Charlton Athletic 3 Exeter City 1.

Saturday 4 January 2003

FA Cup third round.

Referee: Phil Dowd

Att: 18107

BBC match report – 

Jonatan Johansson's two spectacular goals and a Jason Euell penalty saw Charlton Athletic battle past brave Exeter City at The Valley.

The Grecians fought back from a goal down to equalise shortly after the interval through Brazilian defender Santos Gaia's bullet header.

But the Addicks refused to panic and their class eventually told as they secured a place in the FA Cup fourth round.

Charlton dominated the early staged and went ahead in the 25th minute when Chris Bart-Williams swung in a free-kick from the left.

Shaun Bartlett headed the ball into the path of Johansson, who executed a perfect overhead kick into the bottom corner of the net from eight yards out.

But the Grecians almost equalised a minute later when Martin Thomas was unlucky to hit the post with another acrobatic effort from the edge of the penalty area.

City did equalise four minutes after the restart when Gaia sent a powerful, bullet header into the top right corner of the net, sending around 3,000 travelling fans into ecstatic celebrations.

This only served to act as a wake-up call to the home side who came through an uncomfortable 10-minute spell to retake the lead on the hour with another acrobatic Johansson effort.

Bartlett was again the provider when he headed a long ball into Johansson's path and the Finn performed another overhead kick on the penalty spot, giving Miller no chance.

Five minutes later, the inspirational Euell confirmed the Addicks' place in round four.

He broke free through the middle and found Johansson, who went down after a tangle with George Pilkington just inside the penalty area.

And Euell, who moments earlier had struck the outside of the post with a fierce 20-yard drive, was on hand to stroke the spot-kick into the bottom corner.

The home side will be relieved to reach round four after slipping up against Walsall last season, but Exeter can take heart from their performance.

They fully deserved the standing ovation they received from the home crowd at The Valley as they left the pitch.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Fortune, Rufus, Konchesky, Kishishev, Euell, Bart-Williams, Blomqvist (Lisbie 76), Johansson (Svensson 77), Bartlett.

Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Fish, Jensen.

Booked: Bartlett.

Exeter: Miller, Hiley, Pilkington, Gaia, Pettefer, Coppinger, Thomas, Cronin, Walker (Moor 77), Flack, Sheldon (McConnell 84).
Subs Not Used: Fraser, Power, Ampadu.

Booked: Walker.

Att: 18,107