Charlton’s Wembley dream in EFL Trophy is over as Hartlepool prevail in penalty shootout

Charlton Athletic’s hopes of a Wembley date in the EFL Trophy were ended tonight as they bowed out of the competition following a penalty shootout defeat at Hartlepool United.

The Addicks went behind after just seven minutes when Joe Gray scooped the ball over Craig MacGillivray, latching on to a hopeful punt.

But Charlton levelled 10 minutes later through the in-form Mason Burstow. The teenage striker showed razor sharp reactions after Ben Killip saved his initial effort with his legs, guiding a header into the unguarded net.

Alex Gilbey put the visitors ahead just past the half-hour mark, swivelling to smartly slam home after a combination of Ben Purrington and Conor Washington forced Jonathan Leko’s deep cross back into the midfielder’s path.

But Hartlepool, who soon head to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fourth round, caused their League One opponents plenty of issues on the night and produced the more fluent and confident passages of play.

They deservedly made it 2-2 on 73 minutes, Luke Molyneux curling home from the edge of the box. But Charlton allowed the substitute time and space on his stronger left foot.

Both sides produced quality spot-kicks until Elliot Lee’s poor attempt. Killip maintained his record of diving to his left for each of the penalties – all the others had gone in the opposite side. But once he had gone the right way it was a simple save. Lee, struggling to produce the bright displays at the start of his loan from Luton Town, never looked confident as he stepped up.

“It’s a cup competition I’ve taken seriously from the outset and we’ve done well – up to a point in it,” Charlton manager Johnnie Jackson told Charlton TV. “It wasn’t to be, we haven’t got past the quarter-final stage. When you get to that stage you do start thinking about trying to get to the final and trying to win it. I’m disappointed.

“It was patchy. We started pretty poorly, they got an early goal but then we grew into it and were dominant for the rest of the first half – got the two goals. We went a little bit sloppy in the last five minutes of the first half and didn’t play very smart.

“We spoke at half-time about playing smart and playing to the conditions – trying to get them on the back foot a bit more, which we did at the start of the second half. Again they crept their way back into it.

“The lad who scored their equaliser, we spoke about his threats. I’m really disappointed with the nature of that goal. It’s a great finish from the boy but we knew he was capable of that. You have to force him outside the pitch on to his right foot. We highlighted it pre-match and didn’t implement it. I find things like that really disappointing.

“We knew we’d be in for a game and they gave us a game. It’s resulted in a draw and when it goes to penalties it’s a coin flip. I’m disappointed we couldn’t win it in 90.

“You want your lads to commit to whatever side they are going to put it, trust their technique and hope your goalkeeper can make some saves as well.”

Three hundred Addicks fans made the long journey to the North.

“They were great,” said Jackson. “Gutted – they are going to get home late with nothing to cheer about. The support was amazing. Portsmouth now becomes a huge game. We’re fully concentrating on the league now and we have to climb the table.”