Charlton’s longest stint outside of England’s top two tiers since the 1920s is finally at an end.
For five frustrating years the Addicks have languished in League One, bouncing around mid-table in a division their fans have been desperate to escape by any means necessary.
But thanks to a fine first-half free-kick from defender Macaulay Gillesphey, and a little bit of luck along the way, those supporters got their wish at last at Wembley.
They were put through the mill at times in a second half that saw Leyton Orient do everything except actually score an equaliser. It was a scrappy affair, prolonged deep into stoppage time by issues with the officials’ communication device.
But when the final whistle was eventually blown a little past 3pm, the 40,000 or so Charlton fans that packed out their half of the home of football did not care a jot how they got there. It was mission accomplished.
This is not just a return to rarefied air for Charlton, a proud club that ought to be mixing it with the big boys in the Championship.
It is also a triumph for Nathan Jones, a talented coach who during four miserable months at Southampton became the laughing stock of the English game.
Jones – a quirky personality who celebrated Charlton’s win over Wycombe In the semi-finals with a five-minute, Cirque du Soleil-style routine for the TV cameras on the touchline – does not help himself at times. His public pronouncements can be self-aggrandising or downright strange. And they distract from his undoubted merits as a tactician and self-made manager.
But Jones was note perfect here at Wembley. His back three system gave wing-backs Thierry Small and Josh Edwards licence to thrive. Charlton were able to edge the first half and ultimately see out a win, with Jones’ substitutes easing the pressure just as it looked like the match was getting away from them.
For Orient – in the National League just six years ago – there was to be no fairytale promotion to the second tier for the first time since 1982. But Richie Wellens’ side were at Wembley for a reason and will fancy their chances of being in the mix again in a year’s time.
‘This isn’t relief, it’s euphoria,’ said Jones. ‘We’ve had to battle, we didn’t play well today, we just defended really, really well but those are the principles we instilled and to win a game here, keep a clean sheet, I’m so happy.
‘This is a good Leyton Orient side and they’ve hardly had a chance on goal and that’s down to us.
‘I’m so proud of this club, I took a risk dropping two divisions but I knew we could build something and this is the first step.’
There were good omens for Charlton at Wembley, having beaten Orient twice in the regular season – with stoppage-time winners on both occasions. The Addicks had also won their last three play-off finals – while Orient had lost theirs.
Charlton also had the upper hands in the stands, having sold out their allocation with ease. Almost 40,000 supporters formed a sea of red and white that roared their players out before kick-off. ‘Godden again, ole ole,’ they sang in honour of star striker Matty, who sealed that win over Wycombe.
They didn’t have much to cheer in a tense opening half-hour. But they erupted in unison as Ghillesphey curled a free-kick from 25 yards out towards goal and in, via the fingertips of Josh Keeley.
Gillesphey struck it well with his left boot but his shot wasn’t bound for the corner and Keeley will have been bitterly disappointed not to keep it out.
Orient couldn’t hit back before the break, mustering only a half-chance, Rarmani Edmonds-Green heading wide while backpedalling at a corner.
They came closer after half-time when Jack Currie’s long-range effort was deflected just wide of Will Mannion’s left post. And at the resultant corner, Jordan Brown had his head in his hands after blazing over when unmarked in the box.
Orient went closer still with the help of another deflection when main man Charlie Kelman finally found some space on the edge of the box and let fly, but his effort bounced off the crossbar to safety. Their fans sensed an equaliser was coming.
But it never arrived. Jones made some adjustments, Charlton regained their composure, and despite the delay and 11 minutes of stoppage time, they held on.
‘The Reds are going up,’ hollered this corner of north London as the seconds ticked down. And there was no denying them.
