Charlton Athletic 1 Exeter City 3.
Saturday 19 February 2011.

Referee Steve Tanner

Attendance 24,767 with 1021 City fans.

On the road with Kirstie Bowden 

We Will Win: Oh No You Won't

Prior to kick off at The Valley, Charlton were setting themselves up for a very big fall. At 2.30pm we were told to "take your seats for the pre-match entertainment".

It was an announcement you were unlikely to miss. The volume was turned up so loud my head felt like it was shaking. Taking our seats was ever so slightly difficult. The stand appeared to have been built with children in mind and there was no legroom whatsoever.

Back on the pitch, given the gusto that the tannoy man was giving it you'd be forgiven for thinking it was some sort of Cup Final. For reasons best known to Charlton the Rugby World Cup song, "World in Union, was played.

Then it got truly ridiculous. Cue an opera singer with a cry of "let's have a bit of a sing- song... music maestro". Said sing song culminated, quite inexplicably, with 'Nessun Dorma. He used the instrumental bit to inform us that the final words were important to Charlton as they meant "I will win" which promptly became translated into an ill advised battle cry of "WE WILL WIN".

The 23,746 home fans, pulled through the turnstiles by the lure of a £5 ticket promotion, loved it. The away end scoffed. I've never known a club with such delusions of grandeur. I wanted to beat them more than ever.

After the music came a special message from Chris Powell, which ironically, marked the point at which they finally decided to turn the volume down to the extent that no one could hear him! The first half saw City repeatedly flagged offside and Charlton repeatedly falling over with regards to the latter it was getting so ridiculous I wondered if someone in the crowd was deploying a taser gun! As Johnnie Jackson lay seemingly gravely injured, (he had a miraculous instant recovery when he got to his feet), an exasperated Grecian shouted "hurry up ref I'm on a night shift" Just before half-time the ref endeared himself to the travelling fans by booking Bradley Wright-Phillips for arguing. "Keep talking" a lone Grecian shouted. Seemingly unconvinced by the pink kit he had been sporting in the first half Hamer changed into the fluorescent yellow version for the second halfa half that will live long in the memory of the 1,041 Grecians present. Liam's 64th minute goal had us hoping. John O'Flynn's 77th minute goal had us dreaming. Ryan's 84th minute penalty had us believing it was simply incredible. I hardly celebrated the third goal- I was too busy waving cheerio to the Charlton fans who were now almost running for the exits as the text message I received said "5 quid and you messed it up"! 'Bradders' 86th minute goaland the announcement of 4 minutes of extra time, gave me ever so slight concern but City came through victorious.

The final whistle was met with disbelief at what City had just achievedTiz memorably came down and doffed his cap to us all. Then for me, it went terribly wrong.

I returned to collect my Stanno flag and found that it had been taken. Devastated does not begin to cover how I felt. I made it when he was first diagnosed and swore to take it to every game until he returned. When he died it became part of the Big Bank memorial and I swore to take it to every away game this season in his memory. I was up to game 22 of 29. I had taken from me something that is truly irreplaceable. What should have been a very special day was irreversibly spoilt.

BBC match report –

Three second-half goals gave Exeter a surprise away win, which dropped Charlton out of the play-off places. Liam Sercombe crashed home the opening goal before Gary Doherty's header back to Rob Elliot was intercepted by John O'Flynn, who tapped into an empty net. Exeter went 3-0 up when Elliot brought down O'Flynn in the box and Ryan Harley converted the penalty. Bradley Wright-Phillips reacted well to turn in Doherty's overhead kick as Charlton grabbed a late consolation.

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale told BBC Radio Devon:
"It's been a turbulent few weeks with the disappointment of the three home losses, and then a couple of weeks later we've won two away games. "I don't think we were lucky today, I think we deserved our win. "I'm very proud to be Exeter manager, and I was delighted for the supporters at the end, I really am pleased for them."

Charlton boss Chris Powell told BBC London 94.9:
"If you look at the chances we had, we hit the bar twice and their keeper made a couple of great saves. "There were a couple of miraculous blocks and it's just one of those days where it just doesn't go for you. "We had a packed ground today and it's just a shame we didn't give them all three points."