Godden's Late Strike Sends Charlton to Wembley Dream
What a night it was at The Valley! I’m still buzzing from the atmosphere and drama as Charlton Athletic secured a thrilling 1-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers to book their place in the League One play-off final at Wembley. It took 171 minutes of football over two legs for someone to finally find the net, but when it came, it was a moment worth waiting for—and it was Matty Godden, of course, the man for the big occasion, who delivered.
The first leg at Adams Park ended in a goalless draw, and honestly, the second leg was shaping up to be another cagey affair. It wasn’t exactly a spectacle for the neutrals in terms of goalmouth action, but the tension in the stadium was palpable. Both sides knew what was at stake: a shot at promotion to the Championship. And in the end, it came down to one moment of instinct, positioning, and composure.
With just nine minutes left on the clock, Macaulay Gillesphey floated a long ball into the Wycombe box. Lloyd Jones got something on it—a scrappy touch that was heading goalward—and there was Godden, right place, right time. The ball deflected off keeper Franco Ravizzoli, and Godden calmly poked it home for his 22nd goal of the season. Cue absolute pandemonium at The Valley. Red flares, fans on the pitch, and a deafening roar that seemed to shake the stands.
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Charlton boss Nathan Jones couldn’t contain his emotions. Face down on the touchline, tears streaming—it was a moment that captured just how much this meant to the club, the players, and the supporters. Just a year ago, they were sitting in 18th place. Now, they’re going to Wembley with a shot at returning to the Championship.
Godden summed it up perfectly after the game: “The fans deserve it. We never give up, and attacking the Covered End gives us that extra push.” He’s right. The home support was incredible, especially in the second half, urging the team forward with every tackle, every cross, every chance. It felt like destiny.
To be fair, Wycombe fought hard. They didn’t make it easy, and there were a couple of late moments that could have gone either way. Garath McCleary and Xavier Simons both came close, but Kayne Ramsay put in two heroic blocks that really epitomized Charlton’s defensive resolve.
So now it’s set: Charlton vs Leyton Orient at Wembley on Sunday, 25 May. A London derby with promotion on the line. It doesn’t get much better than this. For Addicks fans, this could be the moment they’ve waited for since dropping out of the Championship in 2021.
It’s been a season of belief, resilience, and redemption. Let’s finish the job. Wembley, here we come!
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