Out of sorts Charlton Athletic were beaten at home by a hard working Crawley Town in their Sky Bet Division One match at The Valley.

After a disappointing first half, the Addicks improved in the second half but were beaten by a goal in the latter stages.

Nearly fifteen minutes were on the clock before there was an attempt at either end. Charlton’s Matty Godden did well to find Myles Leaburn whose shot from the edge of the penalty area was saved comfortably by Jojo Wollacott.

Over half an hour passed before there was another opening but this time at the other end, and more effective. Will Swan slid it sideways to Tola Showunmi and he was given time and space to fire a beauty into the top corner from twenty yards.

Allan Campbell volleyed wide from twenty yards after an Addicks corner was headed out and the hosts came close again just before half time when Alex Mitchell headed wide from a cross by Josh Edwards.

Nathan Jones, Charlton’s manager, made a change at the break, replacing Leaburn with Thierry Small and the change of shape appeared to make a difference early on. They almost took advantage of a defensive error when Benjamin Tanimu’s headed back pass was intercepted by Godden but it ricocheted into the arms of Wollacott.

Ashley Maynard-Brewer then made a brilliant double save to stop his team from going two down. He dived full length to keep out Ronan Darcy’s shot and got up quickly to block Panutche Camara’s follow up. It came back out to Ade Adeyemo but the former Cray Valley PM forward sliced it well off target.

Terry Taylor swung in a free kick that didn’t get the touch that it needed before it curled wide of the far post. Wollacott then saved comfortably when Gassan Ahadme got his head on the end of a Tyreece Campbell free kick.

Tanimu hit a long range shot that Maynard-Brewer saved easily before Charlton levelled midway through the second half. Ahadme clipped it towards the far post and Daniel Kanu applied a brilliant lobbed finish.

Tyreece Campbell shot over from a wide angle as the Addicks looked to find a winner however they got sucker-punched with ten minutes remaining. Jeremy Kelly’s shot was spilled and fell kindly for Max Anderson who fired home.

Joy Mukena’s diving header cleared Tyreece Campbell’s dangerous cross and Charlton’s last chance of taking something from the game went when a header was cleared as far as Allan Campbell but he ballooned it high over the bar.

Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Taylor, Edwards, Edmonds-Green (Kanu 62), Mitchell, Gillesphey (Jones 86), Coventry (T.Campbell 62), Godden (Laqeretabua 81), Ahadme, Leaburn (Small 46), A. Campbell. Subs not used: Reid, Edun.

Goalscorer: Kanu (68)

Yellow cards: None

Crawley Town: Wollacott, Adeyemo, Kelly, Barker, Mukena, Tanimu (Forster 74). Anderson, Showunmi (Ibrahim 70), Swan (Hepburn-Murphy 82), Darcy (John-Jules 74), Camara (Roles 82). Subs not used: Beach, Holohan.

Goalscorers: Showumni (33), Anderson (80)

Yellow cards: Mukena, Elliot (manager)

Referee: Jacob Miles

Assistants: Andrew Hickman and Dean Treleaven

Fourth Official: Alex Chilowicz

Attendance: 11,427 including 700 from Crawley Town.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden