Charlton 1 Oxford United 1
A strong second-half performance saw Charlton come back from a goal behind to share the points with Oxford United at The Valley in Sky Bet League One on Saturday afternoon.
The Addicks were far from their best in the first half but a change of shape at half-time saw Charlton press forward with renewed vigour to claim a point
Ben Garner made four changes to his side to start the game and changed the Charlton formation, too, with the Addicks lining up in a 3-4-3 formation.
With both sides struggling for form, it was a slow start but Oxford took the lead 11 minutes into the game when Marcus Browne was allowed to pick up a loose ball and drove forward before driving in from 20 yards out.
Marcus McGuane could have made it 2-0 but hit just wide on a swift Oxford counter attack.
At the other end, the Addicks struggled to create much in the first half with a couple of dangerous crosses from Mandela Egbo causing the most problems – one was headed clear by Elliott Moore and the other palmed away by goalkeeper Simon Eastwood.
Garner changed personnel and shape at half-time, with Charlie Kirk and Miles Leaburn coming on as the Addicks moved to a 4-4-2 formation.
The changes opened up the game and Egbo’s speculative effort from more than 40 yards dipped over the crossbar, as the hosts started the second period with renewed determination.
The Addicks had a big appeal for a penalty turned down when a Jes Rak-Sakyi shot hit the arm of an Oxford defender.
The improved attacking play continued and Stockley levelled the scores in the 55th minute, capitalising on a scramble inside the Oxford box. Rak-Sakyi did well down the right and the ball eventually came to Scott Fraser, whose shot was blocked away to Kirk. The winger’s composed chipped cross to the back post was on a plate for Stockley who made no mistake from two yards out.
Charlton surged forward, with renewed energy and Egbo’s cross was well met by Leaburn, who headed just wide.
The move of the game came in the 65th minute, with the Addicks combining with real fluidity down the left. Sessegnon found Stockley and kept running. The striker passed to Leaburn, whose delicious back heel was into the path of Kirk. His low cross was met by a surging Sessegnon who, on the slide, couldn’t quite direct towards the Oxford goal.
At the other end, Inniss made a big block to deny Kyle Joseph.
The game remained open, with the Addicks’ faithful urging on the home side on and Stockley’s 75th minute effort from outside the box went just wide of the Oxford goal.
Both sides had good chances to win the game in stoppage time but Billy Bodin shot over and George Dobson was excellently denied by Eastwood after a clever Diallang Jaiyesimi pass.
Charlton: Wallocott; Lavelle (Kirk 46), Inniss, O’Connell; Egbo, Dobson, Fraser, Sessegnon (Chin 68); Rak-Sakyi, Stockley (c) (Jaiyesimi 87), Payne (Leaburn 46)
Subs (not used): MacGillivray, Thomas, McGrandles
Goal: Stockley 55
Booked: Lavelle 19 (foul on Browne), Dobson 42 (handball), Inniss 52 (foul on Browne)
Oxford United: Eastwood, Long, Findlay, Moore (c), Brannagan, Browne (Gorrin 79), Bate (Taylor 63), Brown, Henry (Bodin 63), McGuane, Joseph (Jones 90)
Subs (not used): Brearey, Mousinho, Seddon
Goal: Browne 11
Booked: McGuane 54 (delay of game)
Referee: R Madley
Attendance: 12,806 (1,058 from Oxford)
