Following a Tuesday night win at the Toughsheet Community Stadium that saw Ian Evatt’s men conquer Wycombe Wanderers 2-1, there were three changes to the manager’s starting side for the Whites second home clash of the week – this time against Charlton Athletic.
With an injured Dion Charles, and George Thomason serving the second game of his suspension, the starting eleven included Zac Ashworth, Josh Sheehan and Victor Adeboyejo.
There was also a welcome return to the matchday squad for Will Forrester following injury.
The heavens opened as the referee’s whistle blew and it proved an even start as play got underway.
It was within the first 20 minutes that the first goal came to put the Whites ahead. An incisive left-footed cross from Zac Ashworth fell to Victor Adeboyejo, who nipped in front of his marker to finish and put the Wanderers 1-0 up.
Celebrations were short-lived however as it took the Addicks just four minutes to respond as Thierry Small’s cross from the left evaded everyone and bounced into the far corner.
As the rained continued to pour, Wanderers searched for an instant response with both Adeboyejo and Josh Dacres-Cogley applying pressure on Isted’s goal, with the latter firing a beautiful ball across the face goal but the visitors were able to clear.
Sustained pressure proved unfruitful however as on the 40 minute mark, following George Dobson’s corner, Lloyd Jones’ effort from outside the box flew through a number of bodies and past Joel Coleman to hand the Addicks the lead.
As the teams left the pitch following three minutes of added time, Wanderers found themselves trailing to the visitors at half-time.
Jón Daði Böðvarsson replaced Victor Adeboyejo at the break as the teams commenced the second half of play and Wanderers returned in fighting spirit, on the front foot.
It took just five minutes for Paris Maghoma to add a touch of magic to proceedings, lifting the crowd with a superb display of skill, patiently waiting for his opening - before beautifully curling a shot into the top corner.
In what was fast proving to be an action-packed second half, the ball soon found the back of the net for the fifth time – again the turn of the visitors, on the 61st minute.
It was Daniel Kanu who put Charlton ahead this time with a shot that went in via the post, despite appeals from the home crowd after Dacres-Cogley went down with a head injury in the build-up.
But yet again, Wanderers had an answer. It was Jón Daði Böðvarsson who, hot on the heels of a late winner at the Wycombe game, came through with another finish following patient play from Josh Sheehan.
The Welshman picked out Dacres-Cogley who, in turn, fired it across to the Icelandic striker to do the rest - cueing an impassioned Viking clap ringing around the Toughsheet as the Wanderers’ supporters showed their appreciation.
In response, Charlton then made a triple substitution, switching out Freddie Ladapo, Conor Coventry and George Dobson for Chuks Aneke, Macaulay Gillesphey and Panutche Camara.
Not long after, Aaron Morley, Cameron Jerome and Carlos Mendes Gomes took over duties from Josh Sheehan, Aaron Collins and Paris Maghoma as Wanderers worked to find the winner that their second half attacking play deserved.
As the clock turned to 90, a further nine minutes were added. A delay in play commenced as keeper Isted went down for a sustained period of time but once up, Wanderers launched a sustained attack on his goal.
Three back-to-back corners from the Whites kept the momentum going to the very end, with Gethin Jones meeting a Morley set-play from the left, but he could only glance his header just wide of the post in what would have been a grandstand finish.
Wanderers wrap up the week with a draw on home turf, maintaining their third place position in Sky Bet League One.
Wanderers: Coleman; Jones, Toal, Iredale; Sheehan (Morley 77); Dacres-Cogley, Maghoma (Mendes Gomes 83), Dempsey, Ashworth; Adeboyejo (Bodvarsson 45), Collins (Jerome 78). Substitutes: Forrester, Ramsay, Taylor.
Booked: Sheehan, Maghoma.
Charlton Isted; Edmonds-Green, Jones, Thomas; Watson, Dobson (Pereira Camara 73), Coventry (Gillesphey 73), Anderson, Small; Kanu (May 86), Ladapo (Aneke 73). Substitutes: Maynard-Brewer, May, Edun, Campbell.
Booked: Jones, Dobson, Anderson, Coventry, May, Kanu
Referee: Ross Joyce
Attendance: 20,179 (456 away)