The Addicks’ stuttering season hit a new low last night with a 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town in front of a (more than) half-empty Valley. KEVIN NOLAN was among the few to see it.
Taking a break from the recent flurry of “glamorous” cup engagements, Charlton returned on Friday to the bread-and-scrape fare of League One football, where they hadn’t tasted success since they won 1-0 at Shrewsbury on October 22nd. It’s safe to say it didn’t go so well. Actually, it was a nightmare.
After losing their last league game by the same score at Port Vale two weeks ago, the Addicks subsided miserably into 14th position behind a stodgy 5-9-5 record. In a mediocre division, they are more mediocre than most. In fact, their mediocrity has come to define them as a club on the road to nowhere but deluding themselves they’re bound for glory.
There is still talk around The Valley of joining the promotion race. Their sights would more appropriately be re-focused on the relegation quicksand bubbling beneath them. It might yet drag them under.
Friday’s visitors were Cheltenham Town who arrived four places below Charlton despite having won one more league game. Nine draws saw Charlton two points ahead of the Robins but it was hardly a clash of titans. The smart money was on another draw, most likely of the scoreless variety, and that’s where it was heading until Ben Garner’s men reached down into their repertoire of ineptitude and came up with a novel way to squander a better-than-nothing scoreless stand-off and turn it into defeat by their own hand.
The circumstances of Town’s 85th minute winner were nothing short of farcical but were all too familiar to the 12,226 locals (ahem!) still around to witness them. A lofted ball down the middle was chased by veteran Alfie May, who was outnumbered but stalwart in his belief that something would turn up to improve his odds.
His optimism was justified as Craig McGillivray rashly left his line, overshot the penalty area and came up with a weak, irresolute header. Adapting alertly to this change in fortune, May kept his wits about him and directed an overhead shot into the empty goal. The sight of McGillivray joining the ball in the net, where he thrashed about briefly like a despairing fish, enhanced the embarrassment felt by one and all (340 glee-filled visitors excepted).
Late defeat was poor reward for two starting debutants in Garner’s odd-looking line-up, which operated without a recognised forward and seemed capable, as a consequence, of playing on through Saturday without scoring. Both Zach Mitchell (not 18 until January 9th) and Lucas Ness (a comparative old-timer of 20) acquitted themselves well, turned in error-free performances and emerged with credit.
It was their mentor, Ryan Inniss, whose ghastly error put his side in an unholy mess, which more by luck than judgement, they survived during the early going. Inexplicably gifted possession by Charlton’s towering defender, Dan N’Lundulu hit the bar from point-blank range and saw a follow-up effort blocked at source. The rebound reached May, whose hasty shot was cleared off the goalline by Ness.
The Addicks were still recovering from their narrow escape when Liam Sercombe squandered another gilt-edged chance to open Town’s account. In a first half totally controlled by the Gloucestershire side, their victims hardly featured and when they did, Albie Morgan’s attempt to convert Sean Clare’ sharp cutback was interrupted only by Row Z in the Jimmy Seed Stand.
Garner’s experiment in playing Jesurun Rak-Sakyi up front, with Diallang Jaiyesimi as his mobile support, was hardly a success. They tried hard enough but were withdrawn, as a pair, midway through the second half.
For once, the shock-and-awe approach of Chuks Aneke had little impact, though his fellow substitute, Charlie Kirk, did manage a neat finish which was ruled out by what was surely the tightest of offside decisions. Rak-Sakyi was also denied by what seemed a far more reliable flag.
Joining Mitchell and Ness in the plus column was their captain, George Dobson. Surrounded by shambles, his example of industry and effort never wavered. One second half error was immediately redeemed by an instant recovery tackle. When you can shine in this largely abysmal company, you’re special. And Charlton are well-served by an admirable player, who will stand up to be counted if this demoralising season hits further rocks.
There are some outstanding kids on their way, too, who deserve Garner’s trust. I’m already cheering up – not totally cheered up but getting there.
At least we didn’t have to listen to Sandgaard’s bloody awful record for a second time in the same evening. It’s not much but for small mercies…
Charlton: McGillivray, Clare, Inniss, Mitchell (Forster-Caskey 90), Ness, Sessegnon (Campbell 77), Morgan (Payne 77), Rak-Sakyi (Kirk 65), Fraser, Jaiyesimi (Aneke 65), Dobson. Not used: Maynard-Brewer. Lavelle.
Cheltenham: Southwood, Long, Williams (Hutchinson 70), Freestone, Sercombe, N’Lundulu, May (Norton 86), Taylor, Bonds, Broom, Olayinka (Jackson 71). Not used: MacDonald, Raglan, Brown, Barkers. Booked: Southwood, Bonds.
Referee: Alan Young. Official attendance: 12,566 (ahem! – again) (340 visiting).
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