Luton Town 2-2 Charlton Athletic: Chris Solly goal secures dramatic late points for Addicks

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton secured a dramatic point at Kenilworth Road thanks to Chris Solly’s injury-time strike.

Tariqe Fosu’s first-half penalty had Lee Bowyer’s side ahead – but goals from Harry Cornick and James Collins seemed to have inflicted the Addicks’ first defeat in six league games.

But Solly’s volley, his first goal in six years for the club, wiped out the Hatters’ lead with seconds left.

It was the visitors who started the brighter in the Bedfordshire sunshine. Home stopper James Shea was called into action early on as Ben Reeves fired straight at him from the edge of the area.

Elliot Lee, son of former Charlton man Robert Lee, curled an effort comfortably wide of Jed Steers’ far-post, before Shea had to be alert again to tip Lyle Taylor’s effort round the upright at the other end.

The Hatters, managed by former Addicks coach Nathan Jones, twice came close to edging ahead through Andrew Shinnie. The midfielder dragged an effort wide from Perry-Ruddock Mpanzu’s lay-off, before then seeing one hacked from the line by Jason Pearce as he tried to poke a low cross home.

The home side were made to pay for their wastefulness moments later. Joe Aribo wriggled his was into the area before being felled, with referee Anthony Coggins pointing to the spot without hesitation.

Fosu stepped up to stroke home his first goal of the season, sending Shea the wrong way in the process.

Reeves nearly doubled the lead as he cut onto his right-foot inside the area, only to see his drive at goal blocked.

It looked like the home side had levelled up the contest on the stroke of half-time, but James Collins was adjudged to have been offside as he bundled a knock-down home from close range.

Taylor lifted an effort over from the edge of the box after Fosu’s cut-back, as the Addicks looked to extend their lead early in the second-period.

Addicks keeper Jed Steer was finally forced into a save ten minutes after the interval, as he blocked Lee’s near-post effort before the Luton man then smacked his rebound against the upright.

Charlton started to pile on the pressure again midway through the period – with Reeves just off-target as he rifled an effort on the turn from inside the area.

The home side drew level with just over fifteen minutes left to play. Substitute Cornick had already blazed a chance over from close-range moments before, but made no mistake when touching the ball through the legs of the onrushing Steer as the Charlton stopper tried to cut out a flick on.

The turnaround was completed seven minutes later. Mpaznu lifted an effort onto the inside of the post, with Collins on hand to turn the loose ball into the gaping net – and bring the South Londoners’ four-game winning run to a halt.

But Bowyers’ side wouldn’t be defeated. They twice rattled headers against the crossbar during the five minutes of added time – but Solly was on hand to volley a dropping ball through a crowd of legs and into the net as a corner came his way and ensure the game ended all-square.

PHOTOS: Kyle Andrews