Charlton: Ashley Maynard-Brewer, Lloyd Jones (sub Terell Thomas 46), George Dobson, Alfie May, Freddie Ladapo, Tayo Edun, Tennai Watson (sub Tyreece Campbell 76), Macauley Gillesphey, Tyreeq Bakinson, Conor Coventry (sub Lewis Fiorini 76), Rarmani Edmonds-Green
Subs not used: Harry Isted, Lucas Ness, Louie Watson, Daniel Kanu

Cobblers: Lee Burge, Aaron McGowan, Jordan Willis (sub Manny Monthe 52), Jon Guthrie, Patrick Brough, Shaun McWilliams (sub Will Hondermarck 77), Marc Leonard, Sam Hoskins, Kieron Bowie, Mitch Pinnock, Tyreece Simpson (sub Louis Appere 62)
Subs not used: Louie Moulden, Harvey Lintott, Max Dyche, Tony Springett

Referee: Paul Howard

Booked:
Charlton: Tayo Edun (32), Freddie Ladapo (58), Tyreeq Bakinson (69), Conor Coventry (71)
Cobblers: Sam Hoskins (25), Kieron Bowie (89)

Sent off:
Charlton: Tayo Edun (86)
Cobblers:  none

Jon Brady named an unchanged starting XI for the midweek trip to Charlton with new loan signings Wolves goalkeeper Louie Moulden and Norwich winger Tony Springett on the bench.

Sam Hoskins saw an early effort tipped over by Ashley Maynard-Brewer while Freddie Ladapo was thwarted by some good defending by Shaun McWilliams and Jon Guthrie.

Tyreece Simpson put the Cobblers in front seven minutes in, drilling the ball home after being played through by Kieron Bowie.

Charlton were back on level terms in somewhat fortunate fashion when a cross from Alfie May was turned in by Aaron McGowan after somehow being missed by Ladapo.

It wasn’t long though, around 90 seconds in fact, before the Cobblers lead was restored with McGowan’s ball into the box finished by who else, Sam Hoskins.

Three minutes into first half stoppage time Charlton equalised for a second time, Tennai Watson scoring from close range with the last kick of the first half.

Manny Monthe replaced Jordan Willis early in the second half before Marc Leonard drilled a strike just over the bar.

A terrific goal-line clearance from McGowan kept the score at 2-2 with around twenty minutes left to play while Patrick Brough also made an important intervention to deny Tyreeq Bakinson inside the area.

The game was very much in the balance as McWilliams made way for Will Hondermarck.

Charlton were reduced to ten men when Tayo Edun was shown a second yellow card following a foul on McGowan but there was a big reprieve for the home side when Kieron Bowie appeared to be brought down in the area only for the referee to book the Cobblers forward for simulation.

In a phrenetic finish Burge then made a fantastic save to deny May as the game moved into seven minutes of stoppage time while his opposite number Maynard-Brewer kept out a Mitch Pinnock volley which looked destined for the top corner.

Both sides were undoubtedly going for the win and there was to be a dramatic final twist seven minutes into stoppage time, Louis Appere, played in by Pinnock, cooly slotting home the winner.

CHARLTON MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (6) 7
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 2
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (3) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 4

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 6
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (1) 5
CORNERS: (2) 5
FOULS: (7) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2