Charlton Athletic 1 v 1 Wycombe Wanderers

Saturday 25th March 2023, Kick-off 15.00

EFL League One

The Valley, Charlton

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: £3.50

Attendance: 15,278 (1,171 away)

Today it would be back at The Valley for me today, which in all honesty was slightly disappointing, as it would miss out on this year's installment of Non League Day, an event I always try to get involved in. 

The last home game against strugglers Accrington Stanley at The Valley a fortnight ago was a desperately disappointing affair in virtually every respect, with a very limp performance on the field accompanied by one of the flattest atmospheres I can ever remember at The Valley, with only a wonder goal from Steven Sesseognon saving a point for the Addicks. But since then, things have started looking up for the Addicks, with two wins on the read, albeit against two clubs in the relegation zone. First up was a surprisingly thoroughly convincing 1-4 win against a very poor Morecambe side, followed by a 1-2 win at Cambridge United. And following those wins, Charlton came into this game in the top half of the table, in eleventh place, following twelve wins and twelve draws from 37 league games. It will be a tall order to finish any higher than that, with a seven point gap to tenth placed Shrewsbury, although Charlton play Shrewsbury at home next Saturday. On paper, today's opponents would be tough, with Wycombe within touching distance of the play-offs, coming into this game in eighth place, four points adrift of the play-offs with a game in hand, following 18 wins and six draws from their 37 league games. But their fortunes have dipped a little since they lost manager Gareth Ainsworth to QPR. Prior to Ainsworth moving on, Wycombe had won their previous six league games, but since then, and with former Colchester manager Matt Bloomfield taking the reins, Wycombe have picked two wins and a draw from their six league games since. But let’s hope that the anti football antics under Ainsworth will be replaced by a more easy on the eye and sportsmanlike approach under Bloomfield.

Video highlights of the match can be viewed by clicking here

A match report can be viewed by clicking here , and copied and pasted below :-

Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers

The Addicks settled into mid-table mediocrity by drawing with Wycombe Wanderers at The Valley on Saturday. KEVIN NOLAN is already thinking of next season…

After wading through clashes with three of League One’s desperate basement dwellers, Charlton moved up the food chain to take on unfancied promotion aspirants Wycombe Wanderers at The Valley on Saturday. To nobody’s great surprise, a tetchy physical encounter ended in a 1-1 stalemate, as its predecessor had at Adams Park some seven months ago.

Obliged to complete a campaign of disappointing mid-table stodge, the result meant rather less to the Addicks than it did to the Chairboys, who arrived just four points and two places outside the play-off positions.

Their relative success serves as a reminder to the likes of Charlton what can be achieved by well-organised clubs on limited budgets. Tucked away in one of football’s sleepier alcoves, they have defied the odds and, whatever its outcome, can look back on this season as a step in the right direction.

Deprived of several first-teamers, among them stalwart veteran Garath McCleary, so often a thorn in Charlton’s side, the outsiders from Buckinghamshire papered over the cracks, weathered a rocky start and were good value for their share of the spoils. As were, to be fair, Dean Holden’s chaps, who showed every intention of seeing things through to the bitter end of a largely forgettable season.

Having made their usual desultory opening, the Addicks settled down and controlled most of the first half, from which they emerged with a deserved lead.

Albie Morgan had already squandered an opportunity when scuffing Tyreece Campbell’s sharp cutback wide before redeeming himself by setting up Miles Leaburn’s third goal in as many games. Morgan’s hard drive fortuitously rebounded to his feet but was instantly drilled low to the far post, where Leaburn tapped home simply, but efficiently.

Leaburn Jr has been a bright spark during the doldrums, a chip off an old beloved block but one destined to make a name for himself. This ninth goal of an emergent season was as easy to score as miss but was all about movement and anticipation. The same could be said about his deceptively routine strike at Cambridge, where he drifted off the shoulder of an unwary defender to convert Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s cutback.

Capable of spectacular efforts, the 18-year old prodigy promises to become a rare handful for defences, probably at a higher level. He does show a worrying susceptibility to injury, but this will be managed as he develops.

Thrown off course by the setback, meanwhile, the visitors briefly buckled and Rak-Sakyi created a good chance for Leaburn to force a smart save from Max Stryjek.

But Wanderers gradually gained a foothold and Chem Campbell’s improvised overhead effort drew a similarly impressive response from Ashley Maynard-Brewer. The young Aussie had earned the break he received when Campbell fired the rebound wide. He was just as happy to see Joe Jacobson’s free-kick skim the bar, after Michael Hector decked ex-Addick Brandan Hanlan. Skipper Jacobson’s setpiece skills would be heard from again before the end of this competitive encounter.

Clearly needing to score again – as any of their fans would confirm – Charlton came close early in the second session. Cutting in from the right in trademark style, Rak-Sakyi unleashed a vicious strike from his favoured left foot but Stryjek, at full length, tipped away brilliantly. Two further saves from the imposing Pole which denied Morgan and the irrepressible Tyreece Campbell provided the platform for Wycombe’s increasingly likely equaliser.

Midfielder David Wheeler’s volley narrowly cleared the bar as the Chairboys took over but Charlton were weakening. An exception was the outstanding Maynard-Brewer. His response to a blistering drive from substitute Nick Freeman, who turned sharply on to Lewis Wing’s pass, was exemplary. Sadly for the defiant keeper, the resultant left-wing corner was swung out by Jacobson and bulleted home unstoppably by hefty centre-back Chris Forino.

As tempers frayed, there were chances at both ends. Scott Fraser fired Charlton’s last effort wide but it was Hanlan who came closer to stealing the points so coveted by the ambitious visitors. His cleverly curled shot was heading for the bottom right corner until Maynard-Brewer made horizontal contact to his left and magnificently turned aside what had seemed to be Wycombe’s last minute match-winner.

Next up for the Addicks as they see out their obligations is next Saturday’s visit of Shrewsbury Town, who still entertain faint hopes of crashing the play-offs but, more realistically, are also destined for mid-table mediocrity.

It’s to Holden’s credit that his under-achievers are, at least, making it clear that they are no pushovers. This 13th draw of the season was bitterly earned against opponents with greater incentive and made it four games unbeaten since they pushed the self-destruct button at Plymouth in early March.

There’s pride still at stake, without which there’s little point in turning up. The 2023-24 season might be said to begin here…

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Clare, Inniss, Hector, Sessegnon, Morgan, Rak-Sakyi, Dobson, Fraser, Leaburn, Campbell. Not used: Harness, Bonne, Kilkenny, Payne, Henry, Kanu, Mitchell. Booked: Clare, Morgan, Dobson, Hector, Leaburn.

Wycombe: Stryjek, Grimmer, Forino, Tafazolli, Jacobson. Wheeler, Wing, Hanlan, Campbell (Willis 90+5), Scowen, DeBarr (Freeman 67). Not used: Cartwright, Young, McCarthy, Pattenden, Ward. Booked: Grimmer, Tafazolli, Scowen.

Referee: Scott Oldham. Attendance: 15,278 (1,171 away fans).

Southwater 2 v 1 Charlwood

Saturday 18th March 2023, Kick-off 14.00

Southern Combination League Division Cup Quarter Final
Southwater Sports Club, Southwater
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Attendance: 137

With yet another rail strike on today, I would need to drive today, in order to visit a new ground. Not feeling like driving too far, I narrowed my choice down to two clubs within about an hour’s drive, at Southwater and at Hawkinge Town, tempted by both clubs regularly producing printed programmes, and with decent clubhouses. Persistent rain overnight and into the morning caused many games in the south-east to be postponed, including the game at Hawkinge, and so I headed westwards, to take in my penultimate ground in the Southern Combination League.

The Southwater Sports Club is located to the north west of the rapidly expanding village of Southwater, with the club’s current facilities opened as recently as 2019. And very impressive, well maintained and easy on the eye the complex it is too, with a lane leading from the passing road past a cricket field to a more than adequately sized car park. A footpath from the car park leads to the clubhouse, which is bright, sizeable and modern inside, with a very decent range of drinks available, including three cask ales. The path then leads down a slight hill and up the other side where, just beyond the Downs Link footpath and a hedgerow, two football pitches are located side by side. The main pitch is to the left, and is roped off along one length, with no hard standing. Spectators are not really intended to access the other three sides, although a reasonable view can be bad behind one end from the footpath, while a path leads around the  outside of mesh fencing behind the other length and end. That other length has advertising and club signage attached to the cage fencing, and there are permanent dugouts in place, which are decorated in club colours, and these give the place more of a football ground feel to it. For today at least, a barbecue was located by the entrance to the pitch offering hot dogs. While the ground is basic, it is a an attractive, tranquil and relaxing place to watch football at, although a bumper crowd was in attendance today, providing quite a good atmosphere and community feel. And while an awful lot of work would be required to upgrade the ground sufficiently to host Step 6 football, the pitch is of excellent quality, sufficiently so that League Two Crawley Town use the Southwater Sports Club’s facilities for their training sessions. Southwater do usually produce printed programmes for their games, but not today unfortunately despite advertising that there would be, with the reason given that the printer had broken. A shame, given the bumper attendance today.

In just their second season at Step 7, following elevation from the West Sussex League presumably based on the club’s facilities than sporting merit, Southwater are doing well in the league this season, up in fourth place, following eleven wins and four draws from their 22 league games, and fourth is probably as high as they can realistically wish to finish, with a seven point gap to third placed Capel, albeit with a game in hand, and with four games left to play. They are in remarkably good form though, winning their last seven league games. a run which follows four straight defeats. Charlwood have experienced significant changes to their club in the last year or so. Following achieving relative fame through the excellent "Bunch of Amateurs" series, which followed the club with excellent footage of their games, on and off the pitch, throughout a season, Charlwood struggled when their manager Peter Barkley left, an ageing squad was not easily replaced with no youth or other teams fielded by the small village club, and it looked very likely at one stage that Charlwood would have to fold. They were saved when an agreement was entered into with Three Bridges FC, whose ground Charlwood would share from this season onwards, and many of Three Bridges' younger fringe players would be available to play for Charlwood. It was a solution that really seems to suit both parties, albeit that Charlwood have surely lost much of their identity as a result. And after a third place in the league, and winning the League Cup, last season, Charlwood were down in eighth place in the league, following nine wins and two draws from 21 league games. And although they won last Saturday against Rottingdean Village, their form before that had been poor, losing their previous seven games. In the league encounters between the two clubs, Charlwood's home match ended in a 2-2 draw back in September, whilst Southwater won theirs 1-0 in late January.

Although the weather was mild throughout, it was certainly changeable, with fine drizzly rain at the start of the game giving way to bright sunshine in the second half. After kicking off seven minutes late for some reason, Southwater started the game on the front foot, and in the sixth minute, they came close to opening the scoring when the ball was played forward, drawing the keeper out, and the Southwater player struck the ball towards goal, but was blocked by a defender, sending the ball tantalisingly spinning a few yards out from goal before being cleared. But they did take the lead on 16 minutes when the ball was crossed in low from the right, and Ben Lewis tucked the ball home from a central position. The home side continued on the front foot, albeit not being to create many real chances, but they held their narrow lead at the break.

The second half continued in much the same vein, and Southwater doubled their lead in the 50th minute when the ball was played forward and with the keeper slightly out of position, Luke Brodie drilled the ball home. It was increasingly looking like Southwater would canter towards a comfortable victory, as they created a few other chances to further extend their lead. But as the game reached its conclusion, Charlwood did come back into the game, perhaps as Southwater eased off somewhat, and the visitors gave themselves a glimmer of hope in the 89th minute when they pulled a goal back, following a run down the right, the ball was crossed in low and swept home from a central close range position. But time was against them and they could not threaten an equaliser in added on time, and so the holders would exit the competition today, leaving Southwater for a semi-final date at Bosham.

Bexhill United 0 v 1 Midhurst & Easebourne

Wednesday 15th February 2023, Kick-off 19.30

Sussex RUR Cup 3rd Round

The Polegrove, Bexhill-on-Sea

Admission: £6.00

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 109

This midweek, I decided to pay my seventh, and possibly last visit of the season to The Polegrove, with no more midweek league fixtures scheduled there for the rest of this season, and depending on the result of this cup tie. 

Tonight's encounter was a quick replay of the league fixture which took place at The Polegrove just over a month ago, which proved to be quite a close encounter before Bexhill eventually won 3-1. In the league, Bexhill are currently in 10th place, following 18 wins and two draws from their 31 league games played, and were in decent form, winning their last three league games, two of those away from home, although they did exit the Sussex Senior Cup following a 6-1 defeat at Isthmian League Premier Division outfit Bognor Regis Town a fortnight ago. Midhurst were in 15th place in the 20 club division, following nine wins and five draws from their 29 league games. With at least two games in hand on the the three clubs above and three clubs below them, they are heading for a comfortable finish away from the relegation zone following promotion last season, and this being their first season in the top flight since the 1992/93 season. They were not in good form though, winless in their last ten games, and picking up just three draws in that run. To reach this stage of the competition, Bexhill had beaten Montpelier Villa 3-0, whilst Midhurst beat Mile Oak on penalties after a goalless draw. The winners tonight would have the reward of an apparently very winnable tie in the next round, at home to Division One outfit Worthing United.

On a cool evening with steady drizzle and a fresh breeze, this was not a game that will last long in the memory in all honest, low on quality and becoming increasingly niggly, although the conditions and a bobbly pitch at The Polegrove is rarely conducive to good football. Chances were at a premium throughout, and the scoreline remained goalless at the break.

Midhurst had a great chance to open the scoring just a couple of minutes after the break, when the ball was struck wide from a good central position, but on 71 minutes, they were awarded a penalty following a handball. Will Essai converted low into the bottom left corner, sending the keeper the wrong way. Midhurst were then reduced to ten men two minutes later, when Marcus Bedford was shown a straight red card for kicking out. But although Bexhill did mount a couple of attacks in the remaining time, they never really got going, and in the end, rather limply bowed out of the competition this evening.