Although a place in the play-offs was secured, Charlton Athletic were looking for an as highly placed finish as possible when entertaining Burton Albion in their final Sky Bet Division One league match.
Any thoughts of resting players and playing a weakened side were resisted as manager Nathan Jones was keen in going into the post match games on form. He said “We wanted, first and foremost, to win for a bit of momentum. We believed that if we won, we’d have a good chance of finishing fourth and getting the second leg (of the play-off) here.”
Tyreece Campbell had the first goal attempt of the match for the hosts when he cut in and fired over, however, it was Burton who went ahead in the thirteenth minute. Fabio Tavares burst into the penalty and Charlton goalkeeper, Ashley Maynard-Brewer mistimed his challenge and brought him down. Mason Bennett stepped up and converted confidently.
After eleven minutes of probing, Charlton levelled. Tennai Watson threaded a pass down the line and Matty Godden timed his run to perfection. Goalkeeper Max Crocombe rushed out and forced the Addicks striker wide but he kept his composure and rolled it in from a tight angle.
Ten minutes later, he scored again. Josh Edwards sent it down the other side and Godden brought it down on his chest, used his strength to turn his man, and fired towards the bottom corner. Although Crocombe got a strong hand to it, the shot was too powerful and nestled in the bottom corner.
Watson then set up Campbell and Crocombe beat it out before Burton’s Charlie Webster fired well over from thirty-five yards out. Seeking a hat-trick Goddard’s twenty yard snapshot flew just wide.
Maynard-Brewer made a good save from Webster’s free kick early in the second before the Addicks added a third. Conor Coventry did well to recycle a corner and clip it back into the penalty area where Alex Mitchell met it with a clean header to direct it inside the far post.
Dylan Williams had an effort kept out by the legs of Maynard-Brewer then Crocombe did well to get down and save from Campbell.
Owen Dudgeon missed for Burton when well placed before being relieved to see his header at the other end land on the roof of his own net. Crocombe then pulled off a stunning save to keep out a downward header from Macauley Gillesphy.
With five minutes remaining, Ibrahim Fullah was brought on for his debut and almost marked it with a goal. Karoy Anderson worked his way to the bye-line and pulled it back for the young Addick, and his first time shot hit the far post. He had another chance in stoppage time when side footing just past the post when he got on the end of a slick passing move.
Jones commented “We finished the game with six academy products, and that wasn’t token gestures. We picked the strongest bench available.”
They can now prepare for the two legged play off eliminator against Wycombe Wanderers, brimming with confidence.
Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Watson, Edwards (Enslin 88), Ramsay, Mitchell, Gillesphey, Coventry (Anderson 70), Docherty, Watson, T. Campbell (Mbick 70), Godden (Kanu 70), Gilbert (Fullah 85). Subs not used: Bouzanis, McIntyre.
Goalscorers: Godden (24), (34), Mitchell (51)
Yellow cards: Maynard-Brewer (12 foul), Watson (82 ungentlemanly conduct)
Burton Albion: Crocombe, Lofthouse, Armer, Godwin-Malife, Delap (Dodgson 46), Sraha, Forde (Kalinauskas,46), Williams, Tavares (Newell 90), Bennett (Larsson 65), Webster (Taroni 90). Subs not used: Isted, McKiernan.
Goalscorer: Bennett (pen 32)
Yellow card: Dodgson (82 ungentlemanly conduct)
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Assistants: Ryan Whitaker and Andy Bennett
Fourth Official: Aaron Farmer
Attendance: 20,971 including 496 away supporters.
Images courtesy of Keith Gillard