Stephens’ screamer earns table-toppers Charlton a point against Bury

Iain Liddle , Charlton Athletic correspondent, at The Valley Tuesday, January 31, 2012
10:00 PM

League One: Charlton Athletic 1 Bury 1

Dale Stephens produced a Goal of the Season contender in injury time to give Charlton a share of the points against an impressive Bury side at The Valley this evening.

Lenell John-Lewis, who the hardy 270 travelling supporters boasted was better than the shop, went someway to proving that with the opening goal after 42 minutess.

It looked like being a frustrating until for the hosts until they grabbed a deserved equaliser in the final moments of the match.

Michael Morrison, acting as a makeshift striker, unsettled the home defence and forced Cameron Belford to punch into a perceived safe zone 30 yards from goal.

However he only found the fit-again Stephens who met the ball with perfect technique to drill it past the keeper and several covering defenders on the line.

The atmosphere at the end of the match resembled a home victory and while many would have been disappointed with that result before kick-off, there was reason for the unexpected optimism after recording a solitary point.

Richie Barker’s side can claim to have overachieved so far this season having climbed into a mid-table with a modest budget following last season’s promotion, but the team ethic which has served them so well was on full display from the first minute.

Set up in a counter-attacking 4-5-1 formation, which has successfully frustrated the Addicks in other home matches this season, they were reliant on goalkeeper Belford early in the first half as Charlton began with attacking intent.

Captain Johnnie Jackson’s forward run after 15 minutes picked out Leon Clarke in space but the former Swindon Town striker, on his first start for his new club, was thwarted by the Bury stopper.

Dale Stephens, making his first start since the defeat at Stevenage on October 15, was incisive with his passing early on and found the frontman again soon after, only for his control to let his down.

Yann Kermorgant then took his turn to test Belford after the half-hour mark when he exchanged an elaborate one-two with Jackson before his diving header was turned round the post.

Bury took the lead before the break through John-Lewis’ well-struck effort, which appeared to wrong-foot goalkeeper Ben Hamer, and they looked comfortably soaking up Charlton pressure in the second half.

They nearly scored a second after the break when the impressive Steven Schumacher’s shot was deflected for a corner and, for all Charlton’s urgency, the visitors largely restricted the chances on their own goal.

Matt Taylor should have equalised from six yards out after 54 minutes, but inexplicably shot over when unmarked from six yards out.

Apart from that the home side were largely reliant on the trickery of left-back Rhoys Wiggins to create chances and he often beat the Bury right-back and won corners for Chris Powell’s side.

Danny Haynes replaced the rapidly-tiring Clarke and added much-needed pace up front, but it was another full-back in Chris Solly who had their next effort on goal – although his volley veered wide of the right-hand post.

The frustrated home crowd appeared to have resigned themselves to defeat, even after seeing five minutes of injury time announced, but Stephens’ moment of magic sent them home happy in the end.

The game will raise questions about certain aspects of Charlton’s play and where possible improvements need to be made, but after a difficult month – and a long trip to Exeter just three days earlier – the battling spirit which forced an equaliser deserves to be applauded.

Charlton Athletic: Hamer, Wiggins, Morrison, Taylor, Solly, Jackson, Hollands (Pritchard, 84 mins), Stephens, Green, Kermorgant, Clarke (Haynes, 73 mins).

Subs not used: Sullivan, Cort, Hayes.

Bury: Belford, Picken, Skarz, Sweeney, Schumacher, John-Lewis, Coke (Carrington, 86 mins), Sodje, Hughes, Amoo, Doble (Worrall, 58 mins (Bishop, 85 mins)).

Subs not used: Williams, Eastham.

Referee: Andy D’Urso.

Attendance: 13, 264, including 270 Bury fans