday, Charlton came as close as it gets to rolling back the years to the good old bad days. Their play-off aspirations had vanished at Middlesbrough a week earlier; their visitors, Bristol City had already been relegated. Their old-fashioned, seemingly meaningless clash fell somewhat short of mouthwatering.

Come the interval, it seemed that our worst fears were well on their way to being realised. This was no rollicking end-to-end fiesta of football though the 13 year-old grandson we’d brought along with us was out of order to start reading a newspaper. He got told, stand on me. Can’t have that sort of disrespect. No telling where it might end.

The only incident worth mentioning in 45 sleepwalking minutes was the premature ending of left back Rhoys Wiggins’ campaign due to another hamstring niggle. His unfortunate departure at least gave Chris Solly the opportunity to show that he is as adept a left back as he is a right back. Lawrie Wilson capably stepped into Solly’s boots on the right.

There must have been something slipped into Charlton’s half-time tea because they re-emerged to set about poor old City as if their parentage had been questioned. Within six explosive minutes, the bewildered visitors had been blown apart by two goals – both of them claimed by unstoppable Yann Kermorgant – and were facing a humiliating rout.

Man on a mission Kermorgant opened the scoring while the Robins were shaking off their first half torpor. Mobile co-striker Jon Obika’s raking pass found Mark Gower on the right, the experienced playmaker pinpointed a venomously struck cross on to the penalty spot and the burly Breton detonated a sideways-on volley powerful enough to threaten goalkeeper Tom Heaton’s health and safety on its way into the roof of the net.

Heaton was still contemplating his narrow escape when the Addicks doubled their tally. Slipped through to the left byline by Callum Harriott’s carefully judged pass, the overlapping Solly stood up a perfect cross to the far post, where Kermorgant headed forcefully home.

It was suddenly carnival time and Charlton generously included the Westcountrymen in their celebrations. A catastrophic lapse in concentration by Michael Morrison allowed bright spark Bobby Reid time and space to reduce the arrears by skilfully lobbing over the advancing David Button. While attempting to claw the ball off the line, unlucky Button sustained an injury which allowed highly rated young keeper Nick Pope to make an unplanned league debut.

As the home side wavered, Pope rode his luck with Albert Adomah screwing Ryan Taylor’s clever lay-off wide and Louis Carey making a mess of converting Neil Kilkenny’s quickthinking free kick. City’s bolt was just as quickly shot and put into context by another two-goal salvo.

Doing almost as he liked, Kermorgant’s uninhibited chip from outside the penalty area was adroitly measured to beat Heaton but, by annoying centimetres, not the crossbar. From close range, Obika gratefully helped himself to a simply headed rebound.

It was by now riveting stuff, rounded off by a wildly popular fourth goal five minutes from time. Growing in influence as his career cobwebs cleared away, shrewd playmaker Gower’s penetrative pass sent workaholic Bradley Pritchard haring to the right byline to drill over a hard, low cross, which Johnnie Jackson slid in from beyond the far post. Much to Kermorgant’s barely concealed irritation, his iconic skipper again tops the scoring with 12 goals. That deflected strike taken away from him at Watford must still rankle in Brittany.

The Addicks end 2012-13 in sound shape. This side has improved steadily; an eight-game unbeaten run, featuring four consecutive home wins, provided evidence that painful lessons had been learned; the agenda for next term must surely target a better return from local derbies than the single point gained this time around. Singlehandedly, Charlton saved Millwall from relegation and boosted Crystal Palace into the play-offs. That won’t do. Charity begins at home and there’s none to spare for either of them. So that’s over to you, Chris. They ain’t all that much anyway.

Charlton: Button (Pope 71), Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins (Wilson 15), Pritchard, Gower, Jackson, Harriott (Wagstaff 79), Obika, Kermorgant. Not used: Hughes, Taylor, Haynes, Kerkar. Booked: Wilson, Gower.

Bristol City: Heaton, Nyatanga, Fontaine, Louis Carey, Cunningham, Anderson, Kilkenny (Ajala 86), Bryan, Reid, Baldock (Adomah 53), Taylor (Burns 84). Not used: Lewis Carey, Foster, Kelly, Elliott.

Referee: Carl Berry. Att: 18,981.

N.B. This final report is dedicated to fellow travellers on Betty Hutchins’ coach (herself a veteran of Lewis coaches) and those other faces regularly glimpsed in foreign fields. Betty rules with a velvet grip and the club are lucky to have her. Her pies are legendary as indeed is she. Any talk of her turning it in must be vigorously discouraged. It’s not on. She’s a Downham girl who survived a potentially fatal collision with an outdoor tin bath tub to get where she is today. There’s years left in her yet. The bath tub’s a goner, though.
Anyway, where there’s no sense, there’s no feeling so we’ll be seeing you all next season. Be well. Be lucky. Be Addicks. K.N.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Middlesbrough 2 (Emnes 76, McDonald 87) Charlton 2 (Pritchard 1, Williams o.g 17).

Kevin Nolan reports from the Riverside Stadium.

No jolly jester at the best of times, Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray looked like he had a stone in his shoe after his side had come from behind to salvage a decent draw from this entertaining game.

“With respect” (brace yourself for the inevitable disrespect), “we should be beating sides like Charlton at our place”, he announced with what can only be described as a straight face. Tone’s a gloomy cove and it’s not often his face is anything but straight but his slight simply cannot go unchallenged. I mean, you can spit on a fan’s floor and call his cat a motheaten so-and-so but you can’t get away with dissing his football team. You go too far, Mr. Mowbray. Satisfaction is demanded.

To be fair, though, the head-to-head statistical record offers the beleaguered manager unimpeachable evidence for his comment. It shows that Boro had won 35, Charlton 34, with 18 draws in their previous 87 league encounters. That slender but undeniably decisive advantage probably justifies in his mind his airy dismissal of the Addicks but it might also symbolise precisely the sort of misplaced hubris that will keep the Teesiders beneath their visitors in the final Championship league table. You need to lighten up, mate. And mind your manners. You’ve been told.

With respect, dogeared Boro had done rather well at their place to recover from a first half drubbing and snatch a worthy point from a better side. Mr. M didn’t mention, of course, that his outclassed players had been favoured by one or two contentious refereeing decisions on their way to redemption. He should have been savouring the draw, not bellyaching about it.

A side like Middlesbrough could hardly afford to fall behind with less than a minute played but that’s exactly what they managed to do. They were ballwatching spectators as Yann Kermorgant threaded a pass through for Ricardo Fuller to cross from the left byline and the onrushing Bradley Pritchard to crash a rising drive into the roof of the net.

Some nine minutes later, Boro were helped out of the hole they were digging for themselves by the first of referee Darren Drysdale’s charitable contributions. Centre back Rhys Williams’ crude trip on Fuller inside the area was as clear a penalty as you’re likely to come across (unless you’re garrulous Ian Holloway, who is victimised by the “most blatant penalty I’ve ever seen in my life” on an almost weekly basis) but Drysdale remained unmoved. He won’t be so cocksure when he sneaks a look at the TV footage but he was adamant. And just as wrong.

Williams might have been still rattled when he conceded an own goal to double Charlton’s lead shortly after his brush with the law. His defensive partner Andre Bikey’s violent challenge on Fuller in the centre circle conceded a free kick, which the impressively calm Mark Gower hoisted to the far post, Kermorgant volleyed across the six-yard box and Williams turned into his own net.

With Gower and Danny Hollands deputising capably for recent linchpins Johnnie Jackson and Andy Hughes, the prospects for another comfortable road victory were encouraging. Kermorgant came close to making it three with a curling effort narrowly wide of the right post but, at the other end, Marvin Emnes’s determined solo run was brilliantly checked by Pritchard shortly before the interval.

Resuming in total control, the Addicks passed and moved crisply but, with Gower and Hollans possibly feeling the pace, took their foot off the attacking pedal. They were served a warning just past the hour when Emnes made a hash of a clearcut chance skilfully fashioned for him by effective substitutes Emmanuel Ledesma and Scott McDonald. And with less than a quarter hour left, their lead was halved.
Running on to Grant Leadbitter’s intelligently flighted pass, Emnes contrived a hastily shinned lob over a flummoxed Ben Hamer. Charlton had been abruptly removed from their comfort zone. The home side sensed the change.

Stung into response, the visitors were again let down by faulty officiating. Clearly onside as he converted Kermorgant’s short cross, Fuller’s close range tap-in was wrongly flagged by one of Drysdale’s unhelpful assistants. TV coverage revealed another officiating error but their bungling ways were far from over.

Heartened by their escape, Boro almost inevitably equalised in the 87th minute. Lively left winger Mustapha Carayol won a left wing corner off Michael Morrison, which he swung in to the far post. Delayed in the congestion zone as he left his line, Hamer was left helpless by McDonald’s firm header.

The implacable Drysdale had at least one more controversial decision in his incompetent repertoire. His added time verdict that Williams had fallen short of fouling Kermorgant in the area was forgiveable; not so his generous interpretation that Justin Hoyte’s panicky trip on substitute Jonathan Obika was legal. Chris Powell was livid; Mowbray non-commital; fill in your own blanks about Olly’s reaction.

What’s Crystal Palace’s manager doing in my report by the way? He wasn’t even there. He was up at Blackburn doing his nut. About a penalty which turned out not to be a penalty, of all things. Gertcha! Go on, on yer bike! Bloody liberty taker.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Rhys Williams, Bikey, Halliday, Reach (Ledesma 54), Leadbitter, Main (McDonald 54), Smallwood, Carayol, Emnes. Not used: Leutwiler, Bailey, Luke Williams, Burgess, Haroun.
Booked: Smallwood, Leadbitter.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins, Pritchard, Hollands, Gower, Harriott (Kerkar 80), Fuller (Obika 80), Kermorgant. Not used: Button, Taylor, Green, Haynes, Wilson.

Referee: Darren Drysdale. Att: 15,011.

Charlton 2 (Dervite 63, Obika 90) Wolves 1 (Doyle 66).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

For the second home game running, Jonathan Obika climbed off the bench to turn what seemed destined to be a disappointing 1-1 draw into an important 2-1 victory. Leeds United were his victims two weeks ago in the last of five added minutes; this time the impact sub was at it again a little earlier to sicken relegation haunted Wolves in the last seconds of regulation time.

So often on the receiving end themselves this season, Charlton -and especially Obika- are finally getting the hang of the last punch knockout. Well, nearly last punch because on this occasion there were still six extra minutes to negotiate, a task they sailed through with minimum fuss. That’s something else they’ve professionally mastered on their way to a thoroughly satisfactory ninth position.

Obika’s inelegant winner settled this scruffy clash as the fourth official was preparing his added time board. The spadework was provided by Yann Kermorgant’s delicate flick and Callum Harriott’s nicely timed pass to Rhoys Wiggins; the rampaging left back’s turn of pace to the left byline was rounded off by his low cutback for Danny Green to shoot optimistically. A helpful deflection sent the ball spinning wide of the left post, where Obika was perfectly postioned to drill a firm drive into the bottom corner.

This particularly disheartening defeat leaves Wolves teetering on the edge of a second successive relegation, an unthinkable fate for a club with such unimpeachable pedigree. Riddled by injuries to key players and lacking, through suspension for this key game, the vital midfield bite of Jamie O’Hara, the weakened Midlanders seemed there for the taking by in-form Charlton. That’s not the way it worked out because the Addicks were unable to reproduce the intensity which has driven them through a well-timed five-game unbeaten streak. But they won and winning when you are not at your best is a priceless knack.

A patchy first half was illuminated only by a brief flash of inspiration involving rookie Harriott and veteran Ricardo Fuller, both of whom were upstaged by a moment of breathtaking audacity from Wolves’ spiky skipper Karl Henry.

Just turned 19, Harriott is too young to be afraid of failure, his confidence remaining undimmed by the occasional knockback. Embarking on an electrifying solo run which carried him through a series of tackles, the kid respectfully unloaded a short pass for Fuller, 14 years his senior, to carry on the good work. Stepping inside from left to right, the seasoned pro unleashed a vicious shot which a surprised Dorus De Vries managed to beat away with both hands.

Henry’s contribution was more spectacular. Controlling a lofted clearance on his chest near the centre circle, the rangy midfielder let fly uninhibitedly on the volley from some 45 yards. His long range missile soared over Ben Hamer, possibly struggling for vision against a glaring sun, but rebounded to safety off the crossbar. That’s how your luck goes when you’re struggling at the bottom of any league. And in this unforgiving dog-eat-dog Championship, you need any and every break going.

The 12th minute loss withdrawal of talisman Andy Hughes, meanwhile, had broken manager Chris Powell’s recent run of luck with injuries. The loss of his captain Johnnie Jackson shortly after the interval was equally problematic but the Addicks’s response to adversity was encouraging. It was Jackson’s replacement Green, in fact, who was instrumental in Charlton’s breakthrough.

Gifted the ball by a wayward pass from Tongo Doumbia, the winger hesitated before shooting but earned himself a right wing corner off a desperate defender. His flagkick was cleared back to him, his return cross deflected behind for a second corner, which caused untold mayhem in the six-yard box. Fuller tried his luck before Dervite cleared up the debris by ramming home his third goal of the season from three yards. An untidy goal entirely befitting a similarly untidy game, it was, nonetheless, greeted ecstatically by a crowd captivated by Powell’s bonny bunch of battlers.

Charlton’s lead, unfortunately, lasted only three minutes, because almost before you could say Jack Robinson, the defender’s huge throw was flicked on by Roger Johnson and glanced in off the base of the right post by Kevin Doyle.

With an invaluable point in their grasp, Wolves promptly chose the wrong time to wobble. Kaspar Gorkss’ booking for fouling Green launched a quickfire spate of four cautions, the last of them meted out to Stephen Hunt for an ugly challenge on Hamer, which re-awakened memories of his infamous clash with Petr Cech (a case where, to be fair, the put-upon Hunt presented a valid case for innocence). But not this time.

Their loss of discipline was to catch up with the increasingly desperate visitors. For up stepped Jonathan-come-lately Obika to break their hearts. That trek back to the Black Country looks like ending in the horror that is League One. You wouldn’t wish it on your most bitter enemies….yeah, you would.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins, Hughes (Gower 12) Pritchard, Jackson (Green 62), Harriott, Kermorgant, Fuller (Obika 81). Not used: Button, Taylor, Kerkar, Wilson.

Wolves: De Vries, Doherty, Johnson, Robinson, Gorkss, Hunt (Hamill 86), Henry, Sigurdarson, Doumbia, Ward (Batth 90) Doyle. Not used: McCarey, Dicko, Foley, Cassidy, McAlinden. Booked: Gorkss, Doherty, Sigurdarson, Hunt.

Referee: Roger East. Att: 19,023.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Cardiff City 0 Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from Cardiff City Stadium.

Cast as bit players on a tumultuous evening when Cardiff City were meant to imperiously clinch promotion to the Premier League, Charlton came close to ruining the script and upstaging the champions-elect. Well before referee Stuart Mathieson blew his final whistle, City had unashamedly settled for the point they needed, with goalkeeper David Marshall clearly under instructions to make a meal of his goal kicks. Confirmation that Watford had lost at Millwall removed the last vestige of doubt and the celebrations duly commenced.

The Addicks had done their sturdy best to prolong the agony. Those of us educated by their record away from home recognised the ingredients of organisation, discipline and plain old bloodyminded stubbornness that have defied so many of their hosts this season. But it’s equally true that despite Cardiff’s domination of possession (59%-41% apparently), it was Charlton who came closer to scoring.

The Bluebirds, still referred to as such despite the contemptible boardroom decision to bin over 100 years of tradition and make a showbusiness change to red, made marginally  the better start. Craig Bellamy curled a free kick narrowly too high before Aron Gunnarsson’s clumsy foul on Yann Kermorgant  conceded a setpiece 30 yards out, over which Johnnie Jackson thoughtfully deliberated before bending a superb setpiece, which left Marshall groping helplessly but cannoned to safety off his left post. If nothing else, City had been warned that these hardnosed Englishmen had every intention of pooping their promotion party.

Still a potent threat in his football dotage, Bellamy’s duel with Chris Solly, one which Charlton’s imperturbable right back progressively dominated, was a pivotal feature of the first half. Before resorting to his customary Bellamyaching as he disappeared into Solly’s hip pocket, City’s prodigal son moved dangerously on to Gunnarsson’s inviting pass but sidefooted wastefully over the bar. To be fair, it’s impossible to ignore him.

The same could be said of the excellent Solly, who stood alone like Horatio at the bridge as South Korean international Kim Bo-Kyung led a three-on one fast break over the halfway line. With Bellamy and Rudy Gestede in space to his left, Bo-Kyung’s heavy touch was all Solly needed to step in and alertly snuff out the danger.
After Gestede glanced Andrew Taylor’s cross wide, Mathieson’s cockeyed decision that Rhoys Wiggins’ scrupulously fair tackle on Bo-Kyung was in fact a foul, the Blue/Redbirds were provided with a late chance to grab the lead before the interval. Bo-Kyung’s free kick beat a scrambling Ben Hamer but rippled the sidenetting. Justice was seen to be done.

Left back Taylor opened the second period by clipping the outside of the left post from long distance but the visitors were far from toothless themselves; Michael Morrison swivelled gracefully on to Solly’s throw in City’s penalty area before realising where he was and slicing wildly over Marshall’s bar. Hamer’s awkward save at the second attempt from Leon Barnett’s deflected shot kept the sides level before the Addicks again put the wind up their increasingly anxious hosts just past the hour mark.

Turning cleverly on to Solly’s low free kick, Ricardo Fuller moved across Ben Turner to make space for a left-footed drive which was heading inside the left post until Marshall, at full length, brilliantly touched it to safety.

Six minutes later, the increasingly fraught locals erupted in unrestrained joy as Craig Noone headed home Taylor’s cross. Unrestrained that is, until a linesman ruled that he had done so from an offside position. It was almost cruel to witness their despair. As if.

Enough was enough decided City manager Malky Mackay, a decision inspired by the dangerous shot from Callum Harriott which shaved the bar five minutes from the end. A draw suits South Welsh purposes, he concluded, leaves Charlton’s honour intact and everyone a winner of sorts. With a pitch invasion imminent, that included referee Matthieson, clearly complicit in the mutual agreement to shoulder arms. Having alerted players, managers and his fellow officials of his intentions, he blew his final whistle, then burned off speedster Harriott on his everyone-for-himself sprint to sanctuary. Impressively rapid though he was, he was outsmarted by former Swansea City player Mark Gower, whose judicious deployment near the tunnel had him in the showers before the natives could engulf him. This was no place for a “Swansea Jack” to be hanging around. Or anyone else who didn’t know the words of Men of Harlech. We used to sing it at school but you’ll understand that it’s a bit foggy these days. Rousing song, though.

N.B. It was a mischievous quirk of the fixture list that sent Charlton to South Yorkshire (Barnsley) on Saturday, then South Wales (Cardiff) on Tuesday.
Was it my imagination but did both of these mining areas have their backs turned?

Cardiff: Marshall, McNaughton, Turner, Barnett, Taylor, Noone (Smith 72), Mutch, Gunnarsson, Bo-Kyung, Bellamy, Gestede. Not used: Lewis, Whittingham, Cowie, Conway, Mason, Nugent.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins, Hughes (Gower 81), Pritchard (Green 88), Jackson, Harriott, Kermorgant, Fuller (Obika 81). Not used: Button, Taylor Kerkar, Wilson. Booked: Fuller.

Referee: Stuart Mathieson. Att: 26,338.

Barnsley 0 Charlton 6 (Pritchard 4, Jackson 19, Kermorgant 48, Harriott 59, Kerkar 80, Fuller 90.

Kevin Nolan reports from Oakwell.

Forget the mathematics. Bin the various equations. Wake up from your League One nightmares. Charlton will be playing in the Championship next season. This merciless demolition of Barnsley removed the last shred of doubt that they have both the quality and character to thrive at this level.

During the course of a tortuous campaign which turned at times into a route march through spilt treacle, the Addicks have grown inexorably stronger. Tactically flexible and consistently adaptable, they have taken the occasional setback in their stride on their way to a creditable position in the top half of the table.

This runaway victory in South Yorkshire over bang in-form Barnsley was typical of their steady improvement, not to mention the shrewd manipulation by manager Chris Powell of a fluctuating squad.

At one end of the age scale at Oakwell was Callum Harriott, recently turned 19 and a heartwarming success since breaking into the first team last month. A will-o-the-wisp ball player, the academy graduate has clearly been coached to add nuts-and-bolts effort to his repertoire of tricks. As usual, he tackled, covered, worked his teenaged socks off for the cause and, with a handy slice of luck, became one of six scoring contributors to Charlton’s best-ever away win.

Predictably not among those scorers was 35 year-old Andy Hughes, whose addition to the starting line-up against Bolton Wanderers two weeks previously was the cause of raised eyebrows among the more sceptical of supporters. After a lengthy absence through injury, much was asked of the streetwise veteran but, not for the first time, Powell was proved right, with his faith in the old pro vindicated by a string of mature performances.

In this potentially difficult game, Hughes was a model of professionalism, consistently chucking a spanner into the Tykes’ midfield engine room, his timely interventions ensuring that his side hogged the ball and applied lethal pressure. The home side were hardly given a look-in.

The point is, of course, that Powell’s personnel have adapted imaginatively to new challenges as the season has worn on. At centre back, for instance, Dorian Dervite has capably picked up the slack caused by injuries to Leon Cort and Matt Taylor, making it unthinkable to drop him from a centre back position he has made his own.

In spirited form themselves, meanwhile, following battling draws at Crystal Palace and Cardiff, Barnsley’s cruel dissection began as early as the fourth minute. Foraging in the inside right channel, Ricardo Fuller ran down Chris Solly’s pass, returning the ball to the aggressive right back, whose low cross was volleyed against Luke Steele’s chest by Yann Kermorgant, Pouncing on the rebound, Bradley Pritchard netted efficiently.

Relaxed and confident, the Addicks pressed home their advantage. Set up by the feverishly busy Pritchard, Johnnie Jackson’s clever footwork made space for the low right footed drive he drilled through the unhappy Steele’s legs.

Shaken to the core by the turn of events, Barnsley boss David Flitcroft reacted boldly, with old stager Jason Scotland, already an on-loan scorer for Ipswich against Charlton this term, replacing Tomasz Cywka, the South Yorkshiremen’s goalscoring hero at The Valley in October. Scotland responded immediately by burrowing along the right byline to set up a close range chance for Jacob Mellis, which was cleared off the line by the outstanding Rhoys Wiggins.

Scotland tried again shortly after the break, playing Chris Dagnall clear on the right to slice wildly wide. Duly warned that the issue was far from sealed, the visitors promptly blew Barnsley’s resistance apart with easily the best of their six goals.

Alertly reading Wiggins’ overlap outside him, Harriott weighted the perfect pass for the left back to cross perfectly on the run. At the far post, Kermorgant made easy work of nodding past Steele, before continuing into the net to celebrate with his adoring public, all 672 of them.

The Tykes’ misery was far from over. On the hour, Harriott received Pritchard’s short ball and beat a demoralised Steele at his near post with a wickedly swerving but eminently saveable drive. In defensive tatters by now, Flitcroft’s side was reduced to 10 strugglers, with Stephen Dawson earning a straight red card for a late challenge on Kermorgant. Showing commonsense, Powell instantly replaced a battered Kermorgant with Jon Obika and sensible withdrew Jackson, in imminent danger of suspension with nine cautions hanging over him, in favour of Mark Gower.

Not that the revamped Addicks eased off. A third substitute, Salim Kerkar, relieved young Harriott and quickly made it five by finishing off Obika’s blocked shot. Again, their victims reacted disastrously with last defender Tom Kennedy dismissed for chopping Fuller down in full flight for goal. Almost inevitably, in added time, with Steele’s goal being used for target practice, Fuller helped himself to a gratuitous but richly deserved clincher.

So records were set in South Yorkshire. This was Charlton’s best-ever away victory and there is talk that it’s the first time six separate scorers have registered in one game. That’s a detail, of course, for which the late, great Colin Cameron was our go-to guy. The best I can come up with is an educated guess, proving that there will never be another dear old Colin. You should cut me a little slack already so soon!

Barnsley: Steele, Wiseman, Hassell, Foster, Kennedy, Cwyka (Scotland 29), Dawson, Perkins, Mellis (O’Brien 59), O’Grady (Harewood 59), Dagnall. Not used: Alnwick, Jones, Rose, Cranie. Sent off: Kennedy, Dawson.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins, Hughes, Pritchard, Jackson (Gower 66), Harriott (Kerkar 78), Fuller, Kermorgant (Obika 66). Not used: Button, Taylor, Green, Wilson.

Referee: Geoff Eltringham. Att: 9,469.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton 2 (Jackson 47, Obika 90), Leeds United 1 (Varney 81).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Charlton’s long march to freedom picked up momentum at a euphoric Valley, where Jonathan Obika’s 96th minute goal – the Addicks’ first added time strike of the season – sank stubborn Leeds United. Now seven points above the relegation places, with just fifteen points still at stake, only a collapse of epic proportions will send them down. That’s unlikely to happen under Chris Powell’s calm stewardship.

Starved of opportunities since joining Charlton in February, Obika replaced teenage whizkid Callun Harriott with seven minutes left, announcing his arrival with an electric burst of speed which left right back Sam Byram strugging in his wake before he cut back an inviting pass to Chris Solly, whose close range shot was blocked.

With the bit clamped firmly between his teeth, the Tottenham loanee was clearly hungry for action. His run into the penalty area was precisely timed as Rhoys Wiggins threw into Salim Kerkar, switched the return on to his less favoured right foot and centred accurately. Having lost his marker, Obika headed emphatically past Paddy Kenny before disappearing into a wild melee which united players, staff and crowd in perfect communion. There really is nothing quite like the last gasp winner, as Charlton have discovered to their cost on several occasions this term. This time it was their turn.

Determined if unspectacular, the Addicks deserved this pivotal win, even if deputy Leed boss Neil Redfearn couldn’t bring himself to agree. He felt that United were the better side and had been ill-served by several of referee Stuart Attwell’s decisions. He also seemed  peeved that the hosts had scored their first goal “against the run of play.” With Johnnie Jackson’s 10th goal of the season timed at 47 minutes, there hadn’t actually been a whole lot of play since the break but we won’t fall out about it. Departed boss Neil Warnock, sorely missed not only for his classic good looks but his Corinthian attitude, would have whined more effectively but, of course, he had cut and run during the previous week. So it was down to Redfearn to make a case for the indefensible.

Jackson’s strike was typical of the skipper’s eye for a chance. Coming back to an onside position as Ricardo Fuller’s cross was scuffed clear to Andy Hughes, he was favoured by a helpful ricochet from the defensive midfielder’s low drive. One steadying touch prepared the brutal left-footed bullet which rocketed into the roof of the net with Kenny helpless. Jackson is quick enough when he needs to be.

It’s difficult to justify Redfearn’s claim to superiority at the time. Charlton had largely controlled the first half, had made the majority of the chances and had comfortably handled the on-paper menace of Steve Morison and Ross McCormack up front for the visitors.

United, in fact, lived dangerously during the early going after David Norris crudely fouled Jackson and Solly’s free kick was hooked goalward by Dorian Dervite, saved smartly by Kenny but blasted haplessly over the bar by Michael Morrison; they wobbled again as Wiggins’ deep cross picked out Yann Kermorgant at the far post but was headed wide; and there was little they could do to stop livewire Callum Harriott, who broke clear to fire narrowly wide. At the other end, McCormack’s clever backheel made space for Paul Green to cut in from the right to shoot carelessly over the bar.

Jackson’s opener seemed to have sent the Addicks on their way to a relatively easy victory but that’s not the way things are done down in S.E.7. Busy Bradley Pritchard nearly eased the inevitable nerves but saw his volleyed cross from the right byline pass untouched across goal on its way for a throw. Gradually, Powell’s men retreated to defend what they had; just as gradually newly encouraged United came into contention. Hughes’ diving header back to Ben Hamer brilliantly foiled Morison, who then picked up Michael Tonge’s rebounded shot to drive viciously into the sidenet. But with nine minutes left, Leeds drew level and were probably entitled to parity.

Driven deep alongside his defensive colleagues, Kermorgant’s desperate foul on McCormack was predictably punished. Lee Peltier’s towering free kick triggered a hectic scramble which Charlton seemed to have survived until Lee Varney, despite claims for handball, hooked home a deflected equaliser.

Shocked by the setback, the Addicks declined to settle for a still useful point and went looking for a winner. Solly had taken to rampaging forward and finished a determined run by drilling a low crosshot narrowly wide. As the Yorkshiremen wavered, substitute Michael Brown picked up his customary booking for a particularly nasty foul on Kermorgant, then repeated the offence without penalty. But in Obika, a far more effective substitute was to have the last word. And the word was spelled G-O-A-L!

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins, Pritchard, Hughes, Jackson, Harriott (Obika 83), Kermorgant, Fuller (Kerkar 77). Not used: Button, Taylor, Stephens, Gower, Wilson. Booked: Jackson.

Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Pearce, Peltier (Austin 90), Warnock, Green, Tonge (Brown 88), White (Varney 66), McCormack, Morison. Not used: Ashdown, Diouf, Habibou, Poleon. Booked: Tonge, Norris, Brown.

Referee: Stuart Attwell. Att: 18,900.

Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from Amex Community Stadium.

Any doubt that Charlton have the heart and resolve to deal with the lingering threat of relegation was dispelled in freezing conditions on the South Coast on Tuesday evening. A performance of guts and commitment under severe pressure from Gus Poyet’s talented Brighton proved enough to secure a bitterly earned point, their 51st of this tortuous route march of a season. That’s enough to keep them up – or it would be under normal circumstances. Problem is that there’s nothing normal about the 2012-13 campaign. So the survival fight goes on under Chris Powell’s astute leadership.

Criticised in Tuesday’s programme for “lacking a Plan B” and “not making his substitutions soon enough to affect the game”, Powell’s clever deployment of his personnel was, in fact, instrumental in a rewarding four-point Easter. His resourcefulness in adapting his selection to circumstances is too often overlooked.

Never reluctant to make changes, without resorting to change for its own sake, the boss brought Ben Hamer back after a four-game absence and was rewarded at Brighton by a performance of breathtaking quality. Like Hamer, meanwhile, new additions Dorian Dervite and Andy Hughes had suffered in the alarming early chaos which saw the Addicks go 2-0 down to Bolton on Easter Saturday before recovering magnificently to win 3-2. All three of them, however, kept their heads and their places at the Amex Stadium where they disputed between them the notional award as man-of-the match.

Powell also altered his formation by adding Lawrie Wilson to a five-man midfield and dropping Ricardo Fuller to the bench, after the veteran’s heroic exertions three days previously. His approach was unapologetically defensive but this result vindicated him. The Addicks are involved in an unrelenting relegation struggle and those fans who yearn after beguiling football were advised to park themselves on the sofa to drool over the molten talents of PSG and Barcelona on TV. It’s a matter of life or death near the foot of the Championship table and no place for the fainthearted.

Dervite was the first of the terrific trio to make his mark with a selflessly brave block to deny Leonardo Ulloa a point blank chance. In front of him, Hughes settled down quickly to break up play with tackles and interceptions before passing sensibly out of trouble, his calmness lending confidence under the Seagulls’ steady pressure. But it was Hamer’s individual brilliance which inspired the besieged visitors to endure.

Possibly nettled at being dropped for four games, the often emotional keeper began a string of superb saves by reacting smartly to turn Matthew Upson’s header to safety, then capably dealt with a crisp drive from Kazenga LuaLua. Luck came to his rescue when Inigo Calderon hastily sliced a point blank opportunity wide as he stood watching helplessly. His impressive coolness in dealing with crosses and corners received stout support from the lusty boots and willing heads which dealt with so many of the balls which Albion rained in on his beleaguered penalty area.

It wasn’t quite one-way traffic, a point made by the sharp turn and blistering shot sent inches over the bar by Yann Kermorgant before the interval. But the siege continued unabated after the break, with Will Buckley heading Vicente Rodriguez’ cross wastefully wide at the far post. Another fine save by Hamer, after Upson met David Lopez’ corner, kept the scores level before the Addicks responded spiritedly, with Liam Bridcutt emulating the visitors’ stubbornness by heroically blocking Bradley Pritchard’s close range effort.

A late winner from either side was never out of the question and Hamer’s full length save from Lopez was more than matched by the breathtaking effort made by Tomasz Kuszczak to fingertip substitute Dale Stephens’ blistering half-volley over the bar. But it was Hamer who claimed the goalkeeping kudos with an astonishing added time save from Ulloa.

Picked out by Bridcutt’s precise cross, Ulloa seemed certain to break Charlton hearts until Hamer, while moving to his right, adjusted to divert the ball up on to his crossbar and over to apparent safety. The emergency was far from over because Gordon Greer managed to hit the left post from Lopez’ resultant corner. By that time, it must be admitted, your scrupulously neutral reporter had subsided into gibbering panic and his version of events, from the, er, unbiased sanctity of the press box, should be accompanied by a healthy dose of scepticism. Was it Rhoys Wiggins or Chris Solly, on the line, who helped Greer’s effort on to the post? Whoever it was, tell him from me he’s a hero!

Brighton: Kuszczak, Calderon, Upson, Greer, Bridge, Rodriguez, Bridcutt, Lopez, Buckley, Ulloa, LuaLua. Not used: Ankergren, Hammond, El-Abd, Crofts, Orlandi, Painter, Barker. Booked: Bridcutt, Greer.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins, Wilson (Stephens 75), Hughes (Taylor 90), Pritchard, Jackson, Harriott, Kermorgant. Not used: Button, Haynes, Kerkar, Fuller, Gower. Booked: Jackson, Hughes.

Referee: Mick Russell. Att: 28,043.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton 3 (Jackson 25, Dervite 60, Kermorgant 63,pen) Bolton 2 (Sordell 4, Kamara 20).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Two down to promotion hopefuls after 20 minutes, a re-vamped defensive unit all at sea, demoralising defeat by an initially superior side on the cards. The scenario was familiar but so was the solution.

Back in early November, Charlton had found themselves in similarly depressing circumstances against league leaders Cardiff City. On that riotous occasion, they had turned to what they call these days their go-to guy and were not disappointed. Before half-time, Johnnie Jackson had scored twice, the visitors were shellshocked and a memorable come-from-behind victory was on its way. No need to mention the added time wobble that reduced the home crowd to quivering apprehension. It all turned out fine anyway.

Five months on, the Addicks were up against it again as rampant Bolton tore them to pieces with an early assault, missing two clearcut chances before Marvin Sordell gave them a 4th minute lead. Chris Powell’s bold plan to use Andy Hughes’ defensive know-how in front of a back four, where Dorian Dervite was deputising for Matt Taylor, was in tatters; the crowd threatened briefly to mutiny as Medo Kamara doubled Wanderers’ advantage; the Valley hoodoo seemed certain to continue. Well, cometh the hour, cometh the bloke. The right bloke in Jackson at precisely the right hour.

To those who believe that football is all about blistering pace, Charlton’s cool skipper leaves a bit to be desired. Not the fastest creature on two legs, though hardly as slow as made out by his few detractors, he uses something you just can’t rent or buy in compensation. It’s called a football brain and it helps its owner to anticipate the ebb and flow of play. It’s no accident that Jackson has “popped up” nine times this season with important goals. Just when Charlton needed him most, he did it again on Saturday.

Fastening on to a short pass from bright-as-a-button Callum Harriott, he outflanked a massed defence with a right-to-left lateral run across the penalty area. The far right corner was always his left-footed target, one he found with unerring accuracy off the post. The effect was electric. Bolton were no longer as cocksure, the Addicks were galvanised, their crowd sensed the dramatic change of mood. Jackson was unable to repeat his two-goal feat before the break but his goal proved a game changer. What would Powell do without him? The question is, of course, rhetorical.

Steady improvement spread rapidly through the team. Consummate pro Hughes settled down admirably while Dervite showed yet again the versatility that has bailed Charlton out on many occasions this season. The brawny Frenchman was to feature at the other end early in the second period. More of that soon.

Shocked by Jackson’s unexpected reply, meanwhile, Bolton began to implode. Their progress towards anarchy began with the booking meted out to right back Sam Ricketts for a wild challenge on Harriott, the consequences of which came home to roost shortly after the break. Possibly a slow learner, Ricketts launched another high “tackle” on Ricardo Fuller and was given inevitable marching orders by referee Trevor Kettle. His punishment further fitted his crime as Yann Kermorgant struck the left post with a clever free kick, leaving Dervite to efficiently slot the rebound past Andy Lonergan.

It was the Trotters’ turn to struggle and while they were down, the Addicks ruthlessly kicked them again. Fuller was proving an elusive handful, his darting surge into the penalty area luring Darren Pratley into an ill-timed sliding tackle from behind. Having waited patiently while the almost berserk visitors did everything they knew to distract him, Kermorgant shut them up by calmly converting the stonewall spotkick. Now, presumably, we’ve heard the last of his infamous play-off miss while with Leicester. Not before time, either.

Still in with a chance,10-man Bolton were at pains to squander it. Their 69th minute substitute Craig Davies rose to the occasion with back-to back bookings for crude fouls on Michael Morrison and Rhoys Wiggins, while the clothesline attack on Chris Solly by Craig Dawson should have seen him beat Davies to the showers.

Speaking of Davies, the scene was ideally set for old warhorse Kevin to apply his wrecking ball impact to his side’s plight but, sensibly perhaps, manager Dougie Freedman kept him on the bench. Kev might have quite enjoyed the chaos which greeted the final whistle, with an enraged posse of his colleagues, led by incandescent captain Zat Knight, surrounding Mr. Kettle to presumably place their orders with him. Milk and two sugars, please, ref. No hurry but if you’re brewing up…

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Dervite, Morrison, Wiggins, Pritchard, Hughes (Gower 72), Jackson, Harriott (Wilson 86), Kermorgant, Fuller (Haynes 86). Not used: Button, Green, Obika, Feely. Booked: Hughes, Solly, Kermorgant.

Bolton: Lonergan, Ricketts, Knight, Dawson, Alonso, Kamara, Spearing, Pratley (Odelusi 82), Chung-Yong Lee (Craig Davies 69), Ngog, Sordell (Butterfield 59), Not used: Bogdan, Eagles, Kevin Davies, Wheater.

Referee: Trevor Kettle. Att: 17,322.

Charlton 0 Millwall 2 (Easter 58, Lowry 65).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

According to Ben Franklin, death and taxes are the only certainties in life. If he was still around, though, the old codger might add another sure thing…Millwall beat Charlton at football. No matter how the teams are doing when they meet…Millwall beat Charlton at football. It’s what they call a gimme, Ben.

This latest clash of historically mismatched rivals made the point perfectly. Logic pointed to a rare win for the Addicks because just about everything was in their favour. Having soldiered through two exacting cup-ties since Charlton last played, the Lions arrived at The Valley, not only lacking influential midfielder James Henry but also deprived of regular centre back Mark Beevers through suspension. With playmaker Andy Keogh presumably feeling the strain and benched, where he remained, they were further disrupted after just 16 minutes by the loss of deputy defender Karleigh Osborne to yet another injury. Depleted and supposedly drained, the visitors seemed there for the taking by rested, virtually full-strength Charlton. Well, we should have known better because if you don’t learn from history, you’re a cinch to repeat its mistakes, not to mention its results. And history teaches us that… Millwall beat Charlton at football. So let’s have a go at an explaining the phenomenon.

The suspicion lingers that generation after generation of Charlton players have had it drummed into them that games against Millwall have no more significance than those against any other opposition. The same number of points are available from each fixture and it’s an unnecessary distraction to get caught up in all this local derby hype. So the Addicks are not so much pumped up as let down. Their feet stay firmly on the ground. No added edge for them. It’s all very professional and strictly business.

Now try telling that to Millwall’s players. It’s a safe bet that over in S.E.16, they listen to a more belligerent mantra, one which leaves them in no doubt what this fixture means to their fans. They don’t dare lose and it’s this healthy fear that motivates them. They simply want it more and it’s exactly that desire which added a yard of pace during this game, as an example, to man mountain Danny Shittu’s legs in several one-on-one face-offs with speedster Danny Haynes. Ex-Addick Shittu was the very symbol of the visitors’ defiant togetherness.

The first half of Charlton’s latest humiliation suggested briefly that the usual trend was about to be reversed. If anything, the Addicks had the better of its humdrum exchanges, with David Forde initially shaky in dealing with Bradley Pritchard’s snapshot, then making a more efficient job of turning aside a fiercer effort from Callum Harriott. They turned out to be his only genuine saves. At the other end, premature substitute Adam Smith, under crucial pressure from Chris Solly, snatched at the Lions’ best chance and drove it wastefully wide. There wasn’t much else to recommend 45 forgettable minutes.

A bright start to the second period offered the home fans further encouragement. Harriott’s clever footwork tempted Alan Dunne into a rash foul on the edge of the penalty area but Yann Kermorgant curled the free kick a whisker wide; Rhoys Wiggins’ cleverly improvised cross was touched on by Kermorgant for Lawrie Wilson to lift a point-blank chance over the bar at the far post. And that was Charlton’s bolt well and truly shot. Not for the first time in the one-sided history of this fixture, Millwall coldly put them in their place.

Emergency loan acquisitions Richard Chaplow and Jermaine Easter are possibly no more than nodding acquaintances but they were clearly on the same wavelength as Chaplow squeezed a left-wing cross between Solly and Johnnie Jackson. Meeting the low delivery at the near post, Easter expertly tucked it under David Button’s body and Charlton were already doomed to yet another home defeat, this one far more more painful than most.

Seven minutes later came the coup-de-grace, set up by Pritchard’s boneheaded foul on Smith as the full back bore down on Charlton’s penalty area. From 25 yards, Shane Lowry rubbed salt in their wounds with a wonderful free kick bent beyond Button’s desperate grasp into the top right corner.

What remained was the agony of a crowd which had touchingly turned up in hope and were left to reproach themselves for falling for it yet again. Their refusal to turn on their beaten team commends them but, don’t be fooled, they never get used to losing to Millwall. There aren’t even any past glories to recall – no, wait a minute, there was the famous 2-0 romp in the snow at the Den in December 1995 but it’s a bit embarrassing to harp on about a victory 18 years ago in a different century. And even that is effectively trumped by the much more recent 4-0 debacle that still keeps this reporter awake at night.

So the thing is, Ben, you can rely on taxes and bet your mortgage on death. But here’s something else to consider…Millwall beat Charlton at football. And for certainty that beats your two all hollow.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton: Button, Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins, Wilson (Wagstaff 67), Pritchard, Jackson, Harriott, Haynes (Fuller 67), Kermorgant. Not used: Hamer, Evina, Stephens, Obika, Dervite. Booked: Pritchard.

Millwall: Forde, Jack Smith, Shittu, Osborne (Adam Smith 16), Dunne, Chris Taylor, Trotter, Lowry, Chaplow (Abdou 57), N’Guessan (Easter 57), Hulse. Not used: Maik Taylor, Woolford, Keogh, Saville. Booked: Smith, Dunne.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick. Att: 18,514.

Huddersfield Town 0 Charlton 1 (Harriott 4).

Kevin Nolan reports from the John Smith’s Stadium.

In brass monkeys weather on a pudding of a pitch, Charlton took an important step in securing their Championship future with this muck-and-nettles win over Huddersfield Town at the lyrically named John Smith Stadium. In a definitive road performance, they did to the Terriers what Burnley had done to them at The Valley a fortnight earlier. It wasn’t exactly art but it was as spirited as hell.

To be frank, when a 4th minute strike from Callum Harriott gave them the lead, the odds against it turning out to be the winner were prohibitive. But en route to making the teenager’s first league goal stand up for over 90 more minutes, the Addicks offered blood, sweat and, ultimately, tears of relief. Away from home, they’re a tough nut to crack.

Unaffected, as kids often are, by the tension ridden occasion, Harriott showed that a fighter’s heart underpins the shimmies and step-overs which decorate his performance. He also contributed willingly to the winning of the unpleasant nuts-and-bolts exchanges that come with the territory in situations like this. In fact, he seems to enjoy a dust-up now and then. He certainly stands up for himself.

The 19 year-old winger served early notice of his menace on his hosts with his first touch, wriggling between two baffled defenders on the left byline to set up a chance, over which Danny Haynes hesitated and lost. A minute later, he mooched casually back to the 18-yard line as Chris Solly feinted a free kick into a crowded penalty area from the left flank. Both youngsters proved to be gifted thespians because the ball was instead cut back to a suddenly switched-on Harriott, who took a steadying touch, shot crisply through the throng into the bottom left corner, then disappeared under a pile of celebrating colleagues. He seems a popular chap.
With their precious lead to defend, the visitors dug in for what promised to be a long haul. Uncomplicated Huddersfield lacked subtlety but made up in honest effort what they lacked in artistry. Well, honest up to a point, if you ignore the niggling input of Lee Novak and ponytailed substitute Alan Lee, who plays football with all the delicacy of a broken bottle. While we’re at it, let’s indulge our metaphors. Lee is more rottweiler than terrier.

Defiant and stubborn, meanwhile, the Addicks rode their luck occasionally and when that failed, depended on the outstanding goalkeeping of David Button. An early scare, when Theo Robinson failed, by a whisker, to turn in Scott Danns’ low centre, was quickly followed by the fine save Button made to turn Peter Clarke’s header over the bar. Following Harriott’s booking for fouling Oliver Norwood, the busy keeper was again called on to tip Robinson’s glancing header to safety. Button was entitled to the assistance he received from Rhoys Wiggins, who hacked an effort from Novak off the goalline, before adding an alert save of his own from Norwood’s long range blockbuster to his growing repertoire.

It wasn’t all Town, of course, and Alex Smithies had to react smartly to block Haynes’ downward header from Wilson’s cross. Following Oscar Gobern’s foul on Solly, Johnnie Jackson’s typically dangerous free kick was nodded over Smithies by Wilson at the near post but spectacularly cleared off his line by a surprisingly athletic Clarke. With the Addicks seeking the insurance of a second goal, Harriott added the pass-of-the-game to his vital opener, his defence-splitting delivery setting up Haynes to wastefully hit Smithies’ legs in one-on-one confrontation.

The second half was a hard, long slog. The West Yorkshiremen cheerfully abandoned any thought of playing through the treacly conditions and plumped for an aerial assault in its place. Nine minutes after the break, midweek goal heroes Lee and Danny Ward left the bench and the blitz intensified. Centre backs Matt Taylor and Michael Morrison remained rock-steady and despite all the bluff and bluster, clearcut chances were few. It was the irrepressible Harriott, in quickfire combination with Wiggins, who actually created the most dangerous moment, his scuffed low shot deflecting off Anthony Gerrard to precarious safety.

Town’s growing desperation led to bookings for Lee’s ugly follow-through on Button, not to mention the shameless rugby tackle with which Danns halted a Haynes breakaway. Not that it was a nasty game, just tetchy from time to time. And when it was done and dusted, the Addicks had shaken the persistent Terriers off their ankles. It’s not always grim up North. Anything but grim sometimes, as it happens.

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Hunt, Clarke, Gerrard, Dixon, Clayton, Gobern (Arfield 81), Norwood (Ward 54), Danns, Novak, Robinson (Lee 54). Not used: Bennett, Woods, Wallace, Atkinson. Booked: Lee, Danns.

Charlton: Button, Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins, Wilson, Pritchard, Jackson, Harriott (Evina 79), Fuller (Dervite 66), Haynes (Obika 88). Not used: Hamer, Green, Stephens, Wagstaff. Booked: Taylor, Wiggins, Harriott.

Referee: Keith Stroud. Att: 13,591.