Charlton and Doncaster go the distance

WITH SO much at stake this was never going to be stress free night for managers Lee Bowyer or Grant McCann. And so it proved as Doncaster fought back to keep hopes of a Championship return alive. Even when Krystian Bielik extended Charlton’s aggregate lead to 3-1 less than two minutes in Bowyer would have known that, literally, there was a long way to go before the Addicks could look forward to a repeat of one of the greatest play-off finals, in 1998 against Sunderland. And Doncaster made the most of the remaining 88 minutes to claw their way back to take the tie to extratime after captain Tommy Rowe’s equaliser and then centre back Andrew Butler’s 88th-minute header. Charlton hadn’t lost at home since October and their supporters, who have suffered so much during the club’s demise under Roland Duchatelet, had not had a night like this to look forward to for some time. The Valley was rocking and sold out for the first time since 2012, with 25,428 in attendance. The home support lifted the roof off after a minute and 48 seconds when Bielik head in Josh Cullen’s free-kick. Things might have quickly got even better as Albie Morgan and Anfernee Dijksteel gave Doncaster further scares. Doncaster, to their credit, stayed calm. And Rowe burst into space and smashed in a stunning strike from 25 yards. Charlton needed Dillon Phillips’ sharp save to deny John Marquis a second for the visitors soon after their 11th minute equaliser. After the break, Charlton struggled to rediscover their intensity and effectiveness. Talismanic striker Lyle Taylor created a rare clear chance for either side but Josh Parker couldn’t quite direct his cross on goal. That proved costly when Butler struck at the death to force extra-time.