Charlton 2 Port Vale 3
The Addicks fell to a second late winner in as many games on Saturday afternoon, losing 3-2 to Port Vale at The Valley.
It took just ten minutes for Charlton to open the scoring. Daniel Kanu, starting after his goal against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday, was sent through on goal by Lloyd Jones and the forward nicked it past goalkeeper Connor Ripley and subsequently went down, with referee Sunny Singh Gill pointing to the spot.
Up stepped Alfie May to smash his penalty straight down the middle and grab his first competitive goal for the club.
The Addicks were in control for the entirety of the opening period and went close to doubling their lead on 23 minutes, when Corey Blackett-Taylor beat Nathan Smith for pace down the left and fired at goal. With Ripley beaten, it took a goal-line clearance from Alex Iacovitti to keep the Valiants in the game.
Despite all of Charlton’s first-half dominance, by the hour-mark the game had turned on its head. First, Ethan Chislett’s 54th-minute free-kick was swung in from the left of the area and flicked in by James Wilson.
Moments later, Port Vale were ahead after a long ball from Conor Grant left Chislett clean through on goal and he made no mistake, rifling beyond Maynard-Brewer.
The Addicks responded well and found an equaliser 15 minutes later. Terry Taylor, making his full league debut, won the ball back and fired a pass into Kanu, who flicked it round the corner to Blackett-Taylor on the right corner of the Port Vale box. Suddenly, Kanu was on the move again and, when Blackett-Taylor found him with an inch-perfect cross, he strained his neck muscles to flick a wonderful header over Ripley in front of the Covered End.
Port Vale restored their lead two minutes from time, however. Maynard-Brewer produced a brave stop to deny Josh Thomas, but the Port Vale substitute was quick to get up and pull back for Ojo to stroke home.
George Dobson very nearly marked his 100th Charlton appearance with a goal, but headed Jones' deep cross agonisingly wide.
Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; Asiimwe (Payne 90+2), Jones, Hector, Edun (Thomas 80); Dobson (c), Anderson, Taylor (Jaiyesimi 72); Kanu, May, Blackett-Taylor
Subs (not used): Isted, Ness, McGrandles, Kirk
Goals: May 10, Kanu 71
Assist: Kanu 10, Blackett-Taylor 71
Bookings: May 32 (dissent), Maynard-Brewer 34 (time-wasting), Anderson 38 (foul on Ojo), Hector 90+7 (foul on Plant)
Port Vale: Ripley; Smith (c), Jones, Iacovitti; Sang (Clark 68), Arblaster (Lowe 78), Ojo, Grant (Plant 78); Chislett (Massey 61), Wilson (Thomas 68), Garrity
Subs (not used): Leutwiler, Cass
Goals: Wilson 55, Chislett 56, Ojo 88
Assists: Chislett 55, Grant 56, Thomas 88
Bookings: Ripley 9 (dissent), Chislett 50 (simulation), Arblaster 76 (foul on Anderson), Thomas 88 (excessive celebration)
Attendance: 11,912 (554 away)
Referee: Sunny Singh Gill
