Gary Haines reports from Hartsdown Park
Adebayo Azeez was the late hero as Charlton advanced into the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday.
The substitute chested home a free-kick from Ruben Bover-Izquierdo two minutes from time to finally down plucky Margate after an entertaining clash at a rainy Hartsdown Park.
This was by no means a conventional win, however, with the Addicks eventually prevailing by the odd goal in seven.
And a shock was twice on as the non-Leaguers twice led a strong CAFC XI which included the returning Dale Stephens.
A first two goals in Addicks colours from Leon Clarke - two moments of sublime striking quality - either side of Paul Hayes' fine curler saw the visitors forge in front for the first time at 3-2.
Margate levelled again 16 minutes from time and extra-time looked a real possibility before the visitors called for the AA.
It was a fitting finale, too, in a match that saw the kick-off delayed for 15 minutes due to tortuous traffic problems on the way to the Kent coast.
And the winning goal came courtesy of a firm chest from the youngster to wrap up proceedings inside the regulation 90 minutes.
It was Margate who grabbed the first goal of the evening through highly-rated striker Kwesi Appiah.
The frontman, whose 34 goals this season in all competitions had seen him earn a trial at Blackpool last week, boosted that tally to 35 in the 10th minute with a shot that took a deflection before looping over Conor Gough.
Clarke's first of the evening arrived in the 19th minute when he shielded a defender on the right side of the box and guided a shot beyond Simon Overland.
Gough was far from happy when Curtis Robinson fired the hosts back in front four minutes into the second-half, claiming he was fouled at a high ball.
Hayes levelled once more within two minutes with a terrific curling shot from the edge of the box before Stephens, who came safely through his first action since October's League One defeat at Stevenage, departed just after the hour mark.
But there was still plenty of life left in the tie, and a header from Richard Avery hauled Margate level on 74 minutes as he met a deep centre from Matt Bodkin.
There was still a late twist in the tale as, for the second time in Charlton's re-emergence into the competition, a young striker bagged a late winner.
After Tobi Sho-Silva beat Bromley last time out, Azeez was the hero on this night, bundling home from close range, and Charlton can look forward to a last four tie against the winners of Tonbridge Angels or Dartford for a place in the showpiece final.
There was significant team news in the shape of the return from injury for midfielder Stephens and a first start in Charlton colours for striker Clarke.
Stephens' last action came in October but he was recovered from ankle surgery to take his place in central midfield at Hartsdown Park.
Clarke, meanwhile, was paired with Hayes up front in a potent looking strike pairing.
Seven of the starting XI had played for the Addicks first team this season with the remaining four all products of the club's thriving youth academy.
The experienced campaigners included left-back Cedric Evina and centre-back Gary Doherty with Scott Wagstaff and Bover supplying the width.
Gough was in goal for the Addicks with U18 skipper Jordan Cousins at right-back and the towering Semi Ajayi partnering Doherty in the centre of defence.
Stephens was partnered in the middle of the park by the tenacious Freddie Warren with Hayes and Clarke, who had made a handful of substitute outings for the first team since his January 1st swap switch from Swindon Town, leading the line.
There was a youthful feel to the bench with Nick Pope joined in reserve by second-year scholars Morgan Fox, Joe Pigott, Azeez and Bradley Jordan.
The game was delayed 15 minutes due to traffic problems on the M2, something that affected referee Darren Blunden.
On a murky evening on the Kent coast, a packed Hartsdown Park saw the first chance of the evening go to Bover as he hoisted well over from the left side of the box after Wagstaff's driven cross bounced out to him.
Another low Wagstaff cross was cleared away but it was Appiah that drew first blood for the hosts 10 minutes in.
The striker latched on to a ball forward and looped in a shot that might have taken a nick before flying over Gough and in from the edge of the box.
A combination of cartwheel and head-over-heels followed in the celebration as the natives rejoiced a shock lead.
Bover's clipped effort sailed over but Charlton's best moment to date came as Evina sped forward and sent a blistering drive that was fisted over the bar by Simon Overland.
The keeper was beaten on 19 minutes as the Addicks drew level with Clarke's first goal in Charlton colours.
Cousins crunched a fine ball down the right channel and the striker manoeuvred himself in front of centre-back John Beales and cleverly hooked the ball through the grasp of Overland and in.
Clarke put a bouncing ball wide of the left post while Gough got behind a shot from Dan Stubbs as the clock reached 24.
The keeper also dealt comfortably with a low drive from Curtis Robinson and Appiah spun sharply on 34 minutes but fired just wide.
It was a fine piece of skill from a much-sought-after striker and a warning to the Addicks while the tie was still precariously balanced.
Clarke scuffed a Hayes cross into the arms of Overland, who gathered the ball at the second attempt before seeing a flag for offside, and Ajayi's firm back-pass was guided behind for a corner by Gough.
Clarke had the ball in the net on 40 minutes, heading home a Bover cross, but again the flag went up, albeit not before the tannoy announcer cleared his throat.
That proved the last act of the half and soon after the restart a Gough clearance clattered off the back of Doherty but the ball dropped to safety.
Gough was furious when the hosts reclaimed the lead on 49 minutes, however.
The keeper looked to be baulked as he chased a high ball from Richard Avery and amid a goalmouth skirmish Robinson eventually drove a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
The keeper's protestations continued as the home fans celebrated - but the scores were level once more within two minutes.
Hayes was the scorer, receiving a Warren pass and curling a superb shot past Overland and into the top right corner from the edge of the box.
It was a terrific strike from the frontman but Margate almost hit back themselves as a stray pass was gobbled up by Tom Bradbrook who skipped past a handful of challenges before seeing his drive tipped behind by Gough.
Stubbs shot wildly over after the ball fell to him on the edge of the box and Robinson thumped a header narrowly over from a Bodkin corner 10 minutes in.
Bodkin thrust a shot narrowly wide of Gough's upright as the keeper diced across, but Charlton responded as Wagstaff's cross reached Bover and the Spaniard's shot was bravely blocked by Laurence Ball.
Three minutes shy of the hour mark Charlton, however, led for the first time in the tie.
Doherty claimed an assist, sending in a diagonal pass with Clarke controlling the ball before spinning sharply and burying a low shot in clinical fashion.
After a low cross was turned back by Clarke, Stephens cleverly engineered the ball onto his left-foot, but was denied a comeback goal as his shot flew just over.
Wagstaff's shot on the run sailed over before the first change of the game saw Stephens, having safely came through his return, replaced by Jordan and Evina inherited the captain's armband.
His young midfield colleague Warren continued as Bover moved inside and continued to show enterprise, energy and dynamism in the engine-room. In light of the high-profile cast list, it would be remiss not to reflect on Warren's work on the night, and he certainly caught the eye amid the rain.
Bradbrook's header from a Bodkin free-kick was pouched low by Gough and there was nearly a hat-trick for Clarke as he glanced a Wagstaff cross just wide of the left post.
Dancing feet from Jordan saw him skip through, only for a defender to block, and Clarke curled over in his last act before being replaced by Azeez on 73 minutes.
A minute later it was all square once more.
Bodkin collected a pass on the right with enough time to measure a cross, and the curling ball in was a beauty allowing Avery to rise and head home at the far post.
A Bradbury shot dribbled wide as the hosts sought the lead while Hayes set himself up for a volley which was saved by Overland.
The home keeper saved smartly from Azeez four minutes from time after the sub met a clipped Wagstaff centre, practically shoving Evina out of the way in the process.
Pigott came on for Hayes five minutes from time with the visitors ending the evening with a youthful feel to the line-up.
And Azeez profited from a good decision from referee Blunden two minutes from time as he grabbed the seventh goal of the evening.
The youngster had headed a Wagstaff cross over the bar before Blunden pulled play back for a foul on the winger.
And Azeez fared better second time round as Bover flighted in a free-kick from the right and he connected with his upper torso to send the ball into the back of the net.
The hosts would not go down quietly, however, and Gough had to make a fine save from substitute Adam Burchell in stoppage time, tipping the ball round the left post.
There were loud home shouts for a penalty as Ajayi ushered the ball behind ahead of Appiah, and Overland came up for the late corner but the ball was cleared.
The match drifted into a seventh added minute, but the Addicks held firm to seal their passage through.
Charlton: Gough; Cousins, Evina, Doherty, Ajayi; Wagstaff, Warren, Stephens (Jordan 65), Bover Izquierdo; Hayes (Pigott 85), Clarke (Azeez 73).
Subs (not used): Pope, Fox.
Goals: Clarke 19, 57, Hayes 51, Azeez 88
Margate: Overland; Ball, Pooley, Cloke, Beales; Bodkin (Sherlock 90), Stubbs (Wilson 90), Avery, Robinson (Burchell 85); Bradbrook, Appiah.
Subs (not used): Thomas, Lamprell
Goals: Appiah 10, Robinson 49, Avery 74
Referee: D Blunden
Att: 929
