Wrexham 3 Charlton 0
The Addicks’ incredible push for a top two spot ended with defeat at Wrexham who secured back-to-back-to-back promotions in the process.
An injury-hit Addicks lost to a full-strength Wrexham side courtesy of a Sam Smith double and Ollie Rathbone’s opener.
In a tight game of few chances it was the home side who were more clinical in front of goal to secure an important three points.
Nathan Jones made two enforced changes with Tennai Watson and Karoy Anderson starting in place of Thierry Small and the in-form Luke Berry, while Lloyd Jones started but hadn’t trained all week after sustaining an injury in the Addicks 4-0 win at Wycombe Wanderers on Easter Monday. Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Gassan Ahadme and the suspended Chuks Aneke were also unavailable.
It was a frenetic start to the game with both sets of fans creating a big-game feel with their loud support.
Then, 15 minutes into the first half the home side took the lead. Macaulay Gillesphey did superbly, making a big tackle to deny Smith after the striker had got in behind the Charlton defence and shaped to pull the trigger. The resulting short corner was played to Rathbone whose low shot from the edge of the penalty area beat the unsighted Will Mannion after coming through a crowd of players.
Three minutes later the home side doubled their lead when Smith again beat the Charlton offside trap and smashed Matty James’ chipped through ball into the back of the net with a wonderful first-time volley.
Charlton looked to fight back and came close when Watson got in behind James McClean but couldn’t convert on his weaker left foot, with his shot too close to Wrexham stopper Arthur Okonkwo.
Tyreece Campbell then cut inside onto his right foot from a clever Conor Coventry pass but his shot was well closed down by the Wrexham defence, blocking it to safety.
Nathan Jones used his substitutes bench as he tried to change the game and while Charlton had plenty of possession Wrexham defended well and gave the visitors very little.
Smith sealed victory for Wrexham with nine minutes to go, heading home Ryan Longman’s whipped cross from the left.
Charlton have a playoff place already secured and will return to The Valley next weekend for the visit of Burton Albion for the final game of the season before the start of the playoffs on May 10th.
Wrexham: Okonkwo, Brunt, Cleworth, McClean (c), Dobson, Rodriguez (Fletcher 69), Rathbone, Scarr, Smith (Marriott 87), James, Longman
Suns (not used): Burton, O’Connell, O’Connor, Barnett, Lee
Goals: Rathbone 15, Smith 18, 81
Assists: James 15, 18, Longman 81
Booked: Longman 45 (foul on Edwards), Smith 65 (delaying restart)
Charlton: Mannion; Ramsay, Jones (Jones 53), Gillesphey; Watson (Gilbert 73), Anderson (Kanu 63), Coventry, Docherty (c), Edwards; Godden, Campbell
Subs (not used): Bouzanis, Mitchell, McIntyre, Hylton
Booked: Campbell 42 (foul on Longman)
Referee: Ben Toner
Attendance: 12,774 (1,276 from Charlton)