Duo's fitness boost

Left-sided defenders Ben Thatcher and Cory Gibbs both came though their first match following lengthy injury lay-offs with flying colours on Tuesday night.

Ben Thatcher completed a full 90 minutes for Charlton reserves against Southampton

The duo completed 90 minutes as Charlton's reserves defeated Southampton 3-1 to return to the top of the Pontin's Holidays Combination Central.

Indeed, Thatcher had a hand in the second goal when his surging run down the left flank led to his cross for Mikkel Rygaard-Jensen to net his second of the night with a far-post header, and restore the visitors' lead in the process.

Thatcher featured at left-back while United States international Gibbs played alongside Sam Sodje in the centre of defence, and both players felt no ill effects after the final whistle.

Although the pair played in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Ivory Coast side ASEC Mimosas at the training ground earlier this month, Thatcher was making his first competitive appearance since a knee operation at the end of October.

Meanwhile, Gibbs, who has yet to make his first-team debut for the club since he was signed in May 2006, had his first outing since he broke three metatarsals in his foot in mid-October.