Charlton 2-1 Shrewsbury - Late Drama Sees Addicks Earn Deserved 3 Points

Both teams have had rather poor Summers in terms of transfers, Charlton much more so, however. Shrewsbury have lost the majority of their key players in their promotion chasing team of last season. With the likes of Toto Nsiala, Jon Nolan and manager Paul Hurst joining Ipswich, Stefan Payne and Alex Rodman joining Bristol Rovers and Abu Ogogo and Junior Brown joining newly promoted Coventry City. The players that have been signed also haven't matched the calibre or quality of the players that have left. After the departure of Paul Hurst to Ipswich, Shrewsbury turned to Macclesfield's John Askey, who won promotion to the football league with the Silkmen last season. Whether he will be able to prove successful at League One level will be found out this season. It would always have been hard to match last season's efforts even with the same players or players of a similar quality, but with the losses and the signings made, I'd back them for a lower mid-table finish. Meanwhile, Charlton have depleted an already paper-thin squad as the ongoing takeover talks continue to severely damage the club. Charlton relied heavily on loan players last season, and with those players returning to their parent clubs, as well as the other outgoings and the lack of backing resulting in just 3 signings; Charlton have a desperately thin squad and look to rely heavily on youth and academy prospects. When having a small squad, an injury crisis will likely prove to be devastating; and Charlton already have multiple key players injured in Igor Vetokele, Billy Clarke, Ben Reeves and Tariqe Fosu. Some of the best players in League One when fit. As a result, Lee Bowyer and Johnnie Jackson have been unable to fill the subs bench for the opening two games.

Teams

Charlton: Phillips, Solly, Bauer, Sarr, Page, Lapslie (Dijksteel, 89), Pratley, Aribo, Marshall (Morgan, H/T), Grant, Taylor (Hackett-Fairchild, 90+4)

Shrewsbury Town: Coleman, Haynes, Beckles, Whalley, Docherty, Bolton, Gillead, Amadi-Holloway (John-Lewis, 52), Waterfall, Laurent (Okenabihrie, 75), Norburn (Grant, 63)

Some things are bigger than football and before the game got underway, both Charlton and Shrewsbury came together for a round of applause for the passing of young Addick, Jack Jeffries. A 4-year-old Addick, diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, who sadly passed away in the close season. An emotional moment for all, but none more so than Jack's family, who led out the two teams. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this incredibly tough time. (Photo by Benjamin Peters, (Twitter, Flickr))

Charlton started the brightest and created the best and the most chances of the opening 20 minutes. Charlton soon died down and Shrewsbury grew into the game more. 15 minutes into the game, following a Shrewsbury attack, Addicks keeper Dillon Phillips distributed a perfectly weighted, precise kick that fell straight to the feet of Karlan Ahearne-Grant, who dribbled into the box but his curled effort went just wide. The Addicks kept up the pressure and had another good chance just a few minutes later. Shrewsbury clear from a Charlton attack, but Lewis Page picks up the ball, beats two Shrewsbury players and sent in a cross from the left by-line, but no one could get on the end of it. Shrewsbury's chances came from set pieces as the half evened out. Shrews left-back Omar Beckles should have scored after he headed wide from a Shaun Whalley corner. on the 40th minute, Lyle Taylor's lofted long ball beat the Salop defence and Ahearne-Grant used his pace to latch onto the ball; Some superb defending from Ryan Haynes denied the Addicks striker for what would have been a certain goal. Charlton had one last chance to take the lead just before the full-time whistle blew, Mark Marshall's free-kick was met by Naby Sarr but was agonisingly cleared off the line by defender Luke Waterfall. Both teams had chances, but both teams were also flat at points and despite the late Charlton chances, the first half was a rather dull, underwhelming affair for two teams who finished in the Play-Offs last season.

Lyle Taylor's Header Puts the Addicks In Front (Photo by Benjamin Peters, (Twitter, Flickr))

Charlton were the better team of the two in the second half, although Shrewsbury had multiple good chances themselves. Just after the game resumed, Whalley sent a free-kick into the Charlton box for Amadi-Holloway headed down into the bottom corner but young Charlton keeper Phillips was equal to it and produced a good save. 10 minutes later, on the 55th minute, Shrewsbury almost opened the scoring as it was their turn to have an effort cleared off the line. Whalley switched a free-kick across the pitch that was headed into the area by Waterfall and the on rushing on-loan Rangers midfielder, Greg Doherty, beat Patrick Bauer to the ball to poke past Phillips, only for his effort to be cleared off the line by Charlton right-back and captain, Chris Solly. Charlton then went 1-0 up after academy graduate and successful youth team midfielder George Lapslie crossed the ball in for new striker Taylor to head past on-loan Huddersfield stopper Joel Coleman. Shrewsbury were quiet for the rest of the half and rarely threatened the Addicks. However, one of the only times they did so, they scored through a Lenell John-Lewis header 5 minutes from time. The Addicks looking to carry on bad habits from last season. Have chances, score a single goal, then concede late. However, that wasn't the only late piece of drama, there was to be one more final twist in the tale as Charlton picked themselves and their spirits up to score a late, late winner. After a period of pressure after Shrewsbury equalised, new midfielder, Darren Pratley sent a chipped cross into the box which was met by the head of Karlan Ahearne-Grant who did well to head in from an extremely cute angle, sending the Valley into raptures as the Addicks looked to get revenge for the Play-Off Semi-Finals of last season.

Charlton Players Celebrate Scoring Last Gasp Winner (Photo by Benjamin Peters, (Twitter, Flickr))

With all of the turmoil off of the pitch at the moment for Charlton, there were many positives to take. Bowyer and Jackson have to be given huge credit for getting the team performing and playing so well. Not just against Shrewsbury but against one of the favourites for the league in Sunderland. Having to rely so heavily on youth can be detrimental to their growth, however, Bowyer knows this and is careful with how they are implemented. All the academy players that have entered the fray so far this season have been excellent. Ahearne-Grant is starting to form a lethal attacking partnership with Taylor and scoring will do him the world of good and will boost his confidence massively. George Lapslie has been performing well for the youth teams for a number of years now, and is a Charlton boy, so to see one of our own want to help the club as much as possible and run himself into the ground is pleasing and refreshing to see. Another outstanding performer was Albie Morgan, who came into the game at half time and was one of the better players. For a first professional game, he was magnificent. With exceptional calmness and composure as well as his brilliant passing ability, he really looks like a promising prospect. As well as Morgan, a more established member of the team is Joe Aribo. One of, if not the, best players on the pitch. His close control got Charlton out of many tight situations, good passing and good decisions started and mounted many Charlton attacks, including the first goal, and also did well defensively and put in some good, well-timed tackles. On a day that meant so much, for so many reasons, that win was for you, Jack!