Charlton staged a stunning second-half comeback to defeat AFC Wimbledon 5-2 at The Valley in Saturday’s South London derby.
The Addicks earned a deserved lead after 37 minutes, but two goals in three minutes from the visitors stunned The Valley faithful and gave Glyn Hodges’ side a half-time lead. However, Lee Bowyer’s men produced a comeback of their own shortly after the hour mark. Two goals in as many minutes put the hosts back in the ascendancy before late efforts from substitutes Chuks Aneke and Ben Purrington secured all three points.
Bowyer made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 against Shrewsbury Town last weekend with Marcus Maddison and Omar Bogle replacing Akin Famewo and Aneke in the starting line-up. Darren Pratley’s versatility was once again called upon as he deputised at centre-back alongside captain Jason Pearce in the absence of Famewo.
Home Comforts
Spurred on by the presence of 2,000 fans and owner Thomas Sandgaard, Charlton began brightly attacking the Jimmy Seed Stand and forced Wimbledon onto the back foot.
The returning Maddison started dangerously in his roaming role and found pockets of space early-on in between the Dons defence.
A neat one-two between Jake Forster-Caskey and Maddison allowed the latter to unleash a powerful drive from distance which was spilled by Connal Trueman, but the Dons goalkeeper was able to gather the ball on his second attempt under pressure from the lurking Conor Washington.
At the other end, Chris Gunter was on hand with a decisive touch to hook the ball off the line after Joe Pigott’s ricocheted shot had beaten Ben Amos.
The Addicks finally had something to show for their promising start when Pearce’s pass forwards found Washington on the left-hand side on the 18-yard box. The Northern Irish international cut back onto his favoured right foot and saw his shot loop over a helpless Trueman via a deflection off Terell Thomas.
Wonderful From Wimbledon
Washington’s opener after 37-minutes seemingly struck life into the visitors who finished the opening 45 minutes with a flurry.
Pigott, back at The Valley with a point to prove after being released four years ago, did superbly to shield the ball from Ben Watson and Pratley on the edge of the box after being picked out by Steve Seddon. The Charlton academy graduate then produced an unstoppable curling effort into the top-right corner – his ninth league goal of the season.
Amos was called into action shortly after when Jack Rudoni shot at the near post, but the Addicks ‘keeper did well to turn the ball behind with his legs.
The resulting corner found its way to Alex Woodyard at the back post whose floated cross was aimed towards a host of unmarked Wimbledon players, but it was Daniel Csoka who headed home to stun The Valley with an astonishing turnaround.
Strong Start
Bowyer’s men came out firing after the interval and worked Trueman in the Wimbledon goal immediately. Forster-Caskey’s free kick was headed back into the danger zone by Pratley, falling fortuitously to Watson whose volley was straight at the Dons stopper.
The Addicks boss rang the changes eight minutes into the second period when he replaced Bogle and Gilbey with Aneke and Jonny Williams. Aneke almost had the perfect introduction as he was just inches away from getting on the end of Forster-Caskey’s cross, though the striker appeared to be being held by Thomas.
Referee David Rock began to lose patience with the visitors, as Rudoni and goalkeeper Trueman were cautioned for their time-wasting antics as the hosts began to dominate.
Super Subs
The introduction of Aneke and Williams appeared to galvanise Bowyer’s men who produced a stunning quick-fire double of their own with two goals in as many minutes.
A smart passing move allowed Watson to feed Aneke. The striker let the ball run through his legs before unleashing a driven shot. Trueman saved with his right foot, but Forster-Caskey was there to tuck home the rebound and equalise.
Williams, who himself had a point to prove after being withdrawn at Montgomery Waters Meadow, then completed the turnaround just a minute later. Maddison found Gunter on the right-hand side whose cutback found his fellow Welshman whose first-time finish sent SE7 into ecstasy.
Deserved
Aneke’s substitution once again proved to be a game-changing one as he continued to be a nuisance for the tiring Dons defence. He forced Trueman into another save after he was sent through on goal by his strike partner Washington.
Aneke got what he deserved in the 85th minute, albeit fortuitously, when he capitalised on Ben Heneghan’s error and showed great composure to take an extra touch before stroking the ball in at the near post.
In stoppage-time, another Addicks substitute got their name on the scoresheet when Ian Maatsen’s cutback found Williams whose deft touch hit the right post, but Purrington was on hand to net Charlton’s fifth of the afternoon and secure a second win in six League One games for Bowyer’s side.
