Today's game marked the 25th anniversary of the last match at the Valley in 1985. It was poignant for many reasons. The souvenir programme I bought at 11am sported a cover of a dozen or so Charlton fans laying a wreath on the centre circle at the last game against Stoke City. There was Steve Martin, Kevin Hopkins, Ted Land, Graham Sharkey, Matt Finnegan, Someone Whose name I should know, Tony Hopkins, Clive Scales, Duncan Frame and Mark Aaaargggh. I was twenty yards behind - story of my life.
It set me up for a big day. A Charlton win against a side who didn't exist 25 years ago was surely inevitable. If I looked ahead, then Tuesday's home match is also against a side who also didn't exist 25 years ago. Who could possibly have guessed that in 1985? If we had known that then, we would have assumed the worst, that we had dropped out of the football league.
As it was, we came out of the traps like the club we are and pressurised D & R from the off. Four decent scoring chances returned only one goal but we were coasting and it was only a matter of time.
A matter of time, of course, before fate intervened and Dagenham & Co were level. Referee Moss somehow saw fit to award them a penalty on the stroke of half-time, I think because Racon jumped for a ball with one of theirs. Ross Worner did his best but you can't expect to save penalties. One-one at half-time then, but D & R were poor and I was very confident we would sort it out second-half.
Unfortunately, Dagenham came out the more fired-up and they took the game to us. Akpo Sodje had been brought on for the, presumably, injured Joe Anyinsah who had enjoyed a lively first forty-five. However, it was the Daggers who pressed first and it took a fine save from Worner to keep us level. We huffed and puffed second-half but there was a desperation about us and Martin began to tire which didn't help. The visitors got a guilt-edged chance for a second but Worner again denied them.
With all eyes on the clock, we finally scored a second after Johnnie Jackson latched on to a left wing cross and headed powerfully home past 41-year old Tony Roberts. At last all was well with the world and we had the familiar feeling of robbery at the Valley. This time, however, it wasn't to last and the Daggers earned a valuable point with a last gasp equaliser from a far post header. It was no less than they deserved.
If, like me, you saw this and Tuesday's games as indicators of our end-of-season chances, then you can't help but feel disappointed this evening. It's going to be a slog and we need to lower our sights.
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