Charlton Vs Wrexham: Ollie Rathbone’s 30th-minute volley hands Wrexham a 1-0 win at The Valley
In the charlton vs wrexham fixture at The Valley, Ollie Rathbone’s superb 30th-minute flick-and-volley proved decisive as Wrexham beat Charlton Athletic 1-0, a result that left the Addicks frustrated and Wrexham holding a four-point cushion over the sides chasing a top-six spot.
Rathbone’s goal and the decisive moments
Rathbone, who missed the first four months of the Championship campaign through injury and returned in December, struck a superb volley from the edge of the area in the 30th minute after Callum Doyle’s cross was headed away and fell to him. The finish was described as a flick and skidding volley and marked Rathbone’s sixth league goal this season since his return from injury in December.
Charlton’s chances and wasted openings
Charlton created the game’s best openings but left The Valley empty-handed and extended their run to four games without a win. Three times Charlton found themselves in space inside the Wrexham box before the opener and returned without a goal: Luke Berry delayed his shot long enough for Issa Kabore to make a block; former Addick George Dobson threw himself at a ball to stop Sonny Carey; and Harry Clarke skewed wide from a good counter opportunity when he got his angles wrong.
Charlton team changes and matchday squad
Nathan Jones made five changes to his side for the fixture at The Valley, naming a starting XI that included Will Mannion in goal with Kayne Ramsay, Lloyd Jones (captain) and Reece Burke at the back. The club noted the match was the Addicks’ fourth game in a hectic 12-day period, with two enforced changes and several rotations.
- Charlton starting lineup: Mannion; Ramsay, Jones (c), Burke; Clarke, Coventry, Carey, Berry, Bell; Dykes, Campbell
- Subs: Brooks, Sinchenje, Gillesphey, Chambers, Docherty, Rankin-Costello, Fevrier, Leaburn, Kelman
Thomas Kaminski missed out with a hamstring injury and Conor Coady was not permitted to play against his parent club. Will Mannion, Reece Burke, Conor Coventry, Luke Berry and Tyreece Campbell came into the side while Luke Chambers, Greg Docherty and Miles Leaburn moved to the substitutes bench. January signing Tiernan Brooks was named in a matchday squad for the first time and joined Collins Sichenje, Macaulay Gillesphey, Chambers, Docherty, Joe Rankin-Costello, Jayden Fevrier, Miles Leaburn and Charlie Kelman on the bench. The team news page included the line 'Designed & built by Other Media, Powered by Clubcast'.
Key second-half moments and Okonkwo’s save
Four minutes after the restart Lewis O'Brien should have doubled Wrexham’s lead when he met Kieffer Moore’s cross, but Kayne Ramsay intervened to thwart the danger. Tyreece Campbell later missed a glaring headed chance for Charlton, and when Sonny Carey did hit a shot on target in the 90th minute, goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo produced a brilliant full-stretch save to deny him and preserve Wrexham’s one-goal lead as their unbeaten away run extended to a sixth game.
Standings, form and the away crowd
Rathbone’s strike ensured Phil Parkinson’s side retained a four-point cushion over teams chasing a top-six spot. Wrexham’s travelling fans celebrated the victory; the club have not lost on the road since a late defeat at Swansea City before Christmas and have collected 16 of the last 18 away points on offer. The win also came on St David’s Day weekend and was noted as coming at the expense of compatriot Nathan Jones.
The fixture kicked off at 3 p. m. GMT at The Valley and was available to watch on CharltonTV outside the UK and Ireland, with live audio commentary in the UK and Ireland from Terry Smith, Greg Stubley and former Addick Steve Brown. Charlton remain seven points clear of the relegation places after the defeat and will aim to end a run of four matches without a win as their congested schedule continues.
