Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

CHARLTON ATHLETIC vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

15^th March 2025

LATE RALLY BY TICS IS ‘FAR TOO LITTLE’ and ‘FAR TOO LATE’

The Addicks went into the game as one of the top form sides in the division and Wigan, despite the presence of their new manager ‘Ryan Lowe’ on the sidelines, were blown away in the first half.

Flanked by the coaching team of Glenn Whelan, Graham Barrow, and Frankie Bunn, who had done a large share of the preparation work, new Head Coach Ryan Lowe opted to be in the dugout for the first time and there were three changes from the victory over Cambridge United, with Scott Smith, Jensen Weir, and Owen Dale replacing Baba Adeeko, Ronan Darcy, and Jonny Smith.

Latics started well as Owen Dale put in a number of dangerous crosses which ultimately came to nothing, but it was a promising start.

That was until Latics fell behind in unfortunate fashion as a cross from Kayne Ramsay was cleared, but the hasty clearance struck Oliver Norburn and rebounded straight to the feet of GODDEN who finished first time past Tickle into the corner.

The hosts were now dominating play and were close to a second as the lively Tyreece Campbell found space in the box, but his goal bound shot hit his own player and that allowed the danger to be cleared.

Gillesphey then tested Tickle with a curling free-kick from 25 yards before Jensen Weir had a chance on the counter attack as he drove into the box, but two Charlton defenders got back and as Weir hesitated the opening was swiftly closed by good defending.

Charlton then deservedly doubled their lead on 38 minutes as a free kick from the left was headed back across goal by Gillesphey and GODDEN was left free at the back post to tap home. Latics players appealed for offside, but the linesman correctly kept his flag down and the goal stood.

Half Time; Charlton Athletic 2-0 Wigan Athletic.

Sam Tickle single-handily stopped Charlton grabbing a third goal straight from the restart as he was out quickly to deny Campbell before a combination of Tickle and Aimson denied Godden a hat-trick.

Substitute Chris Sze then slipped in Taylor for Latics best chance of the game thus far, but he dragged his effort horribly wide when one on one.

Jason Kerr then had to divert Campbell’s wicked in-swinging shot from 20 yards round the far post with his head.

Lowe introduced his third substitute as Jonny Smith came on and he so nearly crossed for Taylor, but the ball was just too high.

Chris Sze got a deserved goal six minutes from time as Ronan Darcy forced Will Mannion into a good save from a Jonny Smith cross, and SZE was there to fire home the rebound from a tight angle to record his first goal of the season.

Latics pushed late on for a leveller with a succession of corners, but the hosts held on in the end.

Full Time; Charlton Athletic 2-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Godden (11), (38); Sze (84);

Attendance; 16.491

Teams; WIGAN— (4-2-3-1) Tickle; Carragher, Aimson, Kerr, Mellish; Norburn, S. Smith; Chambers, Weir, Dale; Taylor; Subs: --- Watson, Sibbick, Darcy (for Mellish), Sze (for Weir), L. Robinson (for Aimson), McManaman (for Dale), J. Smith (for Chambers);

CHARLTON ATHLETIC--- (4-2-3-1) Mannion; Small, Gillesphey, Jones, Ramsay; Docherty, Coventry; Campbell, Berry, Watson; Godden; Subs: --- Mitchell (for Watson), Ahadme, Leaburn (for Godden), McIntyre (for Berry), Anderson (for Small), Enslin, Reid;

Referee; Mr. Graham Scott (Oxfordshire)