Charlton 1 (Russell 63) Oldham Athletic 1 (Morais 84)

With less than a minute played in this drab game, Charlton earned themselves a routine throw-in deep in the left corner. As Danny Green prepared to deliver one of his long throws, every member of Oldham’s team crowded into their penalty area to defend it. As statements of intent go, this one was clarity itself. It warned us that they came here with a point and given the slightest chance, they intended to take it home with them. And who knows, with a break here or there, nick all three.

It’s only fair to point out that there is nothing illegal about the Latics’ methods. They hustle, harass and work feverishly for each other. They also stay just the right side of the law, except when they waste time. And, boy, do they know how to waste time! They’ve made it an art form. Every throw-in, goal kick, free kick or corner is a matter of painstaking preparation, involving changes of takers, re-positioning of the ball or any other niggling detail they can think up. All in all, Oldham Athletic were a nagging ache and are one good reason why Charlton must – simply must – make it out of League One this season. This division sucks you down to its colourless level and the danger is in becoming institutionalised.

Having acknowledged how irritating the negativity of Oldham and others can be, it must also be conceded that it’s the responsibility of ambitious sides such as Charlton to break them down. Unfortunately, when the Addicks finally turned the trick midway through the second half, their breakthrough succeeded only in spurring their visitors into belated aggression, some impressive football and a cracking equaliser six minutes from time.

Intent as they were on turning the first half into a non-event, the Latics surprised nobody more than themseves by creating two fine chances.The first was fashioned by busy midfielder James Wesolowski, who broke away on the right flank to pull back the perfect pass for Tom Adeyemi. His colleague’s air-shot was not only a huge embarrassment to Adeyemi but an equally huge relief to Charlton’s outmanouevred defence. Minutes later, wide man Chris Taylor made himself space to unleash a right-footed rocket from 25 yards; twisting athletically in the air, Ben Hamer fingertipped the netbound drive over the bar.

At the other end, meanwhile, the league leaders made little impression. Lured into prolonged bouts of head tennis and exchanges of long ball by their uncomplicated visitors, they pottered away the first period with little or no incident. Green scuffed an effort wide, then Bradley Wright-Phillips, played in by Yann Kermorgant, produced a competent save from the underworked Alex Cisak. It wasn’t much to show for their supposed superiority.

The second half promised more, beginning as it did with Wright-Phillips seizing on Danny Hollands’ pass to whip a firm drive on the turn into the sidenet. Coming alive, Wright-Phillips was sent through by Green, momentarily rounded Cisak but was foiled by the young Polish keeper’s fine recovery. The Addicks, though, were improving and their opener, when it arrived, was just about deserved.

Following play out to the right touchline, centre back Matt Taylor crossed accurately to the far post, where loanee Darrel Russell opened his Charlton account by leaping high to head conclusively into the top left corner.

Their goal should have settled the Addicks down but instead galvanised Oldham. With nothing to lose now, the Lancastrians came out of their shell to reveal a neat-passing, imaginative ensemble. They served notice that they were far from through when Matt Taylor almost involuntarily blocked a piledriver from Shefki Kuqi, then promptly equalised.

Chris Taylor had stood out among his workaday teammates, with positive running and perceptive link-play. Attacking Chris Solly on the left wing, he turned inside the full back to find substitute Filipe Morais in support inside the penalty area. Taking Taylor’s pass in his stride, the ex-Chelsea trainee smashed a rising shot into the top right corner.

Charlton’s slight dip in form was to be expected and there will be no panic at Sparrows Lane. There’s enough about them to take a breather, then start winning again. They clearly miss the all-round talents of skipper Johnnie Jackson and, to a lesser extent, the playmaking of long-term absentee Dale Stephens but the replacements have coped. Jackson and Stephens will be back before long but the continuing good health of midfield dynamo Hollands holds the key. He’s the glue that holds the side together at present. He must be discouraged from carving turkeys with super-sharp knives. Or any heavy lifting like horsing around as Santa for his triplets. Their dad’s already carrying a heavy load right now. Straws on camels’ backs, that sort of stuff. The girls will understand later in life. You just know they’re good kids.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Green, Hollands, Russell, Ephraim (Wagstaff 85), Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips. Not used: Sullivan, Euell, Pritchard, Cort.

Referee: L. Collins. Att: 19,564.

Walsall 1 (Macken 36) Charlton 1 (Kermorgant 45).

Kevin Nolan reports from Banks’s Stadium.

This hard-fought, keenly contested game so nearly produced the the blip that cautious Charlton supporters have been expecting for some time. Nearly but not quite.

Since they lost to Stevenage on October 15th for the first and, so far, only time this season, this often irresistible team has carried all before it with six consecutive league wins. You can’t win ’em all, of course, but drawing beats losing; the general consensus was that, despite Walsall’s lowly status, this was one battling point gained rather than two carelessly squandered. Bless ’em, football fans are natural philosophers.

Though clearly the better side, the Addicks were ultimately grateful for their useful point. During a second half played at breakneck pace, they came under serious pressure, countered with some of their own and finished significantly more strongly than their hosts. There were several hearts-in-mouths moments, none more so than Darrel Russell’s goalline clearance of Mat Sadler’s goalbound “cert” before referee Webb turned a charitable eye to Richard Taundry’s penalty area handling of Hogan Ephraim’s added time cross. Swings and roundabouts covers it.

The end-to-end exchanges got off to a riproaring start with tricky wide man Alex Nicholls cutting in to shoot dangerously wide, then Bradley Wright-Phillips hooking off target after Danny Green’s long throw caused chaos in the six-yard box.

The direct tactics favoured by the Saddlers contrasted vividly with Charlton’s more measured approach. And it was substance rather than style that was initially rewarded. Ephraim had come within inches of breaking through for the visitors with a determined run and shot when the home side turned the trick in more basic circumstances.

Tenacious as ever, Chris Solly checked another of Nicholls’ menacing forays at the expense of a left wing corner, which Andrew Halliday played strategically back to Sadler, lurking unmarked on the edge of the penalty area. The left back’s unconvincing shot deflected twice before sitting up nicely for veteran Jon Macken to volley through a spreadeagled defence. The whiff of unmistakeable good fortune brought with it distinct memories of Stevenage’s cruelly deflected winner. But they all count.

Resilient throughout the team, Charlton hit back and Green’s adroit flick sent Wright-Phillips through to shave the left-hand post with a low drive, his uncharacteristic miss fortunately deferring equality only briefly. And the goal which provided it was as sweet in execution as Walsall’s had been scrappy.

Enjoying himself in front of the energetic Rhoys Wiggins, Ephraim cut in from the left touchline on to his favoured right foot to deliver the juiciest of inswinging centres. A virtuoso in the air, Kermorgant’s eyes practically lit up as he launched himself at the ball near the far post. An unstoppable header left James Walker helpless as it thundered under the bar.

If the South East Londoners believed they were on their way to easy victory, they were quickly disabused of the notion by Walsall’s positive start to the second half. A rat-a-tat sequence of corners put them under immediate pressure, during the throes of which no-nonsense Danny Hollands cleared mightily from near the goalline. It was the indefatigable Hollands, however, who wasted his side’s best chance just past the hour.

Always eager to join in attack, Wiggins supplied a perfect cross from the left, which Kermorgant carefully cushioned on to Hollands’ head. From six yards, the onrushing midfielder buried the sitter into James Walker’s arms.

Almost instantly, the Black Countrymen came even closer to snatching the points. French substitute Claude Gnapka broke through into one-on-one confrontation with Ben Hamer but was brilliantly blocked by the advancing keeper. The rebound fell conveniently for Sadler to beat the stranded Hamer but Russell had backtracked intelligently to head the apparent “cert” off the line. Sadler’s interesting afternoon fell apart when a booking for fouling Solly was followed by a second yellow card – and automatic dismissal – for repeating the offence on Scott Wagstaff.

This seesaw game had one further flashpoint to debate before the points were justly shared. Switching flanks, the restless Ephraim’s cross from the right byline was blocked by Richard Taundry’s outflung hand well inside the 18-yard line. No penalty ruled Mr. Webb, a conclusion hardly shared by Chris Powell, who was a model of tight lipped restraint in his comments about the incident later. We were left to wonder who would have taken the spotkick, with Johnnie Jackson injured and his obvious deputy Green already substituted. No doubt the far-seeing boss had the eventuality covered. He doesn’t miss much. And he knows a semi-blip when he sees one.

Walsall (4-4-2): Walker, Beevers, Lancashire, Smith, Sadler, Halliday (Gnapka 54), Chambers, Taundry, Nicholls, Paterson (Bowerman 75), Macken (Peterlin 84). Not used: Butler, Grof.

Referee: D. Webb. Attendance: 4,537.

Charlton 2 (Morrison 61, Euell 89).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

The scorers of the two goals which knocked stubborn Carlisle United out of the FA Cup and earned Charlton a place among the elite in the Third Round draw will hardly expect immortality for their efforts. Bundled in from a combined distance of no more than four yards, neither strike was particularly memorable in itself. But that misses the point. On another level, they were priceless.

By the time Michael Morrison ruthlessly smashed the can’t-miss opener past helpless keeper Adam Collin, this second round tie was heading into its final half hour and the first seeds of genuine anxiety were beginning to sprout. A midweek replay at Carlisle’s homely Brunton Park, no more than 12 miles south of the Scottish border, was looming as a very real possibility and with no disrespect intended to the Cumbrians, Charlton were looking forward to the potential trip like exiles to a Soviet gulag. Again no disrespect to Carlisle. Honestly.

Then Morrison struck and a weight was lifted from an admirably patient Valley. A hugely relieved Chris Powell celebrated enthusiastically with his staff, proving again that beneath his elegantly suited urbanity beats the heart and soul of a football firebrand. The mood was briefly euphoric until a note of caution was sounded. After all, United were by no means out of the hunt and an equaliser was certainly not yet out of the question. Substitute Francois Zoko did his best to provide one but Rhoys Wiggins resourcefully cleared his shot off the line. When two minutes later John Sullivan backtracked frantically to touch James Berrett’s chip over the bar, the road to Carlisle was beckoning the Addicks. Then late substitute Jason Euell scrambled in the all-important second goal and the sat navs could be re-configured.

Unchanged from the side which beat Colchester on Tuesday, the visitors made clear their intentions to give their daunting task a real go. They buckled straight down to business and centre forward Lee Miller almost punished Morrison’s weakly headed clearance with a crisp drive, saved smartly at full length by John Sullivan. Paul Thirlwell’s long run then penetrated dangerously until Cedric Evina stopped him at the expense of a corner as the Cumbrians more than held their own.

With six changes themselves from the line-up which heroically saw off close pursuers Huddersfield five days previously, Charlton were understandably slower to settle. There was no doubting their commitment, however, and gradually they found their feet. Morrison prodded Wiggins’ free kick over the bar before the best chance of the half went unconverted. Left back Matt Robson, sent off before half-time in the league fixture here on October 22nd, fouled Danny Green near the right touchline. Setpiece expert Green sent the free kick soaring to the far post where Morrison headed back for Danny Hollands, whose point blank effort was instinctively blocked by Adam Collin’s left foot.

Before the break, Carl Cort redeemed an error by Hollands with a superb tackle on Liam Noble, then went close to converting Green’s right wing corner with a header which whizzed inches too high.

Charlton’s fondness for absentminded mistakes almost cost them immediately after resumption, with Robson seizing on Scott Wagstaff’s slip to run 50 yards before unleashing a raking low drive which Sullivan turned aside at his left post. At the other end, as the game caught fire, impressive Bradley Pritchard’s shot on the turn brought the best out of Collin, then Green’s gloriously flighted pass was taken on his chest by Wagstaff as it cleared Lubomir Michalik but Collin advanced alertly to charge down the shot.

Green’s confidence grows from game to game, as evidenced by the 50-yard potshot with which he sought to punish Collin’s poor clearance. Left red-faced by Hollands’ speculative effort in October, the hapless keeper’s huge relief was obvious as the ball drifted narrowly off-target.

Then bingo! Charlton cracked it. Hollands’ cross from the left earned the right wing corner which Green swung outward. In the ensuing melee, Cort’s header was blocked, as was Morrison’s follow-up. At the third time of asking, Morrison gleefully bashed the ball into the net.

His brow furrowed as Carlisle refused to surrender, the devilishly cunning Powell sent first Yann Kermorgant, then Bradley Wright-Phillips into the fray and, yet again, his boldness was instantly rewarded. Well, almost instantly, because Wright-Phillips was unable to beat Collin when sent clear of Michalik by Kermorgant’s cleverly directed flick but the coup-de-grace was merely delayed.

Mopping up Evina’s satisfactory shift, the old-pro nous of Euell took him on a late run into the goal area as Kermorgant crossed low from the right corner flag. A slight deflection threw him out of kilter but an emergency adjustment enabled The Valley’s solitary playing link to those heady Premiership days to bundle his second goal of the season over the line. Before much longer, game Carlisle were heading back up to Cumbria, where, mercifully, they won’t host the Addicks until the league game in early April, by which time the snowed-in passes will have melted and Spring won’t “be far behind.”

Charlton: Sullivan, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Wiggins, Green (Kermorgant 73), Hollands, Pritchard, Evina (Euell 87), Wagstaff, Hayes (Wright-Phillips 79). Not used: Pope, Doherty, Bover Izquierdo, Smith.

Referee: A. Madley. Attendance: 7,461.

Charlton 2 ( Kermorgant 23, Ephraim 41) Huddersfield Town 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Surfing a wave of the most passionate support in South East London, Charlton shattered Huddersfield’s magnificent record of 43 consecutive league games unbeaten and tightened their grip at the top of the table. In what home manager Chris Powell aptly called “an advert for League One”, a national TV audience received a timely reminder that quality exists outside the Premiership. They might also have appreciated the keenly but cleanly contested nature of this vitally important clash, unmarred as it was by any Balotelli/ Tevez pouting.

The build-up had concentrated on the supposedly crucial shoot-out between hot shots Bradley Wright-Phillips and Jordan Rhodes, scorers of 27 league goals between them. Charlton’s marksman shaded their personal duel but it was his strike partner, Yann Kermorgant, who did the damage. The underrated Frenchman notched his side’s important first goal, contributed critically to the second, besides hitting the bar and handing the visitors a lesson in centre forward virtuosity.

The West Yorkshiremen actually made the brighter start. They had earned four early corners and were exerting mild pressure when right back Jack Hunt was panicked into tripping Hogan Ephraim as the right-footed left winger cut in from the touchline. Crossing from the opposite flank to size up an inviting free kick, Danny Green curled in a pacy inswinger, which Kermorgant met in front of his marker and headed firmly inside the left post. Not a particularly towering player, the Breton’s heading is a sight for sore eyes among aficionados of a lost art made all but redundant by the brilliant, pattern-weaving likes of Barcelona.

Up front for Town, meanwhile, was debutant loanee Jon Parkin, known affectionately as “The Beast” in recognition of his massive stature and not, it must be said, for persistent foul play. Limited he might be but Parkin leaves his mark on defenders, who know they’ve been in a battle by full-time. Deputy skipper Matt Taylor and Michael Morrison stood up valiantly to the physical challenge as Huddersfield’s tactics were adapted to the big bloke’s formidable assets. It was possibly fortunate that alongside him, Rhodes froze in front of the cameras. Despite the lion’s share of first half possession, the visitors rarely troubled the impressively sound Ben Hamer.

Three minutes before the interval, the Addicks doubled their lead in circumstances made “controversial” only by a catastrophic lapse in concentration among the visitors. Taking time out to dispute a throw clearly not theirs, they allowed the alert Green to quickly find Kermorgant, who flicked on cleverly for Wright-Phillips to twist past his shadow Antony Kay. Sensing the danger, Ian Bennett left his line to block the striker’s toepoked effort but the rebound fell to Ephraim, who ignored several sluggish defenders and slotted neatly past the stranded goalkeeper. A jubilant Valley all but hugged itself in glee, in between ribaldly inviting the visitors to do something unseemly, not to mention illegal, with their unbeaten record.

Terriers’ boss Lee Clark responded positively during the break, bringing on the attacking pace of Danny Ward and Anton Robinson. Powell was forced into change by the enforced withdrawal of experienced loan signing Darel Russell, in whose place Andy Hughes added his customary professional pragmatism to the cause. What you see is what you get from Hughes and what you get are guts and commitment.

A minute following resumption, the bar denied Charlton a third, possibly decisive goal. Green’s long throw was headed over Bennett by Kermorgant but crashed against the woodwork. The burly Frenchman then forced a fine save from Bennett with a fierce free kick.

Improving steadily as their hosts flagged briefly, the Terriers came close to reducing their arrears on the hour when Ward’s intended cross swerved on to the bar. They came even closer through Parkin, who seized on a chance created by Taylor’s untimely slip to crash a venomous left-footed volley goalwards. At full stretch, Hamer miraculously turned the ball on to his left-hand post.

Having done their marvellously full-throated bit, the home support had seen enough. The departure of Kermorgant with an ankle injury dampened their ardour somewhat but they stayed behind to salute their heroes, each one of whom had contributed fully to a cockle-warming triumph It wouldn’t do to mention any names but the little right back is one nugget of a player. There’s still one helluva long way to go but the journey has been a pleasure so far. Stay on board, now, there’s more to come.

Charlton (4-4-2): Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Green, Russell (Hughes 46), Hollands, Ephraim (Wagstaff 82), Kermorgant (Hayes 89), Wright-Phillips. Not used: Sullivan, Cort.

Referee: R. East. Attendance: 18,029.

Brentford 0 Charlton 1 (Wright-Phillips 64).

Kevin Nolan reports from Griffin Park.

This was the definitive game of two halves and Charlton could only thank providence that it was. During 45 painfully one-sided minutes, they were battered by a side which consistently raises its game against them. That they hung on until half-time was due to Brentford’s poor finishing and a handy stroke of luck here and there. The Bees not only missed several chances but also their own best chance to continue their recent run of successes over the Addicks. They were ultimately sickened by a striker who needs just the sniff of a chance to score.

Bradley Wright-Phillips had maintained typical concentration during a first half spent in near isolation alongside Yann Kermorgant. Both forwards had worked hard without reward but were coming more into their own when the dominant hosts were dealt a savage body blow before the hour mark.

It was Kermorgant’s searching pass which Wright-Phillips chased down with Shaleum Logan in close attendance. Nipping in front of the pursuing defender, Wright-Phillips flicked the ball wide of the advancing Richard Lee, before taking evasive action as Logan and Lee painfully collided. Alert Leon Legge cleared the danger, Lee regained his feet but Logan stayed down in obvious distress. Following six minutes of treatment, the young centre back was removed on a stretcher and was replaced by Marcus Bean. The disastrous effect on the Bees’ concentration was immediate.

With their momentum checked, the home defence was on the back foot for the first time as Kermorgant’s accurate delivery picked out Danny Green near the right touchline. The winger’s trademarked early cross was missed at the near post by Danny Hollands but coolly tapped home by the ever-vigilant Wright-Phillips behind him. It was a lesson in finishing too late in the learning for stricken Brentford. And Wright-Phillips, with a crisp drive on the turn mere minutes later, almost emphasised the point but Lee defied him at full stretch.

Roared on by a contingent of over 1,800 travelling fans, who had made their way to Griffin Park by boat, car, coach and train to help register the hosts’ best gate of the season, the Addicks were lucky to be in front but just as determined to stay there. They had already weathered the worst before the interval and braced themselves for a second wave of attacks.

Their ordeal had begun as early as the 5th minute when Andy Hughes’ error gifted possession to Clayton Donaldson, who set up Gary Alexander to shoot from 25 yards. Diving to his left, Ben Hamers made the first of several fine saves he contributed to the cause. But the keeper was helpless shortly afterwards as Brentfor’s impressive wide man Niall McGinn crowned a sharp passing move by cutting in from the left to beat Hamer with a fierce low drive which bounced off the left upright. Sliding in unchallenged, Donaldson haplessly spooned the deceptive rebound over the bar.

Donaldson was proving an awkward handful but missed an even easier chance before the break. After McGinn had achieved the rare feat of skinning Chris Solly on the left flank, the unmarked Donaldson was set up by the juiciest of crosses only to head lamely wide. The West Londoners were well on top but this is a leaner, meaner Charlton side sharing little in common with the various transients who had degraded the famous red shirt in recent seasons. They had endured and would be heard from later.

Not that the tide turned dramatically in the second half’s early exchanges. Charlton could offer only a couple of headed efforts from Green’s long throws but Brentford’s intensity had already cooled before Logan’s misfortune. And if the loss of their young loanee was a severe blow, the withdrawal of Johnnie Jackson with hamstring damage was of even graver consequence to the League One leaders. On came new loan arrival Hogan Ephraim, whose left-sided cover for the influential captain will be called into emergency action during Jackson’s anticipated absence of a month.

The closing stages were frantic. Throwing caution in the bin, the West Londoners almost manically renewed their assault. One corner after another was either plucked out of the air or punched clear by the defiant Hamer, who also risked life and limb at the feet of substitute Mike Grella and Alexander as Brentford’s desperation boiled over into physical confrontation. Hamer had the last laugh by plucking Grella’s point-blank header out of the air when scoring seemed easier than missing. Significantly, Kermorgant had come closest to scoring during ten seemingly endless minutes of added time with a firmly sidefooted shot from Wright-Phillips’ square pass which Lee sprawled to save.

Gathered together by their astute manager at the final whistle to salute their jubilant supporters, Charlton were aware that they had dug out a win which, in its stubborn, gutsy way, had more merit than the recent demolitions of Carlisle and Preston. 1-0 to the Charlton has a satisfying ring to it, particularly when it stops the rot against opponents who have been nothing but nuisances recently. Chris Powell’s Addicks bear the weight of history lightly and with grace.

Brentford (4-4-2): Lee, Logan (Bean 62), Legge, Llera, Woodman, Saunders (Grella 79), Diagouraga, Douglas, McGinn (Weston 70), Alexander, Donaldson. Not used: Devlin, Eger.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton. Attendance: 8,095.

FC Halifax Town 0 Charlton 4 (Taylor 40, Jackson 80, Hollands 82, Pritchard 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Shay.

The conditions were ideal for a Cup upset in Halifax at lunchtime on Sunday. A chilling mist hung over the old mill town, the battered stadium offered little comfort and a slippery, treacherous pitch, the locals practically licked their lips at the prospect of getting stuck into a bunch of over-privileged posers from the South. Not only that, TV was on hand to document their humiliation. We’ve been there before.

Two years ago, Charlton made laughing stocks of themselves at Northwich Victoria, again in front of a national TV audience. The only survivor from that fiasco is Scott Wagstaff, an academy graduate who departed Cheshire on that dismal day with no apology necessary. Wagstaff was part of the starting line-up at The Shay and duly did his wholehearted bit among a hardbitten group of Addicks, most of them Southerners, who put Halifax and their loquacious manager Neil Aspill in their place. History was not about to be repeated.

Not that it was easy and not that the West Yorkshiremen didn’t emerge with credit from a tie which remained competitive until the visitors broke it open with three goals in the last ten minutes. But it was hard to escape the impression that the Addicks always had something in hand on their way to winning with the least possible fuss. It’s tough to dispute 4-0, though Aspill, an ex-Leeds player with previous against Charlton, did his myopic best.

Urged on by their hardy faithful, the Shaymen shared the first half, emerging from it slightly unlucky to be a goal down. It’s true, though, that their situation might have been far worse had Charlton converted one or two more of the chances they created. Home goalkeeper Simon Eastwood performed heroically in denying the first of them, his outstretched left leg blocking the close range header, with which Matthew Taylor met Johnnie Jackson’s outswinging corner.

That nugget of a right back, Chris Solly, was combining intuitively with his mucker Wagstaff, their quickfire exchange of passes setting up the winger to cross from the byline. Shooting on the turn, Paul Hayes was bravely blocked by Ryan Toulson. Hayes should have done better minutes later but stabbed tamely wide after Cedric Evina, an impressive deputy for Rhoys Wiggins, cut through to centre from the left.

Having earned promotion in their last two campaigns, Town are clearly a club on the rise. They kept the ball on the ground, passed and moved intelligently, made chances themselves. Mobile striker Lee Gregory curled a clever effort narrowly wide then, moments before the interval, their influential skipper Tom Baker shaved the bar from 30 yards. Unfortunately for Aspill’s sturdy side, they had already fallen behind a minute before Baker’s near miss.

A careless foul by Baker on Danny Hollands in the centre circle sent Taylor up to try his luck. Still upfield as the free kick was partially cleared, the centre back was positioned at the far post to meet Hayes’ deep cross and claimed his first goal for the club by looping a perfectly aimed header back over Eastwood into the opposite corner.

Possibly nettled by the setback, Halifax began the second period brightly, with Jamie Rainford’s quickwitted snapshot sending John Sullivan into full-length action to save. Hayes replied for the visitors but sent an improvised chip inches over the bar.

The 62nd introduction of speedy left winger Jason St. Juste (fine old Yorkshire name that one, possibly one of the Castle Howard St. Justes) in place of Danny Holland, boosted home prospects. On his lively duel with the imperturbable Solly rested the outcome of the tie and he started by skinning his rival and crossing on the run but Gregory was unable to make telling contact at the near post. Solly wasn’t having any more of that, of course, his marvellous tackle on St. Juste and subsequent key interception keeping the newcomer comparatively quiet. No offence intended to ITV’s excellent man-of-the-match Taylor but Solly quite clearly stood out.

The Shaymen, meanwhile, were still in contention until, with 10 minutes remaining, they collapsed. Worn down by Charlton’s painstaking possession, they were easy prey to Jackson’s typically crisp low drive and Hollands’ point blank flick but it was the Addicks’ fourth goal which pleased the bench most. Mind you, their hosts were down to 10 men by that time, defender Danny Lowe having seen red for a vicious challenge on Wagstaff.

Brought on as part of a flurry of substitutions, among them the 86th minute arrival of Bradley Wright-Phillips which neatly cup-ties the coveted goalscorer, Bradley Pritchard made up for time lost to untimely injury by turning sharply on to a low pass from fellow replacement Michael Smith to shoot through Eastwood’s legs. Both he and Smith show promise.

So the Addicks sauntered to the line and a second round clash at home to Carlisle United. Maybe the scoreline flattered them but that quibble rather misses the point. There was no way they were about to lose this game, not this Chris Powell-inspired side. FC Halifax, fair play to them, were ruthlessly seen off. Simple and cold-blooded as that, really.

FC Halifax: Eastwood, Toulson, Hogan, Lowe, McManus, Rainford (Anderson 87), Baker, Hardy, Garner (Winter 73), Holland (St. Juste 62), Gregory. Not used: Senior, Needham, Foster, Scott Hogan.

Referee: G. Elringham. Att: 4,601.

Charlton 5 (Jackson 16,26, Morrison 22, Wright-Phillips 38, Hollands 69) Preston North End 2 (Morgan 85, Daley 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Injury ravaged, out of form and devoid of confidence, Preston North End will find it all too easy “to remember remember the Fifth of November”. This sound spanking at the vengeful hands of high-flying Charlton will be hard to forget though two late goals, the second of them an absolutely stunning strike from substitute Keammar Daley, distorted the scale of their humilation. It was a long haul back home.

On the other hand, Charlton hardly put a foot wrong for 85 minutes. Three up before the half hour, they added a fourth goal before half-time, then a fifth through Danny Hollands’ best of the bunch, midway through the second period. Their corporate lack of concentration, with the winners’ enclosure in sight, allowed their outclassed victims to salvage a little pride but by then the damage had been done.

Visiting manager Phil Brown was correct to point out that his side began brightly, “played some good stuff” and held their own during the opening quarter hour. He will be alarmed, though, at the manner of the abject ten-minute collapse which effectively sealed their fate.

Their first concession will give him nightmares. No fewer than three defenders hemmed in Danny Green as he made positive tracks for goal but the winger held them all at bay before unleashing a swerving 25-yard drive, which keeper Andreas Arestidou found too hot to handle. Alertly beating David Gray to the rebound, Johnnie Jackson made expert work of netting what was actually a tricky chance.

While the Addicks have been rattling in goals this season, it hadn’t escaped Chris Powell’s attention that neither Michael Morrison nor Matt Taylor, had contributed to the total. Morrison duly broke the centre backs’ duck by firing home from close range after Jackson’s inswinging right wing corner was half-cleared to him.

Already out on their feet, the shellshocked Lilywhites were polished off by a third blow, this one self-administered, four minutes later. Under pressure from the outstanding Yann Kermorgant, left back Paul Parry’s weak backheader lured Arestidou from his line to upend the determined French striker. Mercifully spared the ultimate red-card punishment by erratic referee Gibbs, the stricken keeper could do no more than motion Jackson’s brutally struck penalty past him on its net-bursting way into the right corner.

Kermorgant has blossomed alongside cool finisher Bradley Wright-Phillips to form a partnership which, in Powell’s neat appraisal, terrorises opposing central defences. Shortly before the break, the Breton climbed high at the far post to meet Green’s deep free kick and headed deliberately back across goal for Wright-Phillips to quietly nod in his 13th goal of the season.

It was breathtaking stuff, which couldn’t quite last. But the interval provided pause for evaluation of an irresistible 11-man performance. Ben Hamer had done his bit with two competent saves from Barry Nicholson and Paul Coutts and deserved the luck he received when Coutts nearly punished his poor clearance from over 40 yards. A little wobbly at times, Hamer was a helpless bystander as Nicholson’s fine volley, immediately after Jackson’s penalty, sent David Gray’s right wing cross inches over his bar.

Charlton’s settled back four must be among the best in the division. Chris Solly and Rhoys Wiggins are unflappable full backs, Morrison and Taylor uncompromising, ruthlessly efficient central defenders. On the right of a four-man midfield, Green at last demonstrated the undoubted talent which sent Powell in dogged pursuit of his signature; inside him, Hollands destroyed and created with equal proficiency, Andy Hughes a model of professional responsibility at his elbow; wide left, skipper Jackson has contributed seven goals so far and inspires the side with an insatiable appetite for work; all eight of them gang-tackle, cover and defend with manic intensity.

Though their foot came noticeably off the pedal after the break, the Addicks stayed comfortably in control and it was no surprise that they increased their lead in magnificent style on 69 minutes. And what a beauty it was, initiated by the trickery and turn of speed, with which Wiggins skinned Gray en route to the left byline. His perfect cross on the run was matched by the timing of Hollands’ run and the power of the header which flew past poor Arestidou into the right corner. Wiggins simply can’t stop making goals, Hollands can’t stop scoring them, his third in the last four games increasing his total to five for the season.

With football very much a matter of timing, Charlton might consider it a break that they didn’t face Preston earlier on in the campaign, when North End strung together seven league wins in a row and knocked the Addicks out of the Carling Cup for good measure. Since then, the Lancastrians have imploded, with Brown under severe threat of the sack. It’s an unforgiving business and it will be of little consolation to the beleaguered manager that his side re-grouped with two late replies.

Centre back Craig Morgan’s header from Brian McLean’s corner accounted for the first but paled into insignificance alongside the marvellous spinning turn and venomous volley with which substitute Daley claimed the second. Powell’s irritation was palpable but soon melted into purring satisfaction at a job so well done. Then the other results trickled in and his cup ran over. He’s a hard taskmaster but he’s no WWI general. He leads from the front.

Charlton (4-4-2): Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Green (Wagstaff 70), Hughes, Hollands, Jackson (Euell 81), Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Hayes 70), Not used: Sullivan, Cort.

Attendance: 17,486.

Hartlepool 0 Charlton 4 (Wright-Phillips 9,37, Hollands 55, Wagstaff 84).

Charlton fans are really beginning to warm to the cut of Chris Powell’s managerial jib. He comes across as balanced and mature, exactly the qualities that stood him in good stead during a lengthy, distinguished playing career.

Powell’s measured reaction to recent defeat at Stevenage was revealing. Not for him the sour ugliness of Neil Warnock, the strawberry-veined ranting of Alex Ferguson or the quasi-psychological superiority of Arsene Wenger. Instead, his thunderous brow spoke of a determination to look within himself and his players for its cause and to avoid the easy option of blaming officials. There’s no doubt he’s a gentleman but he’s also a complete professional with an aversion to losing but also an ability to maintain perspective in an otherwise triumphant campaign. Simply stated, he has his head screwed on.

There was little chance of the Addicks suffering their second loss of the season at chilly Victoria Park, where Hartlepool United were comprehensively beaten. A quickfire double from the insatiable Bradley Wright-Phillips placed United squarely behind the eight-ball, a daunting position from which they were never likely to recover.

Currently hotter than a pistol, Wright-Phillips has rattled in twelve goals in fifteen league starts, the last five of them notched in his last three games. An instinctive awareness of space carries him into the right place at invariably the right time, while uninhibited finishing does the rest. An occasional touch of luck also comes in handy, as was the case when Charlton’s sureshot opened his account after nine minutes.

The build-up was smooth enough, Yann Kermorgant’s chipped pass playing Rhoys Wiggins in behind outwitted right back Neil Austin. The rampaging Wiggins drilled over a low cross for Wright-Phillips to bobble a first-time shot which deceived Scott Flinders on its bouncing way into the bottom right corner.

With strapping centre backs Matt Taylor and Michael Morrison in commanding form, Danny Hollands bossing midfield and fullbacks Wiggins and Chris Solly their usual dependable selves, ‘Pools prospects were already bleak. Adam Boyd did force a fine save from Ben Hamer but it came as little surprise that Wright-Phillips doubled his account and his side’s lead before the break.

The irresistible left-sided partnership forged between Wiggins and Johnnie Jackson did the spadwork this time, their sharp exchange of passes sending Wiggins rampaging to the left byline. His clipped cross was hooked into the roof of the net, with practised ease, by Wright-Phillips, making simple work of what was actually a difficult skill.

From time to time this season, Charlton have wobbled in possession of a two-goal lead, most recently while working out an awkward midweek win over Wycombe Wanderers. A tendency to sit back on their advantage and invite the opposition on to them has encouraged apparently beaten sides to stage unlikely rallies. It seems the thoughtful Powell has addressed the problem because there was to be no miracle revival for the outclassed ‘Pools who found themselves adrift at three down shortly after resumption.

Kermorgant had been regularly targeted for rough stuff by United’s outgunned defenders. Five minutes into the second period, his quick turn eluded Peter Hartley, who responded by chopping down the Breton striker a yard outside the penalty area to the right of goal. Hartley’s inevitable yellow card was only part of his punishment because Jackson’s wickedly inswinging free kick was bulleted home by the onrushing Hollands from five yards. There’s no better way to defend a two-goal lead than by making it three.

As the Addicks relaxed, Wright-Phillips came within a whisker of claiming his first-ever senior hat-trick but failed to toe-end Jackson’s low centre past Flinders. At the other end, meanwhile, Taylor demonstrated Charlton’s professional ruthlessness by heroically blocking James Poole’s point-blank shot. Much earlier, Hollands had set the example with a ferocious, but eminently fair tackle on Andy Monkhouse.

There was still time for a final flourish provided by late substitutes Scott Wagstaff and Paul Hayes. Wagstaff had replaced the enigmatic Danny Green, a rare disappointment in the visitors’ solid team performance but a player with so much to offer. Pulling back in anticipation of an alertly cutback pass from Hayes, the indefatigable winger crisply drove home the Addicks’ fourth goal.

So the Stevenage blip, though still a sore point, has been answered by three successive victories within eight days. It’s still early days – a fact of which nobody is more aware than one of League One’s up-and-coming managers – but Charlton are the real deal. There’s more to them than mere style. They’re a hardbitten lot, very much cut from their guvnor’s mould. He won’t mind us saying so.

Stevenage: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood, Murray, Poole, Liddle (Luscombe 55), Monkhouse, Nish, Boyd (Brown 55). Not used: Rafferty, Humphreys, Wright.

Referee: D. Mohareb. Attendance: 5,333.