FA Cup 4th Round: Charlton Win PkvLondon Derby

 Before a smaller than average crowd of 22,029, Charlton Athletic avoided becoming Leyton Orient's second Premiership FA Cup scalp with a narrow 2-1 win at the Valley on Saturday.

 

The Addicks advance to the 5th Round came courtesy of a last-minute winner from Jay Bothroyd after Lee Steele had cancelled out a 7th minute opener from Jonathan Fortune.

 

The 'O's, a full sixty one places below Charlton in the Pkvpyramid at start of play, certainly did not disgrace themselves and although never looking like they would win the game, came within seconds of forcing a replay at Brisbane Road.

 

In the opening minutes the contrast in styles between the divisions soon became apparent, Orient announcing their visit with some meaty challenges and quick balls over the top characteristic of England's lower leagues.

 

But for all the measured build up and superior play bazaar movement of their Premiership hosts, the Os looked far from overawed, Shane Tudor getting a shot on target in the first minute and forcing a corner in the second.

 

What they and their 6000+ travelling fans (Orient's average home gate is 4,500) surely did not want was to concede an early goal but they fell into that trap in the 7th minute.

 

Darren Ambrose far out on the right curled a free kick into the box where center back Jonathan Fortune, finding unaccustomed space between two defenders, stooped to nod past Glyn Garner in the Leyton Orient goal.

 

If the Os had an Achilles heel for the Addicks to exploit then it certainly looked to be in dealing with crosses.

 

After Fortune was granted time and space for his goal, Shaun Bartlett arrived scandalously unmarked in the box from another Ambrose center in the 17th minute, the South African guiding his header inches wide of the post.

 

Charlton were dealing with the Orient attack quite comfortably, Herman Hreidarsson looking particularly imperious in the air, but were far from fluid and rather error-strewn in midfield, Radostin Kishishev being a particular offender.

 

The home side threatened to double their lead in the 34th minute when top gunner Darren Bent whipped in a cross which Darren Ambrose connected with but could not keep from flying over the crossbar. Three minutes later Bent again turned creator, laying off to the onrushing Kishishev, whose shot flew high and well wide.

 

Orient were keen but toothless up front, while Charlton looked content to let their visitors play while staying threatening on the break. All seemed to be going to form therefore until a late flurry at the end of the 1st half gave the Os' fans their voice back and Charlton supporters a reason not to rest on their laurels for at least another 45 minutes.

 

Four minutes before the interval Orient carved out their first real chance, Gary Alexander, scorer of 14 goals this season, meeting a Matt Lockwood free kick from far out on the left and steering his header inches wide of the diving Myhre and the goal frame.

 

Another sign of life came in the 44th as Alexander's dipping shot from the edge of box dropped marginally over the crossbar.

 

In the last minute of the half Alexander's shot on the turn flew dangerously across the face of the goal and there was still time for Lee Steele to spring the offside trap and pull it back for Joe Keith, whose sidefooted effort skimmed the bar as Orient finished the half the stronger.

 

Eight minutes after half time the East Londoners drew level. From a Joe Keith through ball, Lee Steele pulled free of Charlton right back Luke Young and shot straight at Myhre, the ball just seeping under the Norwegian’s body and over the line.

 

For a couple of minutes then it was all Orient, the visitors’ momentum whisking their team goalward towards their vocal fans and their 'East, East London' chants. In the brief onslaught, Steele and John Mackie had shots charged down by an anxious Charlton defence.