‘Fairly clear-cut’ – Charlton defender makes penalty admission in late Wrexham draw

Josh Edwards said he was screaming at referee Alan Dale to award Charlton Athletic their late penalty in the 2-2 draw with Wrexham at The Valley on Saturday.

The visitors took the lead after 16 minutes when Tom O’Connor’s free-kick from out wide was whipped into the box and Conor Coventry turned the ball past his own keeper Will Mannion.

Macaulay Gillesphey equalised for the Addicks swiftly after going behind when Edwards’ floating cross found the centre-back, who looped a header over Arthur Okonkwo.

Former Charlton attacker Elliot Lee nearly put the Welsh side back ahead in the 26th minute when his curling right-footed effort smashed off the crossbar.

Phil Parkinson’s side went back ahead when a move started by former Charlton captain George Dobson saw the ball find Andy Cannon inside the area, with the substitute slotting beyond Mannion in the 72nd minute.

But Charlton claimed a point in the final minute of stoppage time when a penalty was awarded by substitute referee Alan Dale for a handball by Max Cleworth.

Matty Godden stepped up and smashed the spot kick into the roof of the net.

“I was right behind him and it looked fairly obvious,” said Edwards.

“I was screaming for it. It’s one of them where he might have missed it, but I think it was fairly clear-cut.

“It was the correct decision in the end. Wrexham were on top of parts of the game and then we took control of parts of the game. 

“It was quite even, I thought. It quite easily could have been a 2-1 loss. In the end, it was probably a fair result.”

Godden, 33, has netted four goals since joining from Coventry in the summer and kept his composure to score the equaliser in the 96th minute.

Edwards said: “He’s a strong man. I don’t think many of the other boys could have stepped up and do that.

“Credit to him. I’m glad he scored.”

PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS