Wycombe Wanderers 1 v Charlton Athletic 2

Charlton Athletic finally got down to business in 2010 and won their first ever competitive fixture at Adams Park. With Leeds United losing at Exeter and Norwich crushing Colchester, it was a vital three points that keep Charlton firmly in contention for automatic promotion.

It was a frustrating day for me as we were edging our way through Earls Court as the game kicked off and we didn't arrive until half-time. South-east London traffic was to blame as it took us over an hour to get through New Cross. Twitter updates confirmed the side I expected to see (Elliot, Basey, Dailly, Llera, Omozusi, Shelvey, Bailey, Semedo, Sam, Burton and Mooney) and the opening goal from Jonjo after Beavon had missed a sitter for the home side. We drove right up to the ground and were directed to park directly outside the away end by a couple of stewards who could see the desperation on our faces.

It was my first visit to Adams Park and I thought it was decent enough for a small ground. The main Adams Stand (I am so pleased it wasn't the Adams Family Stand) looked like it had been cloned from Millwall and the away end, appropriately named the Dreams Stand (after the bed sponsor), was good enough for the 1600 travelling Addicks who filled it.

By all accounts, we were a tad fortunate to be one-up at the break but a couple of chances apart, Wycombe hadn't looked like causing as any major trouble. The second -half started well enough and within minutes we created the chance that should have put us two-up. A quick break saw Lloyd Sam skate through a high off-side line and lay a ball on for the over-lapping Mooney who got clear on goal but shot slightly early. He didn't catch the bouncing ball well enough or get enough angle to beat Shearer in front of the expectant Addicks but his shot squirmed through Shearer's hands and rolled agonisingly wide of the post. We continued to press and with space on the left and right, created a succession of crosses which flashed across the Wycombe box. It was from one of these where a Basey cross evaded all the sliding red shirts, that Wycombe broke quickly down their right flank. The ball was knocked across the box and through Semedo's legs to Jon-Paul Pitman who took a touch as he swivelled around to crack a shot beyond a helpless Rob Elliot.

We didn't panic but continued to press when we had the ball and with substitutions arriving for both sides, Chris Dickson and Leon McKenzie became the spearhead for Burton and Mooney. Dickson looked particularly sharp. He got up well at the back post to knock a ball down and forced a couple of corners by running at defenders as Wycombe began to rock. McKenzie too was busy and turned two defenders inside out in a twisting run into the box that very nearly saw him create a shooting opportunity from close range. The winner, when it came, was from one of these attacks when we committed men forward; Jonjo Shelvey saw a header from four yards brilliantly palmed out by Shearer but the ball was kept in and played across the box for a Bailey shot which was blocked. The deflection fell kindly for the ginger maestro who strode onto the loose ball and buried it from ten yards.

Fraser Richardson made his awaited return to the fray before the end and Elliot Omozusi deserves a mention for the good grace with which he left the field. Richardson settled quickly into the game and made a couple of trademark runs down the wing to deliver penetrating crosses.

Wycombe missed the chance of an equaliser from a corner after a free header was glanced wide but looked beaten and the Reds played the remainder of the game out. Wycombe looked a poor side to me and it's no surprise they are facing a relegation battle (Jon-Paul Pitman looks like he has something about him in front of goal and reminds me of Ebanks-Blake).

It was our first double of the season and on Tuesday we get the chance of our second against Hartlepool who were humiliated 5-0 at home today by MK Dons. If we can beat Hartlepool on Tuesday, we will draw level on points with Norwich City and move within three points of leaders Leeds United. With two further home games to come against relegation candidates Leyton Orient and Tranmere Rovers, it really is very much within our own hands to press home our challenge. Having beaten all three away already, we could complete four doubles before the end of January.