Charlton’s season drew to a close with a 3-1 defeat to Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After a goalless first half, the campaign ended with a flurry of second-half strikes with Miles Leaburn cancelling out Adam Idah’s opener, before Idah added a second and Leo Walta a third as the Swans took the points in south Wales.
With the pressure off and both sides able to enjoy the final-day festivities with excellent vocal support from both ends, it was the home side who started with slightly more intent. Indeed, they had the ball in the net with 15 minutes on the clock via Josh Tymon, but he was denied by the linesman’s flag having strayed offside.
Five minutes later, Thomas Kaminski was forced into a smart save as he got down to his right to tip away Zan Vipotnik’s effort, while the Addicks enjoyed their first foray forward on 28 minutes when Lyndon Dykes headed Lloyd Jones’ ball into the box across the face of goal, while Jayden Fevrier saw a deflected effort caught by Swans stopper Andy Fisher moments later.
As the half wore on, the action slowed down somewhat - in injury time, Goncalo Franco fired a shot well over the bar from 22 yards for the hosts, while Fevrier tested Fisher with a shot bound for the bottom left-hand corner and the sides headed for the dressing rooms at the break with the score level.
Swansea started on the front foot after the restart with Kaminski batting away Walta’s shot from long range in the opening moments of the second period, before Franco’s volley was also saved by the Addicks’ custodian at his near post.
Come the hour mark, Nathan Jones shuffled his pack with a triple sub, introducing Joe Rankin-Costello, Sonny Carey and Leaburn off the bench, but as the game and the season neared its end, the tempo began to slow for both sides before the hosts broke the deadlock with 15 minutes remaining - Josh Key’s ball across the box was met by sub Idah whose first-time effort found the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Charlton looked for an immediate response and almost got it when Leaburn’s low cross evaded Carey from close range, before Luke Chambers’ follow-up was blocked behind for a corner. And from the resulting set-piece, Jones’ men did have their leveller.
Carey’s corner delivery from the left was met by the unmarked Leaburn who firmly headed home for 1-1 in front of the travelling band of Addicks.
The Swans’ lead had only lasted four minutes, but it took them only two further minutes to regain it when Idah secured his brace, firing in via a deflection off Macaulay Gillesphey.
The hosts took control during the latter stages and punctuated their victory with a third two minutes from time. Walta stood over a free-kick 25 yard from goal and curled in an impressive effort off the post to extend their lead to two and see off any hopes of the Addicks fighting back for a point.
Despite defeat, the season ultimately ends in success for Charlton, who can now enjoy a rest before going again in the Championship next season.
Swansea City: Fisher; Key (Ward 78), Cubango (c), Burgess, Tymon; Ronald, Franco, Stamenic (Fulton 46), Widell (Walta 36); Cullen (Idah 65), Vipotnik (Woodward 77).
Subs (not used): Farman, Yalcouye, Nunes, Watts,
Goals: Idah 75, 82, Walta 88
Assists: Key 75, Woodward 82
Charlton: Kaminski; Burke (Leaburn 60), Jones, Gillesphey; Clarke, Coady (c) (Carey 60), Coventry, Chambers; Knibbs (Berry 75), Fevrier (Rankin-Costello 60); Dykes (Kelman 78)
Subs (not used): Mannion, Ramsay, Gough, Fullah
Goal: Leaburn 79
Assist: Carey 79
Referee: Will Finnie
Att: TBC
