Charlton ground into the mud

Charlton were ground into the mud of the Meadow Lane pitch as they lost 1-0 to Notts County tonight. County went ahead with a lucky goal just after half time and Bradley Wright-Phillips missed a penalty. Paul May's full report soon.

Charlton made three changes against Notts County, reports Erith Addick Paul May from the Meadow Lane swamp. Anyinsah replaced Pawel Abbott up front, Francis returned at right back with Carl Jenkinson moving over to the left and Racon returned in midfield.

County put in an early cross through Regan as Charlton switched off but fortunately no one was there to connect. The Addicks won a free kick 30 yards out after Eccleston was fouled, but Jackson shot high and wide. Semedo put in a great left to right ball which Francis ran on to, but there was no one available to connect
.
Jenkinson defended well and won a free kick. County were being given too much space down their left to get crosses in. Elliot had to push the ball away to his left. Elliot then had to clear on the edge of his area as County kept up the pressure.

Eccleston advanced on the right but Nelson gathered the cross. Nelson then came 30 yards out and poleaxed Anyinsah, but he got away with a yellow card despite it being a goal scoring opportunity. The free kick went straight into the wall. Anyinsah had two attempts, but they were both blocked.

Jackson went down the left, Nelson gathered the cross, lost it but then grabbed it. Eccleston went down the right but the shot from Wright-Phillips went over the top. An effort from Anyinsah a long way out created the first corner of the game. Eccleston had to receive some treatment after a challenge.

A shot came in from Gow and was pushed round the post by Elliot who claimed well from the corner. The defence was opened up well, but Wright-Phillips shot straight at the keeper. Semedo put in a good ball over the top, but the shot by Eccleston was rushed and poor although he had time.

Gow shot from distance but Elliot gathered well. A sliced clearance by Jenkinson led to the second corner for the home side. Francis stabbed it clear for a throw in near the corner flag.

Eccleston advanced, but Nelson just managed to block it. Francis had to hook away a long ball forward. One minute was added on.

The teams trooped off to make way for the half-time mud wrestling for which the pitch was so well suited.

Half time: Magpies 0, Addicks 0

Wagstaff came on for Jackson with Eccleston wide on the left. County applied early pressure, but got caught offside. It started to rain. A free kick led to the ball wriggling in to the corner of the net off Bishop’s backside and hit the foot of Francis to put County ahead from a scrappy goal on 48 minutes.

Jenkinson did well on the left finding some grass but Wagstaff shot at Nelson. Anyinsah won a corner for Charlton, but Dailly bundled it over the bar. A foul on Anyinsah gave Charlton a penalty. But the effort by Wright-Phillips was tame and it was saved. He did not seem to think about the conditions.

Charlton tried to keep up the pressure. Lee Hughes came on for County. A cross by Wright-Phillips was blocked for a Charlton corner but it was unproductive. County won a corner but it ended in a goal kick for Charlton. Eccleston who had been less effective in the second half, and had been clattered early in the game, was replaced by Reid.

Elliot gathered at the second attempt from a free kick. Good work by the lively Wagstaff led to a Charlton corner but it was unproductive. Anyinsah won Charlton’s fifth corner. Reid’s shot went way over the top.

County took off Gow as they sought to protect their lead. Wright-Phillips was pushed over on the edge of the box, but the referee made no award. Charlton looked drained and tired and their game petered out. Elliot had to save to prevent County going 2-0 ahead in time added on. A free kick came into the box but was stabbed over by Wagstaff. The Addicks had lost their third game in a row.