Great game and performance, best since the Preston game I think. Another report here:
Charlton Athletic 2 - 0 Stevenage (25/02/12 - Match Report)
A record-breaking crowd at The Valley witnessed a comprehensive Charlton victory over promotion rivals Stevenage.
Bradley Wright-Phillips ended his extended goal drought after a Michael Morrison thunderbolt had given Charlton the lead shortly after the break.
Thousands of fans took up the self-explanatory Football For A Fiver scheme, and the resulting crowd of 26,546 broke the 37-year-old Charlton record for attendances in the third tier of English football. The home supporters were not left disappointed, as a free-flowing Addicks side could’ve had many more than the two they notched, with Boro ‘keeper Chris Day producing a series of fine saves to keep the score respectable.
Charlton immediately started on the front foot, boosted by some booming early support from the home stands. Rhoys Wiggins had a powerful drive charged down, before Danny Green nearly scored directly from an in-swinging corner, something he has been threatening to do throughout the season. Day had to be alive to claw the ball out of the top corner, with no one left on the back post.
The match was a physical encounter, especially in the early stages. Stevenage top-scorer Chris Beardsley was taken off just 22 minutes in, after Charlton’s top marksman, Wright-Phillips, was the subject of lengthy treatment. The Addicks had begun to build up a head of steam, and this stoppage in play disrupted their dominance. Stevenage began to take control, former-Arsenal attacker Luke Freeman saw a shot deflected wide and shouts for a penalty fell on deaf ears after Yann Kermorgant looked to have tripped captain Mark Roberts.
However, slightly against the run of play after 28 minutes, the hosts produced the move of the match. Goalkeeper Hamer sent the ball left to Wiggins, who brilliantly kept the ball in play before laying the ball off for Morrison. The towering centre back sent a cross-field pass long to Kermorgant, who nodded down for Green. His vicious cross was met from close range by Wright-Phillips, who could only send his effort inches over the bar. The expansive play being shown by the Addicks was something that has been missing from their performances recently, after a spell in October and November where the Addicks managed an impressive 19 goals in just 5 games, conceding three in the process.
Wright-Phillips and Jackson failed to capitalise on half-chances, before the former was sent through by his tireless strike-partner Kermorgant on 36 minutes. Charlton’s Number 10 opted to lob the ‘keeper from the chipped pass, and saw the ball sail agonisingly over from inside the area. His frustration at failing to score again, after 14 games without a goal, was evident and he perhaps rued the opportunity to rifle the ball past the onrushing Day.
Chris Powell’s men started the second half in magnificent fashion. After a corner had been half-cleared by the Stevenage defence, Morrison out-muscled his marker before unleashing a terrific half-volley into the top right-hand corner. That was the centre-back’s fifth league goal of the season, after joining from promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, and left the brimming Valley bouncing. Powell labelled the strike a “wonder goal”, and it set his team up for an inspired second half.
15 minutes later, Wright-Phillips finally ended his barren run with a deflected attempt. Stephens played him in with a precise low pass, before the front-man angled his drive across Day and into the goal via a deflection off Jonathan Ashton. The defender was charging back to clear the ball, but only helped in forcing it in when it appeared the initial strike was flashing wide. Wright-Phillips’ team-mates didn’t mind about the nature of the goal, however, as a full-team celebration emerged (minus the ‘keeper, Hamer) to revel in his break-through. The home faithful erupted into numerous chants for the striker, and the relief right throughout the club was clear to see.
Green had cut in from the right and seen his left-footed drive flash past the post just moments before the goal, and seconds after it Wright-Phillips was sent clear again. He raced onto a lofted ball, but saw his drive beaten away. Wiggins then saw his fierce attempt saved, as opposition manager Gary Smith made a substitution to try and stem the flow of Addicks attacks. However, minutes later Wright-Phillips spurned another chance to increase his tally, opting for placement over power, but his shot was blocked by the legs of Day.
A break in the Addicks dominance was found after a free kick was dubiously given against Green. The deep centre from Scott Laird was headed just off target by Roberts, and then Laird opted to shoot from a free-kick inside his own half after spotting Hamer well off his line. Fortunately for the Addicks ‘keeper, the attempt only succeeded in finding a section of the home crowd situated high-and-wide from the goal.
Charlton skipper Jackson made way for pacey attacker Haynes shortly before full-time. The influential midfielder was making his first appearance since despatching two penalties against MK Dons three games ago, and his replacement Haynes also marked his return from injury here. Playing on his unfavoured left side of midfield, Haynes received the ball from goal-scorer Wright-Phillips, and jinked past two defenders before seeing his effort firmly stopped by Day. The ‘keeper then again denied Wright-Phillips, who could have easily scored a hat-trick if it weren’t for Day’s heroics in goal.
The match ended with the Addicks playing five in midfield, after energetic midfielder Bradley Pritchard had replaced name-sake Wright-Phillips to allow the latter a deserved standing ovation, for what was a hard-worked performance. The final whistle brought an eruption of cheers from the 20,000+ home fans, in commemoration of one of the finest displays seen at The Valley for some months. The scoreline somewhat understated the hosts’ dominance over a team viewed as serious promotion contenders, although the result meant that Stevenage dropped out of the playoffs for the first time since early January. League leaders Charlton extended their advantage at the top to 10 points, although second placed Sheffield United visit Hillsborough for the Steel City derby on Sunday. With such a large cushion over any rival, Chris Powell looks set to lead his side to promotion come the end of the season.
WG.