Charlton 2 Northampton Town 1
Matty Godden scored the winning goal as the Addicks beat Northampton Town in front of a bumper-sized crowd at The Valley to secure a top-six place in Sky Bet League One.
Luke Berry gave Nathan Jones’ side a ninth-minute lead but Dara Costelloe equalised and Charlton were forced to knuckle down and wait for Godden's 72nd-minute winner.
Nathan Jones made one change to the side that beat Cambridge United last weekend with Lloyd Jones returning to the side, after missing three games with a calf injury, in place of Macaulay Gillesphey, absent with muscle stiffness.
The Valley was bouncing at kick-off, with 20,198 in attendance – the highest crowd at The Valley for an Easter game since 2008.
The visitors had a half chance seven minutes into the game when a long throw was cleared as far as Akin Odimayo who, on the edge of the area, miskicked his left footed effort which was cleared by the Addicks defence.
Charlton took a ninth-minute lead through an excellent volleyed finish from Berry. Godden curled in a delightful cross from the right which bounced off a Northampton defender into the path of Berry who converted with a controlled volley from 12 yards out.
It took Northampton six minutes to level the scores. A curled cross from the visitors’ left wing hit the hand of Tom McIntyre and referee Ollie Tayes had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Costelloe stepped up confidently and smashed home the resulting spot kick.
After the early goals neither side were able to find another clear-cut chance for the remainder of the first half. Aaron McGowan headed wide from a corner while Berry had a shot blocked and Kayne Ramsay’s header didn’t have enough power to trouble Lee Burge.
The Addicks started the second half in nervy fashion and it didn’t take Nathan Jones long to bring on supersub Chuks Aneke.
Berry continued to cause Northampton headaches, heading just wide from a Ramsay cross, before showing some neat featwork and forcing Burge into a save low to his left.
Godden rattled the crossbar from close range after getting his head to a wonderful Thierry Small cross from the left.
Four minutes later though the prolific Godden had his 18th goal of the season. Will Mannion’s long ball was flicked on by Aneke into the path of Godden, making a well-timed run in behind the Northampton defence. The Addicks’ striker was predictably cool, slotting his shot underneath the onrushing Burge.
Charlton held on relatively comfortably to secure three points. Results elsewhere mean the Addicks move to within five points of second place – now occupied by Easter Monday’s opponents Wycombe Wanderers.
Charlton: Mannion; Ramsay, Jones, McIntyre (Aneke 54); Small, Berry (Anderson 88), Coventry, Docherty (c) (Gilbert 69), Edwards; Godden (Mbick 88), Campbell (Watson 88)
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Ahadme
Goals: Berry 9, Godden 72
Assist: Aneke 72
Booked: Coventry 12 (foul on Costelloe), Gilbert 78 (foul on McGeehan), Ramsay 85 (timewasting), Small 90+4 (foul on Wilson), Aneke 90+6 (scuffle)
Northampton Town: Burge, McGowan (c), Perry, Pinnock, Costelloe, McGeehan, Roberts (Wilson 82), Mbete (Dyche 46), Odimayo (Magloire 69), Fosu (Hondermarck 70), Eyoma
Subs (not used): Tzanev, Dadge, Baldwin
Goal: Costeloe 15
Booked: Nolan 45+2 (dissent), McGowan 68 (timewasting), Dyche 90+6 (scuffle), McGeehan 90+6 (scuffle)
Referee: Ollie Yates
Attendance: 20,198 (1,238 from Northampton)