Nolan stunner gives Town a 1-0 win
Town: Dean Henderson, Ben Godfrey, Mat Sadler, Omar Beckles, Shaun Whalley (Joe Riley, 89), Carlton Morris, James Bolton, Bryn Morris (Stefan Paybe, 75), Jon Nolan (Lenell John-Lewis, 90), Aristote Nsiala and Alex Rodman.
Subs: Craig MacGillivray, Joe Riley, Max Lowe, Lenell John-Lewis, Sam Jones, Abo Eisa and Stefan Payne.
Subs: Dillon Phillips, Mark Marshall, Tarique Fosu, Joe Aribo, Naby Sarr, Micheal Zyro and Anfernee Dijksteel.
Referee: Simon Hooper
Assistants: Akil Howson and Nicky Hopton
Fourth Official: Andy Davies.
Attendance: 14367 (777)
Team News: Paul Hurst goes back to the 4141 formation, which has proven to be successful over the season for Town. Alex Rodman is re-introduced into the starting 11 ahead of Abo Eisa and Bryn Morris is back in the centre of midfield, he replaces Joe Riley. Carlton Morris gets the nod ahead of Stefan Payne up top.
Paul Hurst’s men came away 1-0 winners at The Valley, taking a lead into the second leg of the Sky Bet League One semi final Play-Off.
A late second half volley from Jon Nolan gave Town the win and the one goal advantage heading into the second leg.
First half:
Town started the game brightly but were nearly caught out early on from a Jake Foster-Caskey shot. The Addicks man shot the ball towards the bottom right hand corner but Dean Henderson got down well to put the ball out for a corner. Subsequently Town cleared the ball and the score remained level.
The next 10 minutes flew by. Both teams were battling hard for the ball in the middle of the park but neither team could breach the defence and cause a problem for the goalkeepers.
Town’s first real chance came in the 18th minute. Town broke on the counter attack through Bryn Morris and were pouring forward towards the Charlton
defence. Morris fed a ball through to Jon Nolan, who had a lot of work to do before reaching the back line. The centre midfielder dribbled his way into the box and let off a shot, which narrowly missed the target.
Nolan and Shaun Whalley were combining well down the right side as the half went on. Whalley fired in a high looping cross towards Rodman but The Addicks keeper, Ben Amos came out and claimed the ball well averting any danger for Charlton.
Bryn Morris came close for Town with 15 minutes of the half left to go. Some bright play down the wing opened up space for Morris on the edge of the box, the midfielder struck a hard shot towards Amos but the keeper parried the ball out for a corner, which The Addicks cleared.
Carlton Morris was given a yellow card towards the latter stages of the half for a challenge on Charlton captain Jason Pearce.
An end-to-end first half came to an end with both teams level. Town created a flurry chances but couldn’t do enough to get the ball past The Addicks keeper.
Second half:
The first 10 minutes of the half went by just as the first half finished. Both teams were fighting hard in the middle of the pitch trying to keep the ball. Neither team could hold the ball long enough to create a dangerous attack.
Town had a shot on target five minutes later. A deep free kick was delivered in and was latched onto by Rodman but the winger’s header didn’t produce enough power to trouble Rodman.
A set piece chance fell for Town in the 67th minute. Whalley passed the ball to Nolan who was driving into the box. The midfielder got on the end of the ball but shot the ball just wide.
Rodman was given a yellow card for a raised boot on Patrick Bauer.
Charlton had their own chance with 15 minutes left in the half. Ben Reeves flashed a half volley just over the bar from outside of the box.
The deadlock was finally broke by Town in the 81st minute. Some great passing play around the box from Whalley and Stefan Payne created an opening for Nolan who fired an emphatic volley into the top corner of the goal giving Amos no chance.
Dean Henderson made an important save in injury time. Claiming the ball from an Addicks header.
Charlton had a couple of late corners but Town held on and took a one nil lead back to the Montgomery Waters Meadow for the second leg of the semi final.