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Deon and Waggy seal overdue away win

Scott Wagstaff celebrated his first ever league start with a goal as Charlton recorded their first away win since August with a 2-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday night.

The young winger rammed home the loose ball after a low cross from Grant Basey had been touched back into his path to put the Addicks two goals to the good eight minutes before the break.

Top scorer Deon Burton had headed in his ninth goal of the season to put the visitors in front in their first ever league visit to the Withdean Stadium just short of the half-hour mark.

The Seagulls had started brightly and James Tunnicliffe headed against the underside of the bar in the early stages. But Charlton showed resolution and intelligence aplenty to keep their hosts at bay after that and seal a long overdue away-day success.

The first day of advent generally takes thoughts to the festive season, to Santa Claus and snowmen, to chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

So that thumping 4-0 win at Tranmere Rovers on August 29th when fans might have toasted the occasion on a warm afternoon with an ice cream seems an awful long time ago for an Addicks side which is most definitely back in form.

Having experienced the open terrace lifestyles of Gillingham, Northwich Victoria and a rain-hit Yeovil Town in recent times, the Addicks fans found themselves sardined together away behind the goal on the far side of the pitch on a chilly afternoon in the Sussex coast.

They would have got a good look at the hosts in the early stages and Tunnicliffe's clever near-post header came back off the underside of the bar in the 17th minute before returning keeper Rob Elliot brilliantly scooped the ball to safety.

All with blue and white allegiance appealed that the ball had bounced over the line but a video replay showed it had not.

Aside from that Charlton reacted well to the hosts' early pressure and opened the scoring 12 minutes later as a curling Nicky Bailey free-kick was headed into the back of the net by Burton. The free-kick was conceded by Adam El-Abd, booked in the early stages, but picky referee Gavin Ward got his Seagulls muddled up, and showed Tommy Elphick the yellow card instead. Luckily it wasn't a decisive decision.

Those with binoculars might have struggled to see the significant first team action from the away end, but they were delighted nonetheless.

And there was even more reason to be cheerful for the visitors on 37 minutes as Wagstaff swooped to crash the ball home after great work on the left had seen Lloyd Sam tee up Basey to deliver an excellent low cross.

Having established an advantage Charlton went about their business in professional fashion, defending vigorously and dealing with a clutch of set-pieces from the hosts.

Front to back there was a real defiance about the Addicks, with Nicky Bailey again terrific in the middle of the park.

Elliot Omozusi also had his best night in Charlton colours on the right of the rearguard and there were stellar defensive contributions from Christian Dailly, Sam Sodhe and Basey.

Jose Semedo worked tirelessly in tandem with Bailey with one minor blemish for the visitors the second-half booking, a firth of the season, that will rule him out of the weekend Valley clash against Southend United.

Out wide there were energetic performances from Wagstaff and Sam, up front Burton and Mooney ran hard, and Irishman Mooney was only denied a third goal in four games by a brilliant double save from home keeper Graeme Smith.

But two was enough for the visitors who kept their discipline right to the end a fine start to the last month of 2009 was given some extra gloss by the defeat to Colchester United that meant Charlton are now four points clear or nearest rivals Norwich City in the crucial second promotion spot.

In terms of team news Charlton welcomed back keeper Elliot for their first ever league trip to Brighton- and there was also a first ever league start for Wagstaff.

Elliot was back between the posts after missing the last six games with an adductor injury.

There was also a return from suspension for Sodje in the centre of defence and Omozusi started at right-back.

The Fulham loanee replaced the injured Kelly Youga, who missed his first game of the season, while winger Wagstaff came in on the left hand side for Shelvey.

The youngster had only previously started cup clashes for the Addicks but got his big chance as Parkinson attempted to solve his troublesome left-midfield problem.

That berth was vacated by skipper Bailey, outstanding since switching to central midfield and Wagstaff and Sam will supplied the width at the Withdean Stadium.

Elliot, meanwhile, was a welcome addition back between the posts for the Addicks with Carl Ikeme having ended his loan spell with the club.

Problems on the right of the rearguard meant Parkinson summoned Omozusi with Youga, a stand-in right-back himself last Tuesday against Bristol Rovers, suffering from a knee injury.

That meant Grant Basey continued on the left a day after his 21st birthday and the spring-heeled Sam Sodje was back alongside Dailly after sitting out a one-game ban for his sending off at Yeovil Town.

Jose Semedo completed the midfield quartet while there were goals up front courtesy of Dave Mooney and Deon Burton, both with two in their last three outings.

Another two-goal star, Akpo Sodje, remained on the bench despite striking twice from reserve in the last two matches.

The younger Sodje was joined on the bench by Darren Randolph, Miguel Llera, Matt Spring, Therry Racon, who spent time on loan with Brighton two seasons ago, Shelvey and Izale McLeod.

The hosts made three changes with Tunnicliffe back at the back for Adam Virgo and Gary Dicker replacing Kevin McLeod in midfield.

Up front Glen Murray returned from suspension to partner top-scorer Nicky Forster and replaced Liam Dickinson, who netted twice against the Addicks for Blackpool last term.

Referee Gavin Ward, having abandoned Plymouth's game with Barnsley on Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch with the Tykes leading 4-1, was quickly involved, lecturing both Sodje and El-Abd after the pair collided at an early Addicks free-kick.

The referee took the advice of both assistants before dishing out a double dose of yellow

Gary Dicker volleyed well wide for the hosts in the eighth minute but there was no significant action in the opening quarter hour.

But the hosts were a whisker away from taking the lead on 17 minutes after their first corner of the game.

The sprightly Forster's persistence won the flag-kick on the right off Dailly and Elliott Bennett's curling corner was met by a glancing near post header from Tunnicliffe which crashed down off the underside of the bar.

Elliot then flung himself across to spoon the ball to safety and the Addicks breathed again as the home fans suggested to the officials that the ball had crossed the goalline.

Elliot's attempted punch at a high ball into the box looped up dangerously before being cleared away.

Burton was in at the other end after 25 minutes as Bailey's long ball over the top was misjudged by Tommy Elphick.

Sizing up a volley in beyond as keeper Smith advanced, the striker could not make decisive contact - like he did at Hartlepool and Leyton Orient earlier this season - and the ball squirmed slowly wide.

In between times Ward had summoned both skippers for another lengthy chat after some more misdemeanours at a visiting free-kick.

But after Elphick was eventually booked for a latter foul on Wagstaff - the offence was actually committed by an already booked El-Abd - the Addicks took a 29th-minute lead from the resulting free-kick.

Bailey whipped in a fine set-piece from way out on the right and Burton darted in front of his marker to head into the bottom right corner of the net.

The hosts had penalty claims for handball against Basey at a corner waved away, and when they forced a free-kick on the right side of the box, Bennett's curling cross across goal narrowly eluded two Seagulls players closing in on the far side.

Out wide for the visitors Wagstaff had long switched wings with Sam, and both were involved from their new positions as the Addicks doubled their lead on 37 minutes.

Sam showed excellent appreciation from the left, holding the ball up well before feeding the overlapping Basey.

The left-back's drilled low cross caused chaos in the box and the ball got a slight touch off Burton in the middle before Wagstaff advanced to mark his big night by slamming the ball home.

The winger tried his luck with a chip from the edge of the box, after more good work from Burton, moments later but the ball sailed narrowly over Smith's bar.

At the other end Elliot dealt positively with a curling cross into the dangerzone and Sodje rose majestically to make a fine headed clearance soon afterwards.

The visitors then spurned a great chance to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time through Burton.

This time Wagstaff did well on the right and teed up Omozusi whose cross skimmed the head of Semedo in the middle and span appetisingly for Burton on the left.

On reflection the striker might have taken a touch, but he opted for a first time shot and the ball flew wide.

That was that for the opening period as the visitors went in two goals to the good.

After more handball claims in the box against Bailey were turned down at the start of the second half, Burton got in a good block at a corner as the hosts started well.

Dicker was booked after a sliding challenge upended Mooney and after Bailey's initial free-kick came off the wall, the skipper's low follow-up flew just wide with Smith scrambling across his goal.

Sodje got across well to cut out a good low cross from Bennett and Alan Navarro hoisted the loose ball well over the bar.

Semedo blocked well from Seagulls sub Jimmy McNulty and just past the hour mark Forster made way for Dickinson.

After some good work on the right from Charlton no fewer than three home defenders scandalously backed off to let Omozusi deliver a cross on 65 minutes, but Mooney couldn't get any direction on his header.

Strong across the pitch, Charlton were beginning to take control of proceedings as the half continued, Semedo and Bailey, twice, winning good ball in the middle and getting their side motoring.

Sam even got in on the act with some good closing down as did Omozusi at a corner, and Andrew Crofts couldn't trouble Elliot on 70 minutes.

Semedo was booked for a foul on Murray soon afterwards, his fifth booking of the season, and from the free-kick a header inadvertently came back off Elphick.

The hosts eventually smashed the ball into the net after a spell of penalty-box pinball - with Omozusi clearing off the line in the middle of proceedings - but Ward had long since spotted an infringement.

Elliot was booked for time-wasting before taking the goal-kick and Akpo Sodje replaced Burton 15 minutes from time.

The newcomer's very first touch freed Mooney and he in turn slipped the ball to Sam but the winger's shot was well blocked by Tunnicliffe.

Wagstaff lifted the ball over after Smith had half-punched a cross and the home keeper had to take evasive action to paw away a curling Bailey corner from the left which was almost certainly heading straight in.

The visitors then broke clinically on 82 minutes, Mooney holding the ball up well before Basey sent Wagstaff motoring down the middle.

He teed up Akpo Sodje, and his fierce drive flew narrowly wide.

Another great move from the Addicks almost resulted in a third goal a minute later.

Sam stood up a glorious cross from the right and Mooney must have thought he had scored when he connected with a firm header at the far post.

But the Irishman reckoned without a brilliant save from Smith who somehow kept the ball out and then reacted superbly to claw Mooney's follow-up away as well.

The hard-working Mooney was booked for kicking the ball away before making way for McLeod three minutes from time.

Charlton dealt well with a cluster of Brighton corners in the final minute of regulation time and Elliot dealt with Murray's curling effort in the third added minute.

There was just about time for a late home corner, but that was cleared impressively and the final whistle sounded moments later to allow the Addicks to at long last celebrate an away win.

Charlton: Elliot; Omozusi, Basey, S Sodje, Dailly; Sam, Semedo, Bailey, Wagstaff; Mooney (McLeod 87), Burton (A Sodje 75).

Subs (not used): Randolph, Llera, Spring, Racon, Shelvey.

Goals: Burton 29, Wagstaff 37

Booked: S Sodje (tussle with El-Abd), Semedo 70 (foul on Murray), Elliot 72 (time-wasting), Mooney 86 (kicking ball away)

Brighton: Smith; Hoyte, El-Abd (McNulty 57), Tunnicliffe, Elphick; Crofts, Navarro, Dicker (Davies 86), Bennett; Forster (Dickinson 61), Murray.

Subs (not used): Pelling, Whing, Cox, Virgo.

Booked: El-Abd 3 (tussle with S Sodje), Elphick 28 (foul on Wagstaff), Dicker 55 (foul on Mooney)

Referee: G Ward

Att: 6,769 (861 Charlton)

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