Play-off hopefuls Charlton Athletic secured a deserved win at home against title chasing Wycombe Wanderers in their Sky Bet Division One match at The Valley.

Both defences enjoyed a first half that was bereft of clear cut chances. Beryly Lubala tried his luck for the visitors with a shot from twenty-five yards that flew over before Charlton’s first opportunity fell to Macaulay Gillesphey who hooked wide after Wycombe had struggled to clear a Josh Edwards long throw.

Tyreece Campbell’s trickery got him to the bye-line and he pulled back to Luke Berry but he was unable to get a clean connection and goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli tidied up. Campbell again looked menacing until his low shot from thirty yards rolled wide.

Conor Coventry delivered a free kick for the Addicks that Gillesphey arriving late at the far post could only head into the side netting with the angle against him.

Aaron Morley had the last effort of the half for Wycombe with a shot from the edge of the penalty area that was saved easily by Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

If the first half was a slow burner, the second half started in a much more lively fashion and the Addicks went ahead with less than a minute on the clock. Another Edwards long throw caused problems and when it was cleared back to him, he whipped it back in. Although not favourite to win it, Myles Leaburn stretched forward and hooked it home from ten yards out.

Thierry Small eased in and shot over from just over from twenty yards before the Addicks went two up, just six minutes after breaking the stalemate. Berry saw the opportunity to send Leaburn away and he timed his run to perfection to burst clear. Ravizzoli found himself in no-man’s land and the Charlton hit man produced another brilliant finish with a high chip inside the far post.

Jack Grimmer got himself into a dangerous position for the Chairboys but his poor low cross was claimed easily by Maynard-Brewer before Daniel Harvie’s shot took a deflection to take the sting out of it and the Charlton goalkeeper saved without too much strife.

Leaburn was floored by an elbow to the head by Harvie that escaped censure by referee Lee Swabey. However, when Leaburn sought retribution with a crunching challenge, the official was quick to brandish a yellow card.

Two Wycombe substitutes combined to create an opening for Wycombe when Richard Kone slung it in to the near post and Fred Onyedimna got there first only to divert it wide before Campbell made and missed a great opportunity for the hosts. A clever Charlton move on the left opened up the Wycombe defence allowing Greg Docherty to slide Cambell in. He dribbled across the penalty area before side-footing over from eight yards out.

Shortly after coming on as a replacement for Berry, Karoy Anderson was played in behind the flat Wycombe back four. Although clear, he did not have the pace to out-run the defence so he checked his run and laid it off to Leaburn. He moved it out to the overlapping Small and he strode forward before firing behind the goal from a tight angle.

Six minutes remained when Wycombe gave themselves hope with a great strike by Kone into the bottom corner.

Route one football almost made the game safe for the Addicks when Campbell got in behind from Maynard-Brewer’s long punt but he was unable to get a clean connection to clip it past the onrushing Ravizzoli.

Despite that, even with seven additional minutes being played, Charlton’s defence stood firm and their goalkeeper was not required to make another save.

Victory for Charlton meant that they end 2024 just four points adrift of the play-offs whilst Wycombe missed out on the opportunity to go top as they dropped into third place behind Birmingham City and Wrexham.

Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Mitchell, Edwards, Coventry, Jones, Gillesphey, Small, Docherty, Leaburn (Ahadme 81), T. Campbell, Berry (Anderson 78). Subs not used: Mannion, Hylton, Edmonds-Green, Godden, A. Campbell.

Goalscorer: Leaburn (46), (52)

Yellow cards: Leaburn

Wycombe Wanderers: Ravizzoli, Grimmer, Harvie, Bakinson (Scowen 65), Low, Taylor, McCleary (Onyedimna 56), Humphreys, Udoh (Kodua 65), Lubala (Kone 56), Morley. Subs not used: George, Hartridge, Leahy.

Goalscorers: Kone

Yellow cards: Bakinson

Referee: Lee Swabey

Assistants: Paul Kelly and Adrian Tranter

Fourth Official: Alan Young

Attendance: 15,544 including 1,457 away supporters.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden