Charlton and Shrewsbury Town played out a 1-1 draw at The Valley as Sean Goss’ second-half opener was ruled out by Conor Washington’s third goal in two games.
Goss broke the deadlock on 56 minutes, meeting a Matthew Pennington cross with a diving header to beat Ben Amos. Washington’s equaliser came as the striker cut in from the left-hand side to find the bottom corner with just over 10 minutes remaining.
An uneventful first 15 minutes saw both teams feel their way into the game. An ambitious penalty appeal for the visitors was waved away before Charlton had the first shot on target of the match through Albie Morgan. Ian Maatsen’s cut back was met by the midfielder just inside the Shrewsbury box, who touched it onto his right foot before curling a shot which was saved behind for a corner.
Just moments later another chance fell to the Addicks. Morgan’s in-swinging corner found Jayden Stockley in the six-yard box, however, the striker’s header back along goal was put over the bar from Darren Pratley.
Stockley tested Harry Burgoyne in the Shrewsbury goal after half an hour, meeting Maatsen’s pull back to hit a right footed strike on target.
An uneventful first half was brought to a close by referee Declan Bourne, with the visitor’s having registered no shots on target in the first 45 minutes.
However, this changed in the second half as Shrewsbury took the lead through Goss. Pennington drove forward with the ball before delivering a right-footed cross from just outside the penalty area on the right -and side, which Goss strolled to meet with a diving header and beat Amos down low to his left.
Minutes later, Goss tried his luck from the edge of the box as the midfielder struck the ball on a half volley. Fortunately for the hosts, this sailed wide of the Charlton goal.
A triple substitution just after the hour saw the introduction of Chuks Aneke, Andrew Shinnie and Matt Smith.
The substitutions made an instant impact as Addicks nearly levelled the scoreline through Aneke. Washington played a perfect low driven pass across the Shrewsbury six-yard box and this was met by the on-running Aneke, who could not keep his shot down as it struck the woodwork. Shinnie’s follow up header floated over the crossbar as Charlton came so close to an equaliser.
The equaliser did come for the Addicks soon after as Washington added to his two previous goals this week (against Northampton Town) at the Valley. The forward cut onto his right foot from the left-hand side of the box and unleashed a low driven strike through three Shrewsbury players and into the bottom left-hand corner of the visitors’ goal with twelve minutes left of the match. That was the forward's 10th goal of his maiden season in SE7.
A glorious chance fell to Shrewsbury as on the 88th minute a poor backpass fell to David Davis, ran in on goal before laying off a pass to fellow substitute Dave Edwards. Jason Pearce does well to close down the angle, forcing the Shrewsbury man to fire high over the bar.
The Addicks kept hoping for a winner, pressing high up the pitch and trying to force the visitors into making a mistake, however it was not to be and both team had to settle for a point on a windy day in south-east London.
Charlton: Amos, Gunter, Pearce, Famewo, Maatsen, Pratley (Smith 63’), Watson, Morgan (Jaiyesimi 78’), Millar (Shinnie 63’), Stockley (Aneke 63’), Washington.
Subs: (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Oshilaja, Schwartz.
Goal: Washington 79
Booked: Pratley 25’ (foul), Maatsen 50’ (foul)
Shrewsbury: Burgoyne; Pennington, Ebanks-Landell, Williams; Daniels, Walker (Whalley 90’), Goss (Davis 78’), Vela, Ogbeta; Main (Udoh 78’), Chapman (Edwards 70’)
Subs (not used): Sarkic, Pyke, Sears.
Goal: Goss 56'
Booked: Walker 69’ (foul), Williams 87’ (time wasting)
(Report by Nick Emms)