Charlton Athletic

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Charlton Athletic

SOCCER

    Shrewsbury heading for Wembley after beating Charlton in play-off semi-final

    Shrewsbury booked another Wembley appearance by beating Charlton 1-0 in the second leg of the League One play-off semi-final.Carlton Morris, the on-loan Norwich striker, scored the winner just before the hour mark to secure a 2-0 aggregate victory for the team that finished the season in third.Paul Hurst's side, who were beaten by Lincoln at the national stadium in last month's Checkatrade Trophy final, will meet Rotherham or Scunthorpe at Wembley on May 27. Shrewsbury were bottom of League One when Hurst was appointed manager in October 2016, but are now just 90 minutes away from playing in the second tier for the first time since 1989.Jon Nolan's stunning late goal at The Valley meant Shrewsbury kicked off the return leg with an advantage and they started brightly.They created the game's first chance when Alex Rodman turned sharply and fired in a low shot which was well dealt with by goalkeeper Ben Amos at his near post.Lee Bowyer's Charlton enjoyed plenty of possession but found clear chances hard to come by.Josh Magennis was well off target with an acrobatic volley and then Nicky Ajose broke into the box but central defender Aristote Nsiala produced a fine block.Rodman then went close for the home side again just before the break when a neat move down the left saw the winger's shot from a tight angle well stopped by Amos.Nolan fired wide for Shrewsbury early in the second half before Shaun Whalley's cross-shot was blocked by Patrick Bauer.The breakthrough arrived in the 58th minute as Whalley ran at the visiting defence down the right and pulled the ball back to Morris to take a touch and drill a powerful shot from 15 yards low past Amos.Charlton chased an equaliser but Ben Godfrey came up with a vital block from Joe Aribo's close-range effort before Jake Forster-Caskey's 20-yard drive was pushed away by goalkeeper Dean Henderson.Shrewsbury almost grabbed a late second when the visitors had committed men forward but Stefan Payne's close-range effort was brilliantly kept out by Amos.
    • 6Y
    • PA Sport

    Charlton Athletic

    SOCCER

      Charlton Athletic 0-1 Shrewsbury Town

      Shrewsbury will take a one-goal lead into the second-leg of their League One play-off semi-final against Charlton after Jon Nolan's fine finish secured a 1-0 victory at The Valley.The division's third-placed team, who had finished 16 points ahead of their hosts, absorbed early pressure and cleverly bought time until scoring the goal they deserved through the impressive Nolan.Regardless, Charlton possess one of League One's strongest squads and to the extent that only last month they won 2-0 at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.Having been largely outplayed they will have to significantly improve in Sunday's second leg, and seal a similarly convincing win if they are to reach the final at Wembley on 27 May.The hosts - being watched from the directors' box by their potential new owner, Australian businessman Andrew Muir - had made a promising start.In only the fourth minute, Josh Magennis headed narrowly wide of the right post following Ben Reeves' right-wing cross.Jake Forster-Caskey then swiftly followed that by breaking from midfield to the edge of the area, and sending a low, left-footed shot even closer to the same target.When the ball bounced kindly for Nicky Ajose, the striker ambitiously shot from 25 yards but despite connecting well his effort was both high and wide, and they thereafter struggled to create clear-cut chances.Shrewsbury first threatened in the 17th minute when Nolan, having been fed by Bryn Morris, forced a fine save from Ben Amos after a dangerous run and shot from midfield, and the goalkeeper also then saved Carlton Morris' header from the resultant corner.Shaun Whalley then played in Morris from the right, and from 20 yards he curled towards the far left post, where the diving Amos again did well to parry wide.It was midway through the second half when the visitors enjoyed another period in which they almost scored. Amos, again, impressed in punching clear from Whalley's corner while under pressure.From a free-kick Whalley then pulled back to the unmarked Nolan, and his curling shot crept just wide of the left post.Charlton's Forster-Caskey curled a further free-kick, from the edge of the area, straight at goalkeeper Dean Henderson, and Ben Reeves then connected well with Ajose's lay-off before watching his rising shot clear the crossbar.Nolan's winning goal arrived in the 80th minute. Following a promising build-up, substitute Stefan Payne teed him up from 25 yards and he connected well to shoot beyond Amos and off the underside of the crossbar.Magennis' again went close with a header in stoppage time, from another Forster-Caskey free-kick, but Henderson again saved to preserve Shrewsbury's advantage.
      • 6Y
      • PA Sport
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