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Penalty pain as Swindon seal Wembley place

Charlton's dream of an immediate return to the Championship was ended after a penalty shoot-out against Swindon Town at The Valley on Monday night.

On a dramatic evening, skipper Nicky Bailey's missed spot-kick proved crucial as the Robins moved onto Wembley 5-4 after the shoot-out.

Stephen Darby slotted home the winner from 12 yards to cue wild celebrations in the Jimmy Seed Stand.

Simon Ferry had turned a corner into his own net to give Charlton the lead and David Mooney grabbed a second in first-half stoppage time to put them in firm command.

Gordon Greer was sent off for the visitors before Danny Ward poked them back into the game, and Charlton also ended with 10 men after Miguel Llera was controversially dismissed for a professional foul.

The hosts then twice hit the post in the added half hour through substitute Scott Wagstaff and Frazer Richardson, and Burton put a glorious chance wide in the 115th minute.

But the game hinged on events from 12 yards, and Bailey, who produced a terrific captain's performance in the middle of the park all evening, proved to be the fall-guy.

After Deon Burton's kick was matched by Jon-Paul McGovern, Bailey shot high over the right upright to hand Swindon an advantage they would not surrender.

Charlie Austin made it 2-1 and Nicky Forster, Kevin Amankwaah, Christian Dailly and Ward struck before Richardson ensured the tie went down to the last kick.

Liverpool loanee Darby obliged, confidently firing past Darren Randolph and Swindon could start to plan a trip to Wembley on May 29th.

For the Addicks, it was a case of what might have been on an evening the players gave boss Phil Parkinson absolutely everything.

Tearing into their visitors from the opening whistle, they saw Swindon forced into a goalkeeping change inside the opening five minutes when David Lucas fell awkwardly. His replacement Phil Smith would take centre stage later in the game.

Smith was beaten by his own man Ferry in the 27th minute, as the midfielder somehow sent a curling Gary Borrowdale corner past his own keeper when attempting to clear at the far post.

Mooney then had the home crowd dreaming of a day out at Wembley as he collected a fine pass from Kyel Reid and found the bottom corner with a crisp left-foot drive.

Swindon, with top scorer Billy Paynter starting but making no impression, might have been reduced to 10 men at the end of the first half when Jonathan Douglas appeared to aim a kick at Llera as the pair grappled for the ball at a stoppage.

Despite being just yards away from the incident the linesman's utterings made sure the former Leeds man would pick up just a yellow card.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute after skipper Greer's horror lunge on Burton earned him a straight red card.

But the shorthanded visitors were back in the game seven minutes later when McGovern charged through after the hosts had squandered possession upfield.

Confusion reigned at the back for the Addicks, and Ward, the second goalscorer on Friday, nipped in to send the ball between the legs of Randolph and level the tie at 3-3 on aggregate.

Smith then sprung to emergence for the hosts, saving well from Mooney and Nicky Bailey in the closing stages, but the numbers were levelled by referee Neil Swarbrick in injury time.

Llera, a penalty shoot-out semi-final loser with Milton Keynes Dons last season, was sent packing after upending Austin as he moved away on the right.

With Dailly covering to the left it looked like the Spaniard would escape with a booking, but Swarbrick thought otherwise as he produced a red card.

The defender was inconsolable as he trudged towards the tunnel and suddenly it was game on again as extra-time loomed.

Sometimes the extra period can lead to tension and cagy play, but the action continued at pace as soon as the whistle sounded again.

Wagstaff and Richardson were left to rue the same left post in front of the gleeful Swindon fans, as Jose Semedo seamlessly slotted in alongside Dailly.

Impressive substitute Therry Racon and Forster were also denied by the inspired Smith in the first extra-period.

In the second half Austin twice went close for Swindon, sending one effort flashing across goal and agonisingly wide.

But the best chance was still to come as Wagstaff picked out Burton with five extra minutes remaining only for the striker to spin and shoot just wide.

For their enterprise and effort over two hours of pulsating play, the hosts deserved to have been home and hosed before the horrors of penalties.

Sadly, as so often happens, spot-kicks can be the cruellest way to exit a competition.

And so it was skipper Bailey who was inconsolable in the centre circle as the visitors celebrated wildly.

The flame-haired midfielder was helped down the tunnel by his colleagues as the Addicks were left to reflect on a season that was settled from 12 yards.

In terms of team news Charlton made two changes for Monday night's League One semi-final play-off second leg.

Trailing 1-0 after Friday's opening clash at the County Ground, the Addicks started with Llera and Reid in their ranks as they met the Robins for the second time in four days.

Llera came in at the back for the injured Sam Sodje while winger Reid was preferred to Racon, and his inclusion meant skipper Bailey reverted to his favoured central midfield berth alongside Semedo.

In the absence of Sodje, there was also a first squad appearance for young defender Matt Fry, on loan from West Ham United for the rest of the season.

For Swindon, 29-goal top-scorer Paynter was in the starting line-up. He partnered Charlie Austin up front with fellow Friday goalscorer Ward switching to wide left.

Burton gave Charlton hope with his 14th goal of the season in the first leg in Wiltshire after goals from Austin and Ward had put Swindon 2-0 up and in firm control.

After the hosts created plenty of openings in the first half - Austin thrice denied by keeper Randolph and Ward putting another good chance wide - Bailey curled a great shot against the post at the start of the second period.

Austin's header broke the deadlock for the hosts, however, and Swindon broke to score a second before Burton chased a long clearance from Randolph and bravely headed past David Lucas.

With home substitute Vincent Pericard hitting the post in injury time, the tie remains in the balance ahead of what's sure to be a fabulous atmosphere inside SE7.

Randolph, after his two marvellous saves and one assist, continued between the posts and Llera came in alongside player of the year Dailly with Richardson and Gary Borrowdale the full-backs.

Llera had previous fond memories of facing Swindon at The Valley too, having snatched a last-gasp leveller for nine-man Charlton when the sides met in the league clash in SE7 on Boxing Day. This night would not be remembered in the same light.

In midfield there was pace and trickery on both flanks in the shape of Lloyd Sam and Reid while Bailey and Semedo provided the engine-room bite.

Up front Mooney continued up front alongside Burton with Forster and Akpo Sodje the striking alternatives in reserve.

They were joined on the bench by keeper Rob Elliot, Chris Solly, Racon, Wagstaff and, for the first time, defender Fry.

The West Ham United loanee had played just two U18 matches since joining on loan for the rest of the season but stepped into the squad due to the injury for Sam Sodje.

He had, however played 13 times in League One this season during a loan spell at Gillingham last year.

For the Robins Paynter's inclusion meant Ward moves to the left hand side at the expense of Alan O'Brien.

Liverpool loanee Darby came in for Kevin Amankwaah and there was no Alan Sheehan for the visitors so Lescinel Jean-Francois steps in.

There was treatment for keeper Lucas after he fell awkwardly following a collision with two defenders and Mooney as a throw came in from Borrowdale.

After lengthy treatment to what looked like a shoulder injury, reserve keeper Phil Smith warmed up on the sidelines - and after work from both physios the substitute sign was made.

On came Smith in the fifth minute as Lucas trudged off in agony clutching his left shoulder.

The keeper made his first claim from a Richardson cross from the right to settle the nerves, and a tempting Sam centre from the same flank - after good work from Mooney - eluded all and sundry in the box before bouncing out for a throw.

Richardson's 12th minute cross was headed narrowly over by Burton, and Smith had to get down well to parry away a Reid shot after the winger had stumbled into a shooting position from the left.

Jean-Francois draped out a leg to divert the loose ball away from the lurking Sam at the far post.

As the midway point of the opening period approached Swindon started to get a foothold and there were full length blocks from Bailey and Dailly to foil Simon Ferry and Douglas respectively.

Douglas then saw his half volley blocked behind by Reid after a bout of head tennis following a 25th minute corner from Jon-Paul McGovern.

Having defended well at one end, Reid jinked inside two minutes and unleashed a drive that took a deflection before Smith parried the ball round his left post.

It was a good save - but the keeper would be beaten by his own man from the resulting corner.

Borrowdale's wickedly curling corner beat a scrum of players in a packed six yard box and in his attempts to clear the ball at the far post Ferry - with Mooney in front of him and Dailly behind - could only spear a volley into his own net.

It was a comedy moment that could prove oh so crucial for the men in red, and despite the stadium announcer giving the credit to Mooney, it was definitely an own goal.

Certainly, after Akpo-gate against Leeds, the striker would need the luck of the Irish to have it credited to him, but nonetheless the important fact was that Charlton were one up, and the tie was all square at two apiece.

Llera's curling free-kick just past the half hour was saved by Smith and McGovern's dipping volley on the run at the other end was routinely pouched by Randolph, his first serious action of the game.

Bailey, having seen a shot blocked at one end, charged back like a man possessed to brilliantly block a Ward effort at the other end and Paynter, after colliding with Semedo, proceded to head the midfielder in the nether regions out of the eyeline of the referee.

It was an eye-watering moment for the Portuguese and Paynter, moving a little gingerly in the opening period, tossed the ball against the midfielder in the aftermath.

More good work came from the hosts half a minute before the break as Sam found Semedo and his clipped cross was headed just over the bar by Burton who had peeled away on the left.

Despite the blank electric board, an extra five minutes were added on after the Lucas injury - and in the second of those minutes, the Addicks struck again.

After patient work across the pitch, the ball was worked to Borrowdale on the left and he kept the ball moving down the line to Reid.

The winger outwitted Darby on the left and showed brilliant presence to pick out Mooney and the Irishman swept the ball gloriously into the back of the net.

The Valley erupted and suddenly the Addicks were ahead in the tie.

After Semedo picked up a booking for a foul on Ferry, Paynter dashed into space to met a Ward flick and headed narrowly off target.

Then there was controversy at the end of the half as Dailly collided with Paynter and as the ball spun away, Douglas clearly aimed a kick at Llera.

With the assistant referee in close attendance, the omens looked bleak for the midfielder as he was summoned by referee Swarbrick - but he somehow escaped with a yellow card.

The free-kick was cleared and the half-time whistle sounded soon afterwards to leave the Addicks in pole position going into the break.

No quarter was given by either side in the opening 10 minutes of the second period, with a real cup-tie atmosphere.

Bailey, in particular, was everywhere, but there was a threat from the visitors on 59 minutes as a clipped ball into the box saw Austin get the wrong side of Llera and chest the ball down before letting fly with a shot that was expertly tipped over the bar by Randolph.

The subsequent corner from McGovern flashed right across goal before Mooney slashed clear.

Swindon were starting to turn the screw offensively, although Smith had to dash off his line to head clear after Richardson's hoist forward for a minute looked like it might reach Burton.

Paynter's race was run on 64 minutes as he made way for O'Brien and Randolph made a wonderful block from Ferry soon afterwards, even though the midfielder was offside when he took aim.

Sam made way for Wagstaff on 66 minutes and no sooner had he arrived on the scene than the Robins were reduced to 10 men.

Skipper Greer saw red for the visitors after kicking Burton kung-fu style - and the Robins were in disarray.

After Llera fired the free-kick into the wall, Swindon almost conceded a second own goal as O'Brien headed a cross back towards his goal and Mooney took aim from an acute angle only for Smith to make a fine block.

Ferry made way for Amankwaah on 72 minutes and after a great Charlton break Bailey couldn't spot Reid unmarked on his left.

Swindon made the skipper pay in some style seconds later, breaking clinically.

McGovern surged forward and as the space opened up, kept going, before slipping the ball through to Ward who, as the backline suffered a miss-communication, managed to poke the ball between the legs of Randolph and in.

Burton sent a looping header over and Reid crashed an effort well over the left side of the box as the hosts tried to respond.

And Burton was all alone in the box eight minutes from time to meet a clipped cross from Richardson, but Smith dived to his right to save and clutch simultaneously.

Smith then used his legs to great effect, saving Mooney's low drive from the right after a great centre across the corridor of uncertainty from Reid.

Mooney received a warm reception as he made way for the experienced Forster five minutes from time and after an intelligent clipped pass from the newcomer, winger Reid's curling cross rippled the roof of the net.

Smith then sprung to emergence again with 30 seconds of regulation time remaining, producing a fine diving save to keep out Bailey's drilled effort from range.

The call for three extra minutes - by now a tiny numbered board - was met by a huge roar from the crowd.

And it was 10-a-side in stoppage time as Austin raced away down the right and was caught by Llera as he attempted to cut in.

Dailly was covering behind the big Spaniard and a yellow card seemed likely - but Swarbrick thought otherwise as he produced a red, leaving all inside The Valley stunned.

Semedo filled in at centre back and despite the controversial decision Charlton ended up on the offensive as the Robins cleared a dangerous free-kick and then a corner.

Full-time saw both sets of players huddle up and Parkinson barked out his instructions to his tight-knit group.

And so onto extra time; a half hour shoot-out if you like.

Charlton showed first as Wagstaff cut in from the right and drilled a low shot that beat Smith but scraped the outside of the left post.

Reid made way for Racon as Parkinson rolled the dice for the last time five minutes in - and the sub made an instant impression, winning the ball and sending Forster away on the left.

The striker cut inside his man from the left to better his shooting angle but couldn't beat Smith as the sub-keeper made another great save.

Racon then broke brilliantly again, shaking off his man as the hosts went through three-on-two.

He eventually found Forster to his right but after the striker's first touch was a little heavy, the ball cannoned off him and behind via a back-tracking defender.

As the clock passed 100 minutes Racon almost put the hosts 3-1 up, taking aim with a curling shot that was tipped over brilliantly by Smith.

There was minor treatment for the keeper before Charlton hit the post for a second time on 103 minutes.

Borrowdale's centre was only half cleared and Richardson judged the bounce well before crashing a dipping drive that beat Smith but clattered off the same left upright hit by Wagstaff earlier in the half.

After a superb retrieval challenge from Bailey and more purposeful work from Racon, Burton curled a shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

After an additional minute the first period ended, and two more huddles took shape either side of the halfway line.

Right at the start of the second period, O'Brien got away on the left but his slipped pass was cut out well by Dailly and his second squirmed to no one in particular.

A long clearance from the Scot almost sent Forster through, but Smith gathered the ball.

Swindon had scarcely threatened in the extra period, but they almost took the lead in the 109th minute.

After McGovern had bustled across from the left he slipped the ball to Austin on his right.

The striker opted to clip a shot first time with the outside of his boot and the ball flashed across goal and inches wide of the left upright with teammates unmarked in the middle.

Ward broke down the right and pulled the ball across for Austin to scoop over moments later and at the other end a Racon drive took a big deflection and flew over the bar.

Dailly got a crucial flick on McGovern's free-kick after Forster upended Amankwaah on the right - and then a golden chance was spurned by the hosts five minutes from time.

Wagstaff did wonderfully well on the right, outwitting his man and pulling the ball back to Burton who spun sharply but pulled his shot across the face of goal and agonisingly wide of the left post.

It was a big chance, but still the hosts pressed on.

Despite that, however, they couldn't find the breakthrough and both sides' fates would be decided on penalties.

Burton was the first on the spot and drilled his shot past Smith and McGovern also found the left side of the net.

Skipper Bailey blazed over the bar for the hosts to hand Swindon the first advantage, and Austin fired home to make it 2-1 to Swindon.

Forster confidently found the bottom left corner before Amankwaah's effort beat Randolph, despite the keeper getting his hand to it.

Dailly was next up for Charlton and beat Smith, who had guessed the right way, and Ward fired home to make it 4-3 Swindon with one pair of kicks to go.

Richardson smashed the final Addicks kick into the roof of the net before Darby was composure personified to drill the ball into the bottom right corner and earn his side a trip to Wembley.

For the hosts the dream was over, scant reward for a terrific effort on a night in which they gave absolutely everything for the cause.

Swindon celebrated wildly at the whistle, but the Addicks were left to trudge off despondently, as their hopes of an immediate return to the Championship were ended.

Charlton: Randolph, Richardson, Borrowdale, Llera, Dailly; Sam (Wagstaff 66), Semedo, Bailey, Reid (Racon 95); Burton, Mooney (Forster 85).

Subs (not used): Elliot, Solly, Fry, A Sodje.

Goal: Ferry og 27, Mooney 45 (+2)

Booked: Semedo 45 (+5) (foul on Ferry), Burton 90 (+3)

Sent off: Llera 90 (professional foul on Austin)

Swindon: Lucas (Smith 5); Darby, Jean-Francois, Cuthbert, Greer; McGovern, Douglas, Ferry (Amankwaah 72), Ward; Austin, Paynter (O'Brien 64).

Subs (not used): Timlin, Easton, O'Brien, Nouble, Pericard.

Booked: Douglas 45 (+7) (foul on Llera)

Sent off: Greer 67 (foul on Burton)

Goal: Ward 74

Referee: N Swarbrick

Att: 21,521

Penalties:

Burton 1-0; McGovern 1-1; Bailey (over bar) 1-1; Austin 1-2; Forster 2-2; Amankwaah 2-3; Dailly 3-3; Ward 3-4; Richardson 4-4; Darby 4-5 (Swindon win 5-4 on penalties)

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