Charlton 1 Wycombe Wanderers 0
Charlton are going back to Wembley!
Matty Godden scored in front of the Covered End with nine minutes to go as the Addicks beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 to move onto the League One play-off final on Sunday, May 25th.
It was a night to remember for Charlton fans who packed out The Valley and created a wonderful atmosphere throughout.
Nathan Jones made two changes from the first leg 0-0 stalemate with Thierry Small replacing Tennai Watson and Alex Gilbert coming in for the injured Luke Berry.
With the atmosphere at fever pitch at kick-off Wycombe tried to take the sting out of the game and neither side were able to create much in the opening half.
The Addicks had the better of the period and finished the stronger, coming closest to opening the scoring seven minutes before the break when Godden dinked a wonderful cross to the back post but Lloyd Jones wasn’t able to direct his header goalwards from close range.
Charlton kept the momentum going to begin the second half with Gilbert seeing a shot blocked at the back post after getting on the end of a Macaulay Gillesphey flick on.
At the other end Gillesphey, who was outstanding throughout, did well when facing a one-on-one with Richard Kone, showing the striker onto his weaker foot and forcing him to shoot wide.
Thierry Small then came close, cutting inside from the right onto his stronger left foot and shooting inches wide of goal.
The Addicks added to their club record clean sheets in a season, notching their 25th, in part thanks to Kayne Ramsay who most notably made an outstanding double block to keep out first, Garath McCleary, who looked certain to score, before following that up by denying Xavier Simons.
The magic moment came with nine minutes remaining, Gillesphey’s diagonal ball forward was touched down by Lloyd Jones and bounced into the path of Godden who poked home from three yards out. The Charlton bench and Covered End erupted in unison for a special moment under the lights.
The Addicks were able to settle themselves and see the game out to secure a 1-0 aggregate win and book their place at Wembley for a London derby against Leyton Orient.
Charlton: Mannion; Ramsay, Jones, Gillesphey; Small (Aneke 70), Gilbert (Anderson 84), Coventry, Docherty (c), Edwards; Godden, Campbell (Watson 89)
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Mitchell, Kanu, Mbick
Goal: Godden 81
Assist: Jones 81
Booked: Docherty 44 (foul on Leahy), Godden 90
Wycombe Wanderers: Ravizzoli, Grimmer (c), Simons (Sadlier 87), Leahy, Udoh, McCleary (Westergaard 87), Humphreys, Kone (Onyedinma 73), Bradley, Taylor, Reach (Kodua 87)
Subs (not used): George, Bakinson, Low
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Attendance: 25,722 (1,600 from Wycombe)