Charlton Athletic 1 v 2 Fleetwood Town

Saturday 11th February 2023, Kick-off 15.00
EFL League One
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 12,436 (121 away)

Today it was back to The Valley, for a game that was hardly one to make one's mouth water, but on paper at least, represented a decent opportunity to extend Charlton's recent decent form. There would be a strange background to the game though, with the takeover led by the controversial figure of Charlie Methven, which had looked merely a matter of time to be completed with various directors appointed to the club's board in December presumably at the request of the prospective new owners, being called off by current owner Thomas Sandgaard yesterday.

After the last home game against Bolton Wanderers, one of those games where you just have to hold your hands up and say you were beaten by the better team on the day, Charlton picked up their fourth win in five games last Saturday, surprisingly defeating Exeter City 1-2, to complete the league double over the Devon side. That was enough to lift Charlton just back into the top half of the table, in twelfth place, following nine wins and ten draws from 28 league games, and an equal ten points away from the play-off and relegation spots. On paper, this looked like a game that was highly winnable for Charlton - although highly winnable games have proved to be anything but at times for Charlton this season - home games against MK Dons, Forest Green and Cheltenham spring instantly to mind. Fleetwood were down in 17th place in the table, following six wins and eleven draws from 28 league games, and are just two points clear of the relegation zone. However, a no doubt fired-up Jayden Stockley would be in their starting line-up today, eager to make a point no doubt against the club who sold him just a couple of weeks ago after a dismal season, scoring just twice in 24 league appearances for the Addicks this season. But he scored on his debut for Fleetwood last week. Fleetwood came into this game on the back of four straight defeats in the league, although during that time, they caused an upset in the FA Cup, beating QPR, before losing in a replay to Sheffield Wednesday in the Fourth Round. When today's clubs met in the reverse fixture back in September, the points were shared after a 1-1 draw.

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

Brief match highlights can be viewed by clicking here

Kevin Nolan’s Valley View: Charlton Athletic 1-2 Fleetwood Town

Addicks fans have that sinking feeling again. KEVIN NOLAN watched a desperate affair at The Valley.

In-form Charlton, well rested after triumphing at Exeter last weekend and boosted by four wins from their previous five games, were understandably confident of extending an encouraging run by defeating relegation-threatened Fleetwood Town at an expectant Valley on Saturday.

Beaten at home by lowly Burton Albion in their last league game, meanwhile, Scott Brown’s bhoys had qualified for the FA Cup fifth round by knocking out table-topping Sheffield Wednesday in a mild upset, but that hardly qualified as a reliable form guide. It was widely assumed that Wednesday had heavily prioritised their league campaign and were less than disappointed to lose last Tuesday.

Winners of only six league games this season but kept afloat by eleven draws, Town had managed only 31 goals but had shown signs of a stubborn streak by conceding just two more than that paltry total. Their 2-3 “goalfest” against Burton the previous weekend was clearly out of character for the Cod Army.

Huddled together for warmth in the Jimmy Seed Stand, 121 travelling fans gave a brave account of themselves but probably feared the worst. They haven’t exactly set League One alight on the road and their cheerful mood was a triumph of hope over experience.

As a quiet first half trudged along, with the Addicks proving no better – or indeed worse – than their Fylde Coast visitors, a splendid goal that was completely out of context withs its mundane surroundings illuminated the proceedings and sent a familiar, cold chill down local spines.

Abruptly shaken out of their cosy sense of superiority, home fans were startled but hardly surprised by the sudden turn of events.

Hurried off the bench as early as the ninth minute to replace his stricken captain Danny Andrew, defender Shaun Rooney settled down quickly, shored up the hole left by Andrew and found time to venture upfield to swell the numbers on setpieces. Stationed some 25 yards from goal as an inconclusive headed clearance reached him, the 26-year-old Scot unleashed an uninhibited half-volley which screamed into the top left corner with Ashley Maynard-Brewer airborne but hopelessly beaten by the sheer brutality of the strike.

Stung into action by the setback, Charlton sought instant reprisal. Skipper George Dobson, set up by Scott Fraser, curled a first-time effort narrowly over the bar before Fraser himself moved on to Gavin Kilkenny’s pass, shot on the run but was foiled by Carl Johnston’s heroic block.

The Addicks looked likely to take a one-goal deficit in with them at the interval until, in the last of five added minutes, a second goal which again belonged in a better game than this earnestly mediocre affair, drew them level.

Confirmed as on loan from Crystal Palace for the rest of the season, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi delights and frustrates in equal measure. His shimmering talent is undeniable but is often let down by poor choices. With a head of steam behind him, however, he’s a sight for red and white eyes, as he proved yet again while referee Carl Boyeson reached for his half-time whistle.

Picking up Sean Clare’s shrewd pass, Rak-Sakyi’s magic feet disposed of Scott Robertson’s challenge as he cut inside from the right, wrongfooted Town’s central defenders and dispatched an unstoppable drive past Jay Lynch. His wonderful, bravura goal appeared, at the time, to have set up the homeboys for a match-winning second half onslaught.

Seven minutes after the resumption, the Addicks instead found themselves trailing again. Their poor defending of setpieces, in this case Phoenix Patterson’s inswinging left-wing corner, was their all too familiar downfall. Hardly a shrimp but dwarfed by Ryan Inniss, Lucas Ness and their co-defendants, Harrison Holgate – a single, diminutive cod among several towering haddocks – leaped like a salmon and headed what turned out to be the match-winner into the centre of Maynard-Brewer’s net.

Surprisingly in front, Fleetwood produced a masterclass in the various methods of game management. The second period rapidly degenerated into an ugly series of stoppages, not all of them down to Brown’s men. As they regularly collapsed in simulated agony and pondered long and hard over such dilemmas as goal-kicks and throw-ins, they were assisted by the genuine injuries which afflicted their hosts.Lengthy treatment of injuries to Clare and Matt Penney led to their withdrawal and will present Dean Holden with selection problems for Tuesday’s trip to Forest Green Rovers.

In the shorter term, the late dismissal of Inniss sealed Charlton’s fate. Sent off for chopping down Harvey Macadam, the huge centre-back deserved his red card; no amount of Holden’s disingenuous defence that Ness was the last defender should deflect from the brutal truth that Inniss’s disciplinary record needs urgent improvement. He’s a good lad but he needs to calm down. There is still a season to complete and we’ll need all hands available to get through it.

Meanwhile, it’s on to Nailsworth to take on FGR. Should be easy… er, p’raps not.

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Clare (Sessegnon 61), Inniss, Ness, Penney (Campbell 81), Dobson, Fraser, Blackett-Taylor, Kilkenny (Aneke 66), Rak-Sakyi, Bonne. Not used: Wollacott, Thomas, Morgan, Payne. Booked: Fraser, Penney. Sent off: Inniss.

Fleetwood: Lynch, Andrew (Rooney 9), Wiredu, Mendes Gomes (Macadam 55), Robertson, Marriott (Hayes 66), Warrington, Holgate, Patterson (Nsiala 55), Johnston, Stockley (Omochere 66). Not used: McMullan, Dolan. Booked: Wiredu, Holgate, Johnston.

Referee: Carl Boyeson. Attendance: 12,436 (121 visiting).

Bexhill United 3 v 1 Midhurst & Easebourne

Wednesday 8th February 2023, Kick-off 19.30

Southern Combination League Premier Division

The Polegrove, Bexhill-on-Sea

Admission: £6.00

Programme: £1.50

Attendance: 109

It is not often I take in games on consecutive midweek evenings when I am working, however this week I did just that, for a couple of game within the town of Bexhill, and for my second successive Wednesday evening visit to The Polegrove.

Following last Wednesday's defeat at home to Crowborough, Bexhill won 2-0 against strugglers Saltdean United, and came into this game in ninth place in the table, following 13 wins and two draws from their 25 league games. Midhurst & Easebourne, faced with not the greatest of journeys midweek from close to the Hampshire border to the East Sussex coast, came into this game in 12th place, following nine wins and four draws from their 24 league games, but were in poor form, having now won since 3rd December, picking up just two points from their last five league games, with those coming in their last two games, following three defeats. When the two clubs met on the opening day of the season back in late July, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. As this game was twice postponed, since its original date on 10th December, the original programme was issued today, with a 4 page insert to provided updated information.

On another very chilly evening, with a light frost developing during the game, the first half was lively and even, with the visitors probably creating more of the chances, and they should really have gone into half time on level terms at least, but were let down by some poor finishing, and instead went in two goals behind. Bexhill opened the scoring on 18 minutes, when a free kick was delivered into the box, and after the ball bobbled around inside the box, Stephen Okoh eventually managed to poke the ball gently in off the right hand post. And against the run of play, they doubled their lead on 43 minutes when the ball was floated towards the back post, and Evan Archibald stooped to connect with a glancing header, sending the ball into the back of the net.

Midhurst could consider themselves unlucky to be behind at the break, but they pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute when the ball was headed across goal and Marcus Bedford headed home. But in truth, Bexhill had more control of the game during the second half as Midhurst did not look so much of a threat, and the home side eventually made sure of the three points in the 80th minute when Okoh ran through the middle and, ignoring team mates either side, he contributes into the box before whipping the ball past the keeper. They thought they had scored again four minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Little Common 0 v 1 Eastbourne Town

Tuesday 7th February 2023, Kick-off 19.30
Southern Combination League Premier Division
Little Common Recreation Ground , Little Common
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 134

Bexhill is proving to be providing rich pickings for my midweek action at the moment. This evening I would pay my second visit to the Little Common Recreation Ground in 3 weeks, and after visiting The Polegrove last Wednesday. tonight's match would be the first of a midweek double in Bexhill this week, with United as home tomorrow evening. 

Little Common had gone through a bad spell since the start of December, losing every league game they played in, although that was only four league games due to various weather related postponements, before they returned to winning ways in some style, seeing off AFC Varndeanians, who were (and remain) 1 place above Little Common in the table. Little Common came into this game in 14th place, following eight wins and four draws from their 20 league games. With between two and five games in hand on all clubs above them, some good form from now on should see Little Common rise a few places up the table. Eastbourne Town were in sixth place, following twelve wins and six draws from their 24 league games. Their form has been outstanding in the last couple of months, winning seven of their last nine league games. When the two teams met back in late August, the match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Little Common equalising in the sixth minute of added on time, despite being down to ten men.

On a very chilly night, with a beautiful large moon shining brightly in the background and with a light frost developing in still conditions, the visitors spent most of the first half very much on the front foot, with Little Common not really posing much of a threat, but just as it was looking like the scoreline would remain deadlocked at the break, Eastbourne opened the scoring a couple of minutes before half time, when Leon Greig whipped in an inswinging corner which curled straight into the goal.

The second half saw Little Common carry much more of a threat, but they just couldn't find a way through despite some sustained pressure at times, as Eastbourne defended well when needed, and indeed they had some great chances to extend their lead. On 65 minutes, the Bexhill keeper came way out his area to clear the ball, but his pass went straight to an Eastbourne player, but from very long distance, a good floated effort dropped just wide of the left hand post. The closest Little Common came to equalising came on 81 minutes, when a low shot from outside the area took a sizeable deflection, and the Eastbourne just managed to scamble across his area to palm the ball away, while in the 88th minute, there was an amazing miss from an Eastbourne player, when the ball was crossed low from the right, and the Eastbourne player was all alone in front of goal and 8 yards out, but he couldn't connect with the ball and it bobbled away from goal. To be fair, the bobbly and undulating surface at the Recreation Ground often makes things like that more likely to happen. But in the end, it did not matter as Eastbourne held on for the narrow win to keep them in sixth place in the table, but brought them to within two points of cross town rivals Eastbourne United in fifth place, and within four points of third and fourth places. Little Common should be fine in mid table, but will need to improve their form.

Gillingham 1 v 0 Crawley Town

Saturday 4th February 2023, Kick-off 15.00
EFL League Two
Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham
Admission: "Pay What You Can"

Programme: £3.00

Attendance: 9,317 (840 away)

Whilst ideally preferring to take in new grounds when I'm not going to The Valley, revisits really seem to have dominated my travels in recent months, and this was the case again today. Once I heard that Gillingham where running a "Pay What You Want" promotion, enabling a cheaper than usual visit to an EFL stadium (most seats in the stadium, including the one I chose, are usually priced at £22), for my first visit in almost 17 years. What sealed the deal for me was that Crawley Town would be the visitors today, a club I have a little soft spot for, coming from my home county, and I recall them playing in the Beazer Homes (Southern) League back in the 90's and early 2000's.

On my previous two visits to the Priestfield I watched from the infamous uncovered Brian Moore Stand behind the goal, but this time I managed to get a ticket in the Gordon Road stand, along one length. It’s a ground that is pretty much unchanged since my last visit in 2007, and three sides remain easy on the eye and offer decent facilities and good views of the action, particularly the Medway and the Rainham End stands but the away end of uncovered seating on scaffolding remains a blight on the ground, which hopefully the club's new owner will rectify soon. A fourth modern stand would make The Priestfield a smart and sensibly sized stadium. It is true to say that the stadium is looking rather tired in places, and not much sprucing up would improve the appearance no end. What did seem a little strange, given the sell out crowd in attendance today, was that the main club shop was closed today, with only a small shop open inside the ground and with long queues forming outside, and which, bizarrely, was the only place that programmes could be purchased from. And indeed, for what was actually a very decent programme, it was a shame, particularly in this age of dwindling numbers of clubs issuing printed programmes, that its sale was not promoted on the Gillingham website nor social media channels, and they had to be hunted down somewhat.

It has certainly been an interesting season for Gillingham and Crawley, with both clubs being taken over in the last year, with wildly contrasting current emotions towards those takeovers. The first half was quite disastrous for Gillingham following relegation from League One, finding themselves bottom of the table on Boxing Day, following two wins and eight draws from their opening 21 league games, but had remarkably scored just six goals in those 21 games. But they have turned the corner since then, helped by the takeover of the club by American Brad Gallinson, which brought to an end Paul Scally's 27 year control of the club. That helped Gillingham have an active transfer window, and what looks like plenty of smart recruitment, included the signing of striker Tom Nichols and goalkeeper Glenn Morris from today's opponents, and although the Gills still find themselves in the relegation zone, they have risen a place and to within a point of safety, following a further two wins, a draw and eight goals in the three games since Boxing Day, and there is a feeling that they are destined to lift themselves well clear of the relegation zone, albeit with plenty of hard work ahead to achieve that. Although Crawley were three places and four points better off than Gillingham going into this game, they do appear much more in danger of falling through the relegation trap door. Their takeover by Wagmi United, a group of US cryptocurrency investors, last April, seems to have been something of a disaster for Crawley so far, despite their ambitious claim still posted on their website that "WAGMI United is dedicated to bringing Web3's most innovative ideas and passionate communities to the world of sports. In early 2022, we bought Crawley Town FC, an English Football League 2 club. Together, we're going to take Crawley Town to the Premier League." Well, the National League looks a much more likely destination than the Premier league, as things have got increasingly chaotic for Crawley this season with what have appeared, from a distance, to be some really quite bizarre squad changes, possibly as a result of recruitment and selection being based predominantly on stats, and following the suspension of former manager John Yems at the end of last season, his replacement Kevin Betsy only lasted until early October, leaving the club bottom of the table, to be replaced by Matthew Etherington, who lasted just 34 days, and then current incumbent Scott Lindsey was appointed three weeks ago, coming from Swindon Town, a move which seemed to be welcomed by Swindon fans. They were in 20th place in the table coming into this game, following six wins and seven draws from their 25 league games.

On a mild and overcast afternoon, this was something of a game of two halves, with Crawley have slightly the better of the first half, and really should have been in front by half time. Indeed, inside the very first minute they had a great chance to open the scoring, when the ball was crossed from the right, finding its way to Tom Fellows just beyond the back post, but he struck his shot just wide of the left hand post. Gillingham then had their best chance of the half, when a diagonal ball through the defence found Dom Jeffries, but his eventual shot from a tight angle could only find the side netting. Crawley then came really close to breaking the deadlock twice, with former Crawley keeper making a couple of crucial saves from captain Ben Gladwin, the second an excellent reaction block on the line following a corner. Nichols then had a decent chance to break the deadlock when he received the ball inside the area, but he scuffed his shot just wide of the far post. Somewhat surprisingly, considering the ground was full to capacity, the home fans were remarkably quiet during the first half, perhaps matching a rather flat performance from their side on the pitch, as it was the just the Crawley section making any noise, mostly in support of their team but occasionally protesting against their owners Wagmi.

But just a couple of minutes after the break, it was Gillingham who broke the deadlock. Tom Nichols fired a shot at goal which was excellently parried by the keeper, but the loose ball was tapped home by Shaun Williams. That certainly woke the home fans up at last, and their team went on to control most of the second half as Crawley seemed to let the game pass them by somewhat, struggling to put many meaningful attacks together. And so Gillingham claimed a very important three points, which was not enough to lift them out of the relegation zone, as Hartlepool also won today, but they are not just a point behind Hartlepool, and now Crawley, after this win. 

It was interesting to hear some feedback on how the "Pay What You Can" promotion went. 5% of people attending paid the full price for their ticket, while the average ticket price paid was just £1.50, and perhaps unsurprisingly, all Crawley fans chose to pay £1. But some interesting insights came to light looking at the bigger picture rather than just the income made from ticket sales on the day. Ticket sales for their next home game, on Valentine's Night against Grimsby Town, were 30% up on what would have been expected, while some of the shortfall on the day was made up with vastly increased sales of food, drink and merchandise.

Brief video highlights can be viewed by clicking here

An "Access All Areas" video can be viewed by clicking here