Cheltenham Town 1 Charlton 1

 From the Chesterfield website:

MATCH REPORT | Cheltenham Town 1 Charlton 1

15th January 2022 17:15pm

Chuks Aneke’s stoppage-time effort salvaged the Addicks a late point against Cheltenham Town at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts looked set to claim maximum points thanks to Dan N’Lundulu’s effort two minutes before the interval, only for Aneke to latch onto Ryan Inniss’ knockdown right at the very death. 

Jackson made five changes from the midweek reverse at Crewe Alexandra, handing a second debut to Aneke and a first league start to Mason Burstow, while Inniss - who captained Charlton - Adam Matthews and Albie Morgan also featured from the outset.

The Addicks started sprightly and would have raced into an early lead but for the heroics of Liam Sercombe, who hooked Inniss’ header off the goal line after the skipper had risen highest to meet Morgan’s inswinging corner.

At the other end N’Lundulu headed wastefully over from May’s pinpoint free-kick delivery before Stephen Henderson rushed out to narrow the angle and foil May moments later.

Henderson was called into action again soon after, this time thwarting Callum Wright after the Robins midfielder had raced onto Sercombe’s slide-rule pass.

The hosts spurned a gilt-edged opportunity on 34 minutes when defender Seán Long nodded May’s deep free-kick back across goal for Wright, only for the latter to somehow miss the ball entirely with the goal at his mercy.

The Robins did break the deadlock two minutes before the interval, however. Henderson could only parry Wright’s low drive as far as the advancing N’Lundulu, who poked home from a matter of yards.

And it could have been worse for the Addicks deep into stoppage-time when Sercombe found Matty Blair in behind the Addicks’ defence, but Henderson was out swiftly to smother the wing-back’s effort.

Corey Blackett-Taylor replaced Diallang Jaiyesimi at half-time, with the former soon enjoying joy down the left flank. Aided by a ricochet, his drilled cross worked its way to Aneke, who instinctively unleashed an acrobatic effort that bounced off the top of Owen Evans’ woodwork.

On the other flank, Matthews’ looping cross could only be cleared as far as Lee by Blair, but the Luton Town loanee’s sweetly-struck volley was gratefully grasped by Evans.

The hosts almost doubled their advantage shortly after the hour-mark when May met Wright’s hung-up ball on the volley, but it flew marginally past Henderson’s left upright.

May turned provider minutes later with an outswinging delivery for the unmarked Mattie Pollock, only for the defender to head wastefully wide.

The Addicks then went agonisingly close to an equaliser, substitute Jonathan Leko’s drilled centre just evading Aneke at the far post.

There was to be late drama though as Inniss again rose highest to nod Sean Clare’s cross into the path of Aneke, who gleefully headed home in front of 1,519 travelling Addicks.

Cheltenham Town: Evans; Long, Pollock, Boyle (c); Blair, Wright (Raglan 83), Thomas, Sercombe (Bonds 90+4), Freestone; N’Lundulu (A.Williams 90+1), May

Subs (not used): Flinders, Horton, B.Williams, Brown

Goal: N’Lundulu 43

Booked: Wright 62 (time-wasting), Thomas 67 (foul on Burstow), N’Lundulu 68 (altercation with Inniss)

Charlton: Henderson; Clare, Inniss (c), Famewo; Matthews (Leko 65), Morgan, Dobson (Gilbey 79), Lee, Jaiyesimi (Blackett-Taylor 46); Burstow, Aneke

Subs (not used): Harness, Pearce, Purrington, Watson

Goal: Aneke 90+4

Booked: Aneke 45+1 (foul on Pollock), Inniss 68 (altercation with N’Lundulu)

Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge

Attendance: 4,709 (1,519 from Charlton)