Charlton promoted to Championship after beating Leyton Orient in play-off final
No-nonsense defending from both sides led to a scrappy opening period with goal opportunities at a premium.
It took 31 minutes for the game to spark into life but the wait was worth it with a sublimely executed free-kick by Gillesphey breaking the deadlock.
Tyreece Campbell, always a threat, was fouled outside the penalty box and Gillesphey curled his set-piece delivery from 20 yards past the wall and wide of Orient keeper Josh Keeley who got his fingers to the ball but could not prevent it from nestling into the net.
Charlton enjoyed the better of the possession in the first half whilst nervy Orient struggled to impose themselves on the game and the Addicks looked more comfortable on the ball.
THE. ADDICKS. ARE. BACK. 😎#cafc pic.twitter.com/hQ9eTOcAmw
— Charlton Athletic FC (@CAFCofficial) May 25, 2025
Campbell and skipper Greg Docherty exchanged passes in a potentially threatening move but Campbell's weak cross was comfortably collected by Keeley while Orient provided little concerns for Addicks shot-stopper Will Mannion.
The teams came into the match in a rich vein of form, each having only tasted defeat once in each of their last 10 matches. The Addicks completed the scheduled league season in fourth spot, seven points ahead of the O's whose run of six successive victories at the death earned them the final play-off position.
Orient raised their tempo in the second half, taking the game to their opponents from the restart. Jack Currie sent in a powerful drive that was deflected for a corner and then League One's leading scorer Charlie Kelman saw his goal-bound drive deflected onto the crossbar.
🏆 @CAFCofficial #SteppedUp! 📈🔴#EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp pic.twitter.com/MDJRxmuAxl
— Sky Bet League One (@SkyBetLeagueOne) May 25, 2025
Then Jamie Donley was brought down on the edge of the penalty area but his resultant free-kick was blocked by the resolute Charlton defence.
Keeley kept Orient in the game when he dealt with an effort from Conor Coventry before he tipped a well-struck effort from substitute Chuks Aneke over the bar but Orient kept pushing forward in search of the equaliser.
However, a combination of a lack of quality to their final touch and pass and the well-drilled determined unwavering steely defending of their opponents for whom Lloyd Jones was outstanding proved too much to overcome.
The return to the second tier of English football was a triumph for Charlton boss Nathan Jones. He had led Luton to promotion and can now add Charlton to his list of successes having taken over as boss of the club in February 2024.
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North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Harry Brook one shy of century as England clash with India hangs in the balance
The Yorkshire crowd was poised and ready to celebrate the local boy's century as he faced up to Prasidh Krishna on 99 but instead shared his deflation as he turned a pull straight down the neck of the fine-leg fielder. Brook, who had sprung a clearly telegraphed bouncer trap, threw his head back in dismay and dropped his bat as he trudged to the pavilion as the first Englishman to fall for 99 since Jonny Bairstow in 2017. But his innings helped the hosts to a final score of 465 – just six runs behind India's mark and enough to leave every result on the table. Neither side giving an inch as the first Test at Headingley remains evenly poised after Day 3 🏏#ENGvIND 📝: — ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2025 Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes then picked up one wicket each as the tourists reached 90 for two to began rebuilding their lead. Brook had picked up the baton from Ollie Pope after Saturday's star man was dismissed for 106 in the third, scoring the majority share in stands of 51, 73 and 49 with Stokes, Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes. Every run would have been painful for Jasprit Bumrah, who had Brook caught for nought off a no-ball in the final over on the second evening, and there were further costly errors as he was dropped on 46 and 82. Brook roared out of the blocks, ending Krishna's first over of the day with a cut for four and a thrash for six over midwicket, and assumed the driver's seat when Pope guided a gentle steer into Rishabh Pant's gloves early on. His message rang out loud and clear when he took a couple of steps down the pitch and thrashed Bumrah for four through cover. Few batters have attempted to play the world's number one bowler with such freedom and even fewer have lived to tell the tale. The two best batsman in the world are English. — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 22, 2025 Stokes played the supporting role after arriving at number five, leaving it to Brook to provide explosive moments like his searing drive skipping down the track towards Mohammed Siraj. The captain cobbled together 20 low-key runs but never settled into a rhythm and looked full of regret as he pushed defensively outside off stump and nicked Siraj behind. Brook and Smith found a better tempo, milking 38 runs off six overs from the all-rounder Shardul Thakur, and negotiating the first signs of spin from Ravindra Jadeja. Brook was bested once when he nicked one off the shoulder of the bat but the ball hit Pant's gloves hard and popped out. After adding 118 for two in the morning session, England put on 138 for five between lunch and tea. Smith was good value for a punchy 40 but, having seen one pull off Krishna go all the way for six, he obliged too easily by sending another straight to the designated catcher. Brook was spared when he carved a regulation chance to fourth slip, Yashasvi Jaiswal making a mess of his handiwork for the second time in the match. The punishment was swift and unforgiving, 18 runs off the following over as Brook cut loose. Oh, Harry Brook 😭 An incredible knock ends just short of 100 🙈 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 22, 2025 The century appeared to be coming in quick but instead Brook made the same mistake as Smith, swivelling to take on the long boundary and coming up short. England added 67 vital runs for the last three wickets, Woakes chipping in with 38, before Bumrah wrapped up the innings to finish with a hard-earned and well-deserved five-for. The weather worsened in the evening session, clouds filling in overhead and a strong wind blowing away any threat of rain showers, and an early wicket suggested England could seize the moment. Carse took it, forcing Jaiswal back in defence and flicking the edge with one that held a tight enough line to demand attention. Sai Sudharsan was next in, fresh from a duck in his first Test innings, but he stood admirably firm in a stand of 66 with KL Rahul. That dampened some of England's enthusiasm as the lead they worked so hard to eradicate swelled once more. A Duckett drop at gully did not help matters but Sudharsan (30) only added six more before Stokes foxed him with an inswinger to have him caught at midwicket. Shoaib Bashir threatened to cause more problems as his off-spinners started to grip but showers forced the players off with 25 minutes still to play and India almost 100 in front.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Harry Brook one shy of century as England clash with India hangs in the balance
The Yorkshire crowd was poised and ready to celebrate the local boy's century as he faced up to Prasidh Krishna on 99 but instead shared his deflation as he turned a pull straight down the neck of the fine-leg fielder. Brook, who had sprung a clearly telegraphed bouncer trap, threw his head back in dismay and dropped his bat as he trudged to the pavilion as the first Englishman to fall for 99 since Jonny Bairstow in 2017. But his innings helped the hosts to a final score of 465 – just six runs behind India's mark and enough to leave every result on the table. Neither side giving an inch as the first Test at Headingley remains evenly poised after Day 3 🏏#ENGvIND 📝: — ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2025 Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes then picked up one wicket each as the tourists reached 90 for two to began rebuilding their lead. Brook had picked up the baton from Ollie Pope after Saturday's star man was dismissed for 106 in the third, scoring the majority share in stands of 51, 73 and 49 with Stokes, Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes. Every run would have been painful for Jasprit Bumrah, who had Brook caught for nought off a no-ball in the final over on the second evening, and there were further costly errors as he was dropped on 46 and 82. Brook roared out of the blocks, ending Krishna's first over of the day with a cut for four and a thrash for six over midwicket, and assumed the driver's seat when Pope guided a gentle steer into Rishabh Pant's gloves early on. His message rang out loud and clear when he took a couple of steps down the pitch and thrashed Bumrah for four through cover. Few batters have attempted to play the world's number one bowler with such freedom and even fewer have lived to tell the tale. The two best batsman in the world are English. — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 22, 2025 Stokes played the supporting role after arriving at number five, leaving it to Brook to provide explosive moments like his searing drive skipping down the track towards Mohammed Siraj. The captain cobbled together 20 low-key runs but never settled into a rhythm and looked full of regret as he pushed defensively outside off stump and nicked Siraj behind. Brook and Smith found a better tempo, milking 38 runs off six overs from the all-rounder Shardul Thakur, and negotiating the first signs of spin from Ravindra Jadeja. Brook was bested once when he nicked one off the shoulder of the bat but the ball hit Pant's gloves hard and popped out. After adding 118 for two in the morning session, England put on 138 for five between lunch and tea. Smith was good value for a punchy 40 but, having seen one pull off Krishna go all the way for six, he obliged too easily by sending another straight to the designated catcher. Brook was spared when he carved a regulation chance to fourth slip, Yashasvi Jaiswal making a mess of his handiwork for the second time in the match. The punishment was swift and unforgiving, 18 runs off the following over as Brook cut loose. Oh, Harry Brook 😭 An incredible knock ends just short of 100 🙈 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 22, 2025 The century appeared to be coming in quick but instead Brook made the same mistake as Smith, swivelling to take on the long boundary and coming up short. England added 67 vital runs for the last three wickets, Woakes chipping in with 38, before Bumrah wrapped up the innings to finish with a hard-earned and well-deserved five-for. The weather worsened in the evening session, clouds filling in overhead and a strong wind blowing away any threat of rain showers, and an early wicket suggested England could seize the moment. Carse took it, forcing Jaiswal back in defence and flicking the edge with one that held a tight enough line to demand attention. Sai Sudharsan was next in, fresh from a duck in his first Test innings, but he stood admirably firm in a stand of 66 with KL Rahul. That dampened some of England's enthusiasm as the lead they worked so hard to eradicate swelled once more. A Duckett drop at gully did not help matters but Sudharsan (30) only added six more before Stokes foxed him with an inswinger to have him caught at midwicket. Shoaib Bashir threatened to cause more problems as his off-spinners started to grip but showers forced the players off with 25 minutes still to play and India almost 100 in front.
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- South Wales Argus
Harry Brook one shy of century as England clash with India hangs in the balance
The Yorkshire crowd was poised and ready to celebrate the local boy's century as he faced up to Prasidh Krishna on 99 but instead shared his deflation as he turned a pull straight down the neck of the fine-leg fielder. Brook, who had sprung a clearly telegraphed bouncer trap, threw his head back in dismay and dropped his bat as he trudged to the pavilion as the first Englishman to fall for 99 since Jonny Bairstow in 2017. But his innings helped the hosts to a final score of 465 – just six runs behind India's mark and enough to leave every result on the table. Neither side giving an inch as the first Test at Headingley remains evenly poised after Day 3 🏏#ENGvIND 📝: — ICC (@ICC) June 22, 2025 Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes then picked up one wicket each as the tourists reached 90 for two to began rebuilding their lead. Brook had picked up the baton from Ollie Pope after Saturday's star man was dismissed for 106 in the third, scoring the majority share in stands of 51, 73 and 49 with Stokes, Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes. Every run would have been painful for Jasprit Bumrah, who had Brook caught for nought off a no-ball in the final over on the second evening, and there were further costly errors as he was dropped on 46 and 82. Brook roared out of the blocks, ending Krishna's first over of the day with a cut for four and a thrash for six over midwicket, and assumed the driver's seat when Pope guided a gentle steer into Rishabh Pant's gloves early on. His message rang out loud and clear when he took a couple of steps down the pitch and thrashed Bumrah for four through cover. Few batters have attempted to play the world's number one bowler with such freedom and even fewer have lived to tell the tale. The two best batsman in the world are English. — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 22, 2025 Stokes played the supporting role after arriving at number five, leaving it to Brook to provide explosive moments like his searing drive skipping down the track towards Mohammed Siraj. The captain cobbled together 20 low-key runs but never settled into a rhythm and looked full of regret as he pushed defensively outside off stump and nicked Siraj behind. Brook and Smith found a better tempo, milking 38 runs off six overs from the all-rounder Shardul Thakur, and negotiating the first signs of spin from Ravindra Jadeja. Brook was bested once when he nicked one off the shoulder of the bat but the ball hit Pant's gloves hard and popped out. After adding 118 for two in the morning session, England put on 138 for five between lunch and tea. Smith was good value for a punchy 40 but, having seen one pull off Krishna go all the way for six, he obliged too easily by sending another straight to the designated catcher. Brook was spared when he carved a regulation chance to fourth slip, Yashasvi Jaiswal making a mess of his handiwork for the second time in the match. The punishment was swift and unforgiving, 18 runs off the following over as Brook cut loose. Oh, Harry Brook 😭 An incredible knock ends just short of 100 🙈 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 22, 2025 The century appeared to be coming in quick but instead Brook made the same mistake as Smith, swivelling to take on the long boundary and coming up short. England added 67 vital runs for the last three wickets, Woakes chipping in with 38, before Bumrah wrapped up the innings to finish with a hard-earned and well-deserved five-for. The weather worsened in the evening session, clouds filling in overhead and a strong wind blowing away any threat of rain showers, and an early wicket suggested England could seize the moment. Carse took it, forcing Jaiswal back in defence and flicking the edge with one that held a tight enough line to demand attention. Sai Sudharsan was next in, fresh from a duck in his first Test innings, but he stood admirably firm in a stand of 66 with KL Rahul. That dampened some of England's enthusiasm as the lead they worked so hard to eradicate swelled once more. A Duckett drop at gully did not help matters but Sudharsan (30) only added six more before Stokes foxed him with an inswinger to have him caught at midwicket. Shoaib Bashir threatened to cause more problems as his off-spinners started to grip but showers forced the players off with 25 minutes still to play and India almost 100 in front.
