Matty Godden’s late strike sent Charlton through to the League One playoff final after a 1-0 win over Wycombe. Godden scrambled the only goal over the two legs after 171 minutes of attritional football to secure a Wembley date against Leyton Orient on 25 May. The Charlton manager, Nathan Jones, sank to his knees as fans invaded the pitch in emotional scenes after the final whistle.
Lloyd Jones had earlier missed a golden chance for Charlton, while Kayne Ramsay made two stunning blocks to deny Wycombe. But Jones made amends by setting up Godden to fire Charlton to within one match of a return to the Championship, five years after they were relegated.
Wycombe’s preparation was not ideal as Franco Ravizzoli was thrust into the starting lineup for the first time since January after their regular goalkeeper, Will Norris, was ruled out through injury. The Argentinian got off to a nervy start when he just about held a low effort from the Charlton captain, Greg Docherty.
The first leg had been a cagey goalless draw, and Charlton also started the second slowly in front of a raucous, sellout crowd at the Valley. But they gradually got on the front foot with Godden reaching the byline and pulling the ball back, although Tyreece Campbell was unable to get the vital touch.
Charlton should have taken the lead seven minutes before half-time but for an awful miss from Jones. It came from another cross from Godden, which Jones met three yards out, in front of goal, and somehow headed wide.
Moments after the break Ravizzoli made a fine save at his near post to keep out Alex Gilbert’s close-range volley. But Wycombe remained dangerous on the break with their top scorer, Richard Kone – who was lucky to be playing after escaping a red card in the first leg for a nasty foul on Ramsay – their main threat.
Kone, named League One player and young player of the season, had a run at the Charlton defender Macaulay Gillesphey, muscled past him and lashed a shot into the side-netting. The game was getting stretched and Thierry Small, probably Charlton’s brightest spark, cut inside from the right and curled a left-footed shot inches wide.
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Wycombe then had a massive chance on the break but Garath McCleary, on his 38th birthday, saw his shot blocked by Ramsay, who then somehow also got his body in front of Xavier Simons’ followup. Moments later, with 81 minutes on the clock, the breakthrough finally arrived. Gillesphey hit a long ball into the Wycombe area, Jones got his foot to it just before Ravizzoli and Godden scooped it into an empty net to spark wild celebrations.
