Charlton Athletic 3 v 0 Exeter City

Saturday 22nd February 2025, Kick-off 15.00
EFL League One
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.50
Attendance: 14,864 (1,247 away)

A match report from a Charlton perspective can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below

And from an Exeter perspective by clicking here, also copied and pasted below

Video highlights can be viewed by clicking here

Another win at The Valley for dominant Addicks

Charlton 3 Exeter City 0

The Addicks made it seven wins in eight games at The Valley with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Exeter City on Saturday afternoon.

The result moves Nathan Jones’ side level on points with sixth-placed Leyton Orient ahead of next weekend's match between the two sides at the Gaughan Group Stadium. 

An early own goal gave Charlton the lead before second-half strikes from academy starlets Tyreece Campbell and Miles Leaburn. The visitors rarely troubled Will Mannion in the Charlton goal as the Addicks kept a 14th league clean sheet of the season. 

The home side had an early shout for a penalty when it looked like Karoy Anderson, starting in-place of the ill Greg Docherty, was fouled in the box but referee Andy Davies waved play on.

Charlton took a 20th-minute lead which was started by Thierry Small, who did well to win a free kick on the right wing, skipping in between two Exeter defenders, at which point he was fouled by Ilmari Niskanen who was booked. Luke Berry’s whipped free kick was into the corridor of uncertainty and the ball bounced off Exeter defender Angus MacDonald and into the net. 

Campbell then cut back from the byline on the left wing, the ball eventually feel to Berry whose shot was blocked behind by Exeter goalkeeper Joe Whitworth. 

The Addicks high press continued to create turnovers and in an attempt to change the momentum, the visitors were forced into a 31st-minute change, with veteran Ryan Woods replacing Niskanen.

Just before the half-time whistle, Small’s deep cross from the right made it all the way through to Campbell at the back post, who was caught by surprise and unable to direct the ball towards goal.

Exeter Manager Gary Calwell made a second substitution at half-time but again the Charlton dominance continued. 

Anderson, who had been particularly relentless in the press, had a wonderful chance to double the Addicks lead. Campbell did brilliantly down the left and put in a perfect dinked cross for Anderson, who had time to pick his spot. The Jamaica international’s header was too close to Whitworth, who then did well to smother Matty Godden’s follow-up shot.

Anderson again came close shortly afterwards, heading just wide from Kayne Ramsay’s cross from the right. 

Charlton got the second they deserved when Alex Hartridge’s headed clearance fell to Campbell. The academy graduate took a touch to compose himself before curling a wonderful shot into the bottom corner of the goal from 22 yards.

Substitute Leaburn completed the scoring with six minutes to go, latching on to a Ramsay pass. There was still plenty for the 21-year-old to do but the 6ft 7in striker showed wonderful dancing feet to keep the ball away from two defenders before creating enough room for himself to then smash into the bottom corner of the goal.

There was enough time for a debut for deadline day signing, Tom McIntyre, who cames on for the last four minutes.

Nathan Jones’ side now have a free week before that trip to Leyton Orient. 

Charlton: Mannion; Ramsay, Jones (c), Gillesphey; Small, Berry (Gilbert 75), Coventry (McIntyre 86), Anderson, Edwards (Watson 88); Godden (Leaburn 75), T.Campbell (Kanu 86)

Subs (not used): Reid, Aneke

Goals: MacDonald (own goal) 20, Campbell 69, Leaburn 84

Assists: Berry 20, Ramsay 84

Booked: Small 72 (foul on Harper), Gillesphey 90+5 (foul on Magennis)

Exeter City:  Whitworth, McMillan, Hartridge, Mitchell (Cole 64), Niskanen (Woods 31), Harper, Trevitt (Jones 79), Colwill (Oluwabori 79), MacDonald, Magennis (c), Richards (Yogane 46)

Subs (not used): Purrington, Francis

Booked: Niskanen 19 (foul on Small), Mitchell 51 (foul on Gillesphey), Colwill 55 (foul on Campbell)

Referee: Andy Davies

Match Report: Charlton Athletic 3 Exeter City 0

An own goal and two smart finishes condemned City to a 3-0 defeat in the capital at Charlton Athletic.  

City fell behind to a free-kick deflecting off Angus MacDonald and in midway through the first half, before the Addicks then doubled their lead through a good Tyreece Campbell finish from the edge of the box.

Substitute Miles Leaburn then sealed the three points for the home side, drilling a in low inside the six-yard box with just a few minutes remaining. 

For this trip to the capital, Gary Caldwell made two changes from last week's win against Cambridge. Jake Richards returned in the centre of midfield while Demetri Mitchell was also included from the start. A late injury to Shaun MacDonald meant that City didn't name a backup keeper on the bench.

First half

The offside flag halted the game’s first attack, though it would have been inconsequential anyway, as Tyreece Campbell fired well wide for the hosts inside the opening two minutes.

Charlton looked to pin City back early on, dictating possession, but they found a composed Grecians defense that withstood the initial pressure. Exeter then registered their first effort through Ryan Trevitt, though his long-range strike was well off target.

The Grecians grew into the game from there and won a free-kick 30 yards out on the left after Joel Cowlill was fouled. Trevitt tried his luck again - this time on target - but his effort was comfortably saved by Will Mannion in goal for the Addicks.

Vincent Harper, in his blue away shirt, battling for the ball with a Charlton player in the sun

Despite looking like they were making ground in this fixture, City fell behind in the 20th minute. 

A clumsy challenge conceded a free-kick wide on the right of Exeter’s penalty area, and Luke Berry stepped up. Whipping the ball low into the box, it took a deflection off Angus MacDonald, nicking past Joe Whitworth and into the net.

Charlton then began to pile on the pressure, with MacDonald and Whitworth both making crucial blocks to deny fiercely struck efforts from Campbell at a tight angle.

Unhappy with his team’s performance, Gary Caldwell made a rare unenforced first-half substitution, bringing on Ryan Woods for Ilmari Niskanen. The change prompted a shift in shape, which helped City settle, but while they managed to hold off Charlton’s attacks, they struggled to create much at the other end.

Second half

Caldwell made another change at the break, bringing on Tony Yogane for Jake Richards, but again it was Charlton who made the first attack.

Karoy Anderson struck the ball low from close range after being found by a cut-back into the box, but Whitworth made an excellent reactionary block, before the Palace loanee pounced on Matt Godden's follow-up.

Anderson had another chance in the 57th minute when he met a cross from the right unchallenged, but fortunately for City, his header drifted wide of the mark.

The Grecians kept plugging away, but it was the home side who doubled their lead in the 68th minute. 

Hartridge’s header was intercepted by Tyreece Campbell, who picked his spot from the edge of the box before placing a precise shot into the bottom corner, well out of Whitworth’s reach.

City's loss was compounded six minutes from time, when Miles Leaburn rounded off Charlton's win. After waltzing through the Grecians' defence, he struck hard and low from the top corner of the six-yard box in.

A few half chances came Exeter's way in the game's closing minutes, but nothing was made of them, as the Addicks' three goals won all three points at the Valley.

Charlton Athletic: Mannion, Ramsay, Gillesphey, Jones (C), Coventry (McIntyre, 86'), Campbell (Kanu, 86'), Berry (Gilbert, 75'), Edwards (Watson, 89'), Anderson, Godden (Leaburn, 75'), Small.

Substitutes not used: Reid (GK), Aneke.

Goals: MacDonald (OG) 20', Campbell 67', Leaburn 84'

Exeter City: Whitworth, Niskanen (Woods, 33'), McMillan, MacDonald, Hartridge, Harper, Richards (Yogane, 46'), Trevitt (Jones, 78'), Colwill (Oluwabori, 78'), Mitchell (Cole, 63'), Magennis (C).

Substitutes not used: Purrington, Francis.

Yellow cards: Niskanen 19', Mitchell 51', Colwill 55'

Attendance: 14864 (1247 away)

Previous

Diss Town 2 v 3 Gorleston Reserves

Tuesday 18th February 2025, Kick-off 19.45

Eastern Counties League Division One North

Brewers Green Lane, Diss

Admission: £7.00

Programme: £2.00

Attendance: 129

A match report from a Diss perspective can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below

Match Report - Written by Tony Collins

Diss, despite leading twice, were beaten by a controversial goal late in the game. There was a good attendance, boosted by representatives from Diss Town Council to watch the official unveiling of the new Brewers Green Lane floodlights. The lights were in use for the first time for a midweek First Team fixture. The Club thanked The Council for their generous support in making a grant for the change to LED lights. The project both improved the quality of lighting and assisted with energy efficiency.

Diss created several good opportunities in the opening half but had just the one goal to show for their efforts. It came in the 17th minute; Benji Blyth was fouled on half way but good advantage play meant that his fine pass to Alfie Sandon was rewarded. Hr ran from deep into the penalty area and he had a shot blocked, in the follow up play Charlie Webb had two shots blocked on the line as defenders moved deeper and deeper. A shot from Malachi Wright suffered the same fate before Wright was able to steer the loose ball low into the corner of the net from four yards out.

Ryan Newson made one excellent save in this period to turn a 25-yard free kick over the bar. Two minutes before half time Connor Ingram sent a penalty kick low into the corner of the net after a push on an attacker was penalised.

The Tangerines regained the lead in the 51st minute; a deep lofted pass from Kehan Whitby travelled 50 yards and into the penalty area for Webb to head across. A hesitant visiting goalkeeper was punished as Liam Jackson side stepped into space and sent a shot from an acute angle on the right low into the far corner of the net.

The lead only lasted eight minutes as the unmarked and unchallenged Declan Allan headed The Greens level from inside the six-yard area.

The final goal of the game came in the 79th minute with Diss appealing for offside, a claim that was supported after the game by the travelling and well placed to judge Gorleston club officials. Play continued with Joel Watts scoring. Kyle Baker was initially sent to the ‘sin bin’ for his protests but collected another yellow card reducing The Tangerines to ten players for the rest of the game. The task to get an equaliser proved too difficult.

Bexhill United 1 v 1 Crawley Down Gatwick

Wednesday 19th February 2025, Kick-off 19.30
Southern Combination League Premier Division
The Polegrove, Bexhill-on-Sea
Admission: £7.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 144

Charlton Athletic 2 v 1 Peterborough United

Tuesday 11th February 2025, Kick-off 19.45
EFL League One
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.50
Attendance: 11,653 (714 away)

Charlton Athletic 2 v 0 Stevenage

Saturday 8th February 2025, Kick-off 15.00

EFL League One

The Valley, Charlton

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme: £3.50

Attendance: 14,093 (691 away)

A match report from a Charlton perspective can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below 

And from a Stevenage perspective by clicking here , also copied and pasted below

Brief video highlights can be viewed by clicking here

Charlton beat Stevenage to move into top six

Charlton 2 Stevenage 0

The Addicks moved into the playoff places with a 2-0 win at home to Stevenage.

Matty Godden scored his twelfth goal of the season just before half-time, with Luke Berry finding the net three minutes into the second half. 

Charlton saw the game out brilliantly, not allowing the visitors a single shot on target and could have extended their lead in an impressive second half.

The result means the Addicks have won five of their last six at The Valley ahead of the visit of Peterborough United on Tuesday. 

Nathan Jones included deadline-day signings Alex Gilbert and Tom McIntyre on the bench as he named an unchanged starting line-up from the Addicks previous two outings – a home win against Bristol Rovers and an away draw at Blackpool.

Charlton had the better of the opening exchanges with Berry’s headed effort, from Josh Edwards’ cross, the closest the home side came early on.

In the 20th minute Ashley Maynard-Brewer made a crucial intervention to keep the scores level, getting a big hand on the ball as Louis Appere, who had broken through, tried to take it around him.

Jamie Reid then hit the side-netting for the visitors and it wasn’t until a 30th minute injury to Maynard-Brewer allowed Nathan Jones the opportunity to speak to his side that the Addicks wrestled back control.

Greg Docherty’s 43rd-minute long range shot was comfortable for goalkeeper Murphy Cooper and notable as the first shot on target of the game.

The Addicks took the lead a minute later with the move of the half. Godden’s touch on the half-way line was perfect for Tyreece Campbell. The 21-year-old drove forward down the left before finding Berry in the box. Berry’s cushioned pass was weighted for the run of the tireless Conor Coventry, who drove a ball across goal for Godden to prod home. 

It was 2-0 three minutes into the second half. Thierry Small’s long ball forward was flicked on by the lively Godden and sat up for Campbell, whose left-footed strike powered back off the crossbar and into the path of Berry. The veteran midfielder’s first-time, left-footed shot wasn’t anywhere near as easy as he made it look, as he guided the ball into an empty net for his sixth goal of the season. 

Charlton had numerous chances to find a third, the best falling to the always threatening Small, who made a lot of ground down the right, cut inside onto his stronger left foot but shot straight at Cooper.

Four changes before the hour mark failed to make a difference for Stevenage, as Charlton never looked like conceding to secure another three points. 

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; Ramsay, Jones, Gillesphey; Small, Coventry, Berry (Gilbert 87), Docherty (c), Edwards; Godden (Leaburn 87), T.Campbell (Kanu 87)

Subs (not used): Mannion, A.Mitchell, McIntyre, Aneke

Goals: Godden 44, Berry 48

Assist: Coventry 44

Booked: Berry 84 (foul on List)

Stevenage: Cooper, Piergianni (c), Freeman, Appere (Hanlan 56), Kemp (Edwards 74), Roberts (List 56), Goode, Freestone, Reid, Phillips (Thompson 56), King (White 56)

Subs (not used): Ashby-Hammond, Sweeney

Booked: Goode 83 (foul on Godden), Freestone 85 (foul on Berry)

Referee: Josh Smith

Attendance: 14,093 (691 from Stevenage)

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Report: Charlton Athletic 2-0 Stevenage

By Stevenage FC

Stevenage fall to defeat in South-East London.

The games were coming thick and fast for Stevenage, and this weekend they travelled to South-East London for an earlier kick-off time of 12:30pm against play-off hopefuls Charlton Athletic.

Alex Revell made just one change from his side’s last League One clash as Charlie Goode came in for Dan Sweeney in defence. Boro’s two latest recruits, Kyle Edwards and Brandon Hanlan, made the bench for the first time.

The opening 20 minutes saw both sides take the game to their opponents, which made for a reasonably fast-paced start to the encounter.

The first golden chance of the afternoon came to the visitors as Jordan Roberts slipped the ball through to Louis Appere who was running through on goal, but the Charlton stopper was quick out of his box to deny the forward a shot on goal.

Stevenage came close with another chance a few minutes later as Jamie Reid managed to get a shot off from a tight angle but could only hit the side netting.

It was certainly a bright start for Boro who were displaying some neat patterns of play in the Charlton half, but after 30 minutes the scoreline remained goalless.

The Addicks grew into the game towards the end of the first half and opened the scoring just a few minutes before the break. Former Stevenage man, Matty Godden was the man who tapped it home at the near post.

Boro went into the break a goal down with a big 45 minutes ahead.

Unfortunately, just three minutes into the second half, Charlton doubled their advantage as Luke Berry fired home a rebound into an empty net, leaving Murphy Cooper no chance.

Boro’s task of a comeback became more difficult, so Alex Revell made four changes. On came Elliott List, Harvey White, Louis Thompson and debutant Brandon Hanlan, in place of Louis Appere, Eli King, Dan Phillips and Jordan Roberts.

A fifth change came with roughly 20 to play as fellow debutant, Kyle Edwards, replaced Dan Kemp in attack.

Aside from Charlton’s second goal, the second half saw very little action that threatened either goalkeeper as the Addicks looked to keep a hold of their two-goal lead, while Boro aimed to carve out several chances.

The clock ticked by, and the Addicks remained two goals in front when the Fourth Official indicated four minutes of added time.

Charlton did their job of winding down the clock in added time, as the referee soon blew his final whistle to send Stevenage home empty handed.

A run of three wins in League One came to end this afternoon, but Alex Revell's men will look to bounce back at Crawley this Tuesday.

Attendance: 14,093 including 691 away.