Wrexham 1 Charlton 0
Charlton’s five-game unbeaten run came to an end in a tight game at STōK Cae Ras as the Addicks were downed by an unfortunate penalty.
Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was in fine form and made a number of excellent saves to keep Charlton out before Josh Windass converted a second-half spot kick.
The Addicks were depleted by recent injuries to Amari’i Bell, Reece Burke and Charlie Kelman. Lloyd Jones and Kayne Ramsay braved illness, while James Bree played through the pain. It was also later confirmed that Miles Leaburn had pulled out of the warm-up with an injury and was replaced on the substitutes bench by Josh Laqeretabua.
Charlton, who controlled the first half, started with pace and energy and nearly took a first-minute lead on the counter-attack. The in-form Sonny Carey advanced down the left wing, cut inside and hit a low shot across goal. Okonkwo did well to palm Carey’s shot to his left, just away from Tanto Olaofe sliding in at the back post.
Thomas Kaminski was then called into action, reacting well to tip Max Cleworth’s shot over the crossbar.
It was Bree who was next to come close to scoring. Tyreece Campbell skipped away from his defender and put in a cross which was only half cleared into the path of Bree charging into the box. The right wing-back’s low shot was too close to Okonkwo who blocked to safety with his legs.
Harvey Knibbs then hit the crossbar after an Olaofe shot had been blocked into his path by Wrexham skipper Dominic Hyam. Knibbs’ snap-shot with his left foot had Okonkwo beaten but clipped the top of the woodwork to the relief of the home support.
Ryan Longman had the final chance of the first half, firing over from close range after a loose ball fell his way at the back post.
The home side had the better of the second half and could have taken the lead when Kieffer Moore, at the back post, headed the ball across goal but no Wrexham player was able to get on the end of it.
When the goal did come it was in bizarre circumstances. Substitute Onel Hernández, under no pressure, appeared to head the ball clear at the back post. After a short delay referee Leigh Doughty blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot, adjudging Hernández to have handled the ball. Another substitute, Windass stepped up and powered an excellent penalty past Kaminski, diving to his left.
Charlton chased the game but were unable to create the openings that they did in the first half. Carey and Macaulay Gillesphey had shots well blocked by Wrexham defenders.
Kaminski then made a smart double save to keep the Addicks within touching distance, denying Windass from range and getting up quickly to block Moore’s shot on the rebound.
Okonkwo was called into action in the dying minutes of the game, diving high and to his right to keep out Luke Berry’s excellent header from a Carey cross.
That was to be Charlton’s last chance as Wrexham secured a 1-0 win.
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Wrexham: Okonkwo, Cleworth, Hyam (c), Kabore, Thomason (O’Brien 68), Dobson, Sheaf (James 80), Moore (Smith 90+6), Scarr, Broadhead (Windass 68), Longman (McClean 68)
Subs (not used): Burton, Doyle, Hardie, Barnett
Goal: Windass 77 (pen)
Booked: Sheaf 37 (foul on Olaofe)
Charlton: Kaminski; Ramsay, Jones (c), Gillesphey; Bree, Carey, Coventry (Berry 84), Campbell; Knibbs (Hernández 69), Fullah (Docherty 60); Olaofe
Subs (not used): Mannion, Gough, Rankin-Costello, Anderson, Apter, Laqeretabua
Booked: Fullah 8 (foul on Kabore), Bree 55 (foul on Longman), Carey 72 (foul on Sheath), Hernández 90+4 (dissent)
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Attendance: 10,594 (1,279 from Charlton)
