Charlton turned in a scintillating performance to crush Rochdale 4-0 at The Valley on Saturday.
With Sunderland losing at Southend, and Portsmouth being held by Accrington at Fratton Park, the scoreline was enough to see the Addicks finish third in the table.
They will now play Doncaster for a place at Wembley, while Portsmouth and Sunderland must slug it out for the other final spot.
Patrick Bauer, Krystian Bielik, Albie Morgan, Josh Parker and Lyle Taylor came into the side, and there was a place on the bench for Mark Marshall.
Rochdale were blitzed with three first-half goals.
Joe Aribo opened the scoring after 19 minutes. He intercepted the ball in midfield, and finished a move involving Taylor and Parker with a crisp finish.
Just past the half-hour mark, Taylor fired in one of his trademark hard low crosses in from the right. Under pressure from Ben Purrington at the far post, Calvin Andrew turned the ball into his own net.
Five minutes before the interval, the impressive Albie Morgan played an exquisite through ball into Taylor’s path. The top scorer advanced and beat Josh Lillis with aplomb.
With both Pompey and the Black Cats struggling to win their matches, Charlton went into the interval knowing another goal could be enough to see them snatch third place on goal difference.
Aribo and Parker had chances to extend the lead before Bielik netted the fourth 15 minutes from time.
Morgan nearly crowned his afternoon with a goal, but Lillis somehow managed to beat his thunderbolt away.
There were scares when Bielik and Taylor required treatment, but though both of them were subsequently substituted as a precaution, they did not look to be seriously injured.
Bowyer was naturally glowing after the match and had this to say:
“The results went our way, and it was a perfect performance. Obviously, a clean sheet and to score four goals.
“That’s two home games we’ve scored four goals and not conceded. I think our attitude and our professionalism was outstanding from start to finish, again.
“We’re in a very good place and everyone’s hungry and I must repeat myself so many times but again they know what the prize is at the end and they all want it so bad.
“Today we moved the ball so well. Josh Parker could have had a hat-trick on another day and he deserved a goal because his work rate and his runs were very good.
“And he did a lot of unselfish stuff for the team so I was pleased that he got through it but just a bit gutted for him that he didn’t get the goal.”
Charlton: Phillips; Djiksteel, Bauer, Sarr, Purrington; Bielik (Pratley, 83), Cullen, Morgan, Aribo (Reeves, 89); Taylor (Marshall, 83), Parker.
Subs (not used): Maxwell, Page, Pearce, Lapslie.
Goals: Aribo 19, Andrew (own goal) 32, Taylor 40, Bielik 75.
Booked: Sarr 50 (foul).
Rochdale: Lillis; Keohane, Williams, Delaney, Nthle (Bunney 62); Camps, Morley, Hamiltom, Adshead; Andrew (Wilbraham 69), Pyke (Bradley 76).
Subs (not used): Wade, McNulty, Done, Wilbraham, Bunney, Henderson, Bradley
Booked: Keohane 57 (foul), Delaney 90 (foul).
Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).
Attendance: 12,705 (290 from Rochdale).