Cobblers push promotion-chasing Charlton Athletic close but fall short

Despite missing several key players, Town matched the in-form Addicks in an excellent first half performance at the Valley and they responded quickly to Luke Berry’s early goal, which came against the run of play, as Dara Costelloe levelled from the spot within six minutes.

The away team were also unquestionably the better side at the start of the second period but they couldn’t make their pressure count and Matty Godden scored the decisive goal with 19 minutes to play to secure Charlton’s place in the play-offs.

For Town, Bristol Rovers’ unlikely draw at Wrexham means the gap to the bottom four is now just four points, setting up a big game against already relegated Shrewsbury at Sixfields on Easter Monday.

Kevin Nolan was without Nesta Guinness-Walker (suspended), Terry Taylor (ineligible) and injured pair Tom Eaves and Sam Hoskins so Tariqe Fosu, Tyler Roberts and Akin Odimayo all started.

The initial signs were promising with most of the early play concentrated in Charlton’s half, and an early shooting opportunity could have brought about the opener but it fell to the wrong person in Odimayo, who scuffed his effort into a crowd of bodies.

The hosts were struggling to assert themselves but they made full use of their first serious attack to hit the front. Cobblers did not get out to Matty Godden quick enough and his cross was only half cleared by TJ Eyoma, the ball falling kindly for Berry and he beat both goalkeeper Lee Burge and Aaron McGowan on the goal-line.

Undeterred, Town continued to play well and they were rewarded with a deserved leveller just six minutes later. Tom McIntyre inexplicably batted away Mitch Pinnock’s cross with his hand for the most stonewall penalty and Costelloe confidently converted, sending Will Mannion the wrong way.

Only Birmingham have earned more points than Charlton since Christmas but that was not showing in the opening half-hour at the Valley where Cobblers played with confidence and control as Aaron McGowan headed wide from a corner.

It took the best past of 35 minutes but the Addicks did eventually start to show the type of quality that has them in contention for promotion at the top end of League One, though the visitors defended well enough to remain on level terms going into the break.

Anyone expecting Charlton to take control after the restart would have been left disappointed by the way Cobblers came out and really took the game to their hosts, much to the annoyance of many home supporters.

Town sustained good pressure on Charlton’s goal and they so nearly went in front when Roberts’ teasing cross was met by Fosu at the back post, but he was off balance and steered the ball away from the goal.

As good as Northampton were playing, their failure to score always felt like it might be costly and sure enough Charlton soon worked up a head of steam as they chased a winner.

Berry headed over at the back post and then saw another effort held by Burge before Godden squandered a glorious chance, somehow heading against the crossbar with the goal gaping just a few yards out.

Fortunately for the striker, he would quickly be given the opportunity to make amends for that miss and this time he made no mistake. Chuks Aneke beat Max Dyche in the air to flick on a long ball and Godden raced through, getting behind Town’s defence before sliding underneath the onrushing Burge.

That appeared to take the puff out of Town’s play and Charlton finally seemed to have the game under control, though there was to be a late scare for the hosts when Costelloe scampered away and so nearly picked out James Wilson, who would have had a tap-in, but that miss ended any chance of snatching a draw.

Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay, Jones, McIntyre (Aneke 54), Small, Coventry, Berry (Anderson 88), Docherty © (Gilbert 69), Edwards, Godden (Mbick 88), Campbell (Watson 88)

Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Ahadme

Cobblers: Burge, McGowan ©, Eyoma, Mbete (Dyche 45), Odimayo (Magloire 69), Perry, McGeehan, Pinnock, Fosu (Hondermarck 69), Roberts (Wilson 82), Costelloe

Subs not used: Tzanev, Dadge, Baldwin

Referee: Ollie Yates

Attendance: 20,198

Cobblers fans: 1,238