Photo: Charlton Athletic Website
On Sunday evening, Charlton Athletic were hosts to Cray Valley Paper Mills at The Valley in a very local derby that was a superb game.
Michael Appleton made 11 changes to the evening's side, 9 of the players who featured in The Addicks' starting 11 away to Wigan Athletic on Tuesday night were named on the bench for this one but Panutche Camara and Lloyd Jones dropped out of the squad completely.
Millers manager Steve McKimm made 6 changes to the team that beat Chatam Town 2-0 in The Izuzu FA Trophy last Saturday.
The Addicks’ captain Scott Fraser fired the home side into the lead on 9 minutes. A great bit of play by Chem Campbell and Karoy Anderson who found Scott Fraser. He went round the goal keeper and placed it into the back of the net.
At this point I think some people thought Charlton would keep scoring and playing well. But Cray Valley’s players had something to say about that. They held firm until the half time break but just couldn’t find a goal to even it out before the break.
After the break however, The Millers came out flying and 3 minutes in, they scored. Kyrell Lisbie put a ball across the goal trying to find The Millers' striker Freddie Parker but Charlton defender Lucas Ness, in an attempt to put it out for a corner, kicked it into the back of the net.
On 53 minutes, Slobodan Tedic who is on loan from current premier league title holders Manchester City hit the cross bar. Abankwah’s sublime cross found Tedic’s head but it just hit the top of the woodwork and it went out of play.
Charlton boss Michael Appleton felt the need to make a triple substitution with 61 minutes played. James Abankwah, Tayo Edun and Charlie Kirk were replaced by Nathan Asiimwe, Tennai Watson, and Alfie May respectively.
Cray Valley also made a substitution, Cray Valley youngster Kyrell Lisbie, son of Charlton Athletic legend Kevin Lisbie, was withdrawn threw injury and replaced by Denzel Gayle.
Then with 20 minutes left, Millers manager Steve McKimm made a double substitution. Freddie Parker and Matthew Vigor came off for Adam Coombes and Julian Anau.
Michael Appleton then decided to bring off Wolves loanee Chem Campbell and Conor McGrandles and we’re replaced by Miles Leaburn and Louie Watson respectively.
10 minutes were added on at the end but unfortunately neither team could covert their shots into a goal and it ended Charlton Athletic 1-1 Cray Valley Paper Mills.
It was a fantastic game at The Valley and if you was a neutral it wouldn’t have been a wasted evening.
Superb from Cray Valley to hold onto the 1-1 draw even with 11 minutes of stoppage time. They held firm and made sure they got the replay.
After the game, Charlton boss Michael Appleton spoke to reporters and journalists saying “It was disappointing, disappointing with some of the performances of a few of the players and I expected a little bit more from them”
He also added that Cray Valley were an excellent team and he’s sure that they would make it tough when they host them at The Artic Stadium.
Steve McKimm then came out to speak to reporters. When asked how proud he was of that result he said “extremely, extremely, my staff they get a big mention because of their unbelievable support network, the players were stars of the show, their the ones that go out there and do it.”
He also added that he couldn’t wait until the League One outfit visit the Artic stadium but all his focus is on Saturday match at home against Erith and Belvedere.
Charlton Athletic: Walker, Abankwah, (Asiimwe 61), Ness, Thomas, Edun (T.Watson 61); McGrandles (L Watson 74), Anderson, Fraser (c); C.Campbell (Leaburn 74), Tedić, Kirk (May 61). Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Hector, Dobson, Blackett-Taylor.
Cray Valley PM FC: Freeman; Williams, Lee (c), Tumkaya, Asiedu; Ibrahiym, Black, Vigor (Anau 71), Ademiluyi; Parker (Coombes 71), Lisbie (Gayle 62).
Subs not used: Ovenden, Wicks, Chambers, Ekpiteta, Gilchrist, Turner
Attendance: 6,721 | (1,998 away).
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