Wanderers suffered a cruel defeat as Charlton plundered two late goals to extend the Whites’ winless league run to three games in what proved to be manager Ian Evatt's last game in charge, writes Pete Oliver.
Evatt’s men looked to be moving within goal difference of the play-off places when Joel Randall fired Wanderers ahead with his first goal for the club 10 minutes after half-time.
The goal came amid a flurry of chances either side of half time as Wanderers dominated with some of their best football of recent weeks.
But the Whites couldn’t add to their tally and with Charlton not handed a knock-out blow, they replied with two sucker-punches and goals inside the last 20 minutes to take the points and pre-empt the end of Evatt's four-and-a-half-year reign by mutual consent.
It was a bitter pill to swallow and not reflective of a positive performance which showed many of Wanderers’ better traits. But with recent flaws leaving little margin for error, Evatt’s men were again left with catching up to do in their bid to force their way into the top six.
New loan signing Alex Murphy was named on the bench as Wanderers made three changes to their starting line-up following Saturday’s draw against Cambridge.
Josh Sheehan’s return from injury via the bench in that game pre-empted a first start since early December, while Will Forrester and Jordi Osei-Tutu also returned to starting duty after substitute appearances in the fight-back against the U’s.
Forrester replaced the injured Ricardo Almeida Santos and made one crucial blocking header to keep out a curling effort from Tyreece Campbell, while following an early stoppage in play for a medical emergency in the crowd, Osei-Tutu showed his threat on the break with a shot blocked in front of the visitors’ goal.
And the wing-back was to go even closer to breaking the deadlock as Wanderers – operating with a midfield diamond behind frontman Aaron Collins – finished the opening half with a clutch efforts to cap an impressive first-half display.
After being played in by Aaron Morley, Osei-Tutu forced Charlton keeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer into a sharp save low to his left to spark a spell of pressure in the eight minutes of added time.
The impressive Randall had the next chance following another decent move to open up the Addicks’ defence but again saw his shot blocked and then Sheehan worked the space for a shot saved by Maynard-Brewer.
If Wanderers were starting to go through the gears they then went up another notch at the start of the second half to deservedly go in front.
George Thomason was close with a header he looped onto the bar from Aaron Morley’s cross before Maynard-Brewer kept out an effort from Randall and Forrester just failed to get a touch to Collins’ fizzed ball across goal.
Collins was to try again, though, and after being released on the counter-attack by Osei-Tutu’s pass, squared the ball perfectly for Randall to coolly slot home his first Wanderers’ goal.
The Whites looked in complete control at that stage but Charlton weren’t yet out of the game and almost out of nothing got themselves level with a 70th-minute equaliser steered home by Lloyd Jones from Macauley Gillesphey’s perfectly floated delivery.
If that was tough on Wanderers what followed would be worse as Charlton then nicked a winner four minutes from the end.
Again, a ball pumped into the penalty area – this time from a free-kick – caused a problem, although the visitors still needed plenty of luck to see substitute Karoy Anderson meet the bouncing ball with a volley which was cruelly deflected pass Luke Southwood to leave Wanderers frustrated and seeking a change as Evatt's successful spell at the helm came to an end.
Wanderers: Southwood; Dacres-Cogley, Forrester, Johnston; Sheehan (Matete 82); Osei-Tutu (Adeboyejo 89), Morley (McAtee 89), Thomason (Lolos 89), Schön; Randall, Collins. Substitutes: Baxter (GK), Jones, Murphy.
Booked: Thomason, Osei-Tutu
Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Mitchell (Anderson 59), Jones, Gillesphey, Edwards (Edmonds-Green 69); Coventry, Docherty; Small, Berry (Godden 69), Campbell; Leaburn (Aneke 69). Substitutes: Mannion (GK), Campbell, Kanu.
Booked: Mitchell, Docherty
Referee: Jacob Miles
Attendance: 18,477 (252 Charlton)