Charlton Athletic 6 (six) v Shrewsbury Town 0

Charlton completed the double over the Shrews today with an all-guns blazing performance that blew the opposition away. Pity there was such a paltry crowd to witness it but that's what we have deserved given the indifference of our showings this season. Now though is a time to celebrate and it was great to see the players reactions as they were lead around the pitch at the end by Dean Holden as they applauded those who made the effort to be there.

Shrewsbury didn't play badly at all today. They matched us in the opening 45 minutes in terms of possession and football but they were unable to force any chances on goal. Meanwhile, Scott Fraser opened the scoring after 27 minutes with a beautifully flighted free-kick that beat the wall and a flying Marosi. Ten minutes later and a swift counter-attack saw three red shirts steaming forward as Rak-Sakyi brought the ball down the right wing. He picked out the over-lapping Albie Morgan who took a bold touch before latching on to the ball and driving it past Marosi. Two-nil was tough on Shrewsbury but before the break the game was killed off. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi turned them left and right before cutting a low shot across the advancing keep and inside the far post.

At half-time I was reflecting that Miles Leaburn must have sensed there was a goal in this game for him and on the hour he got his chance. A ball through to him alone up top with two covering defenders saw him advance and turn this way and that. The defenders had to turn to avoid him breaking out but he advanced further and and saw a big gap to the keepers left which he hit from 20 yards out. It was a fine goal that put him on 11 for the season, just five short of Dad Carl whose best effort season tally was 16. But Miles wasn't done. A harsh looking penalty (a handball as Flanagan turned to block a shot) looked like Albie Morgan was going to take it but Miles stepped and scored with ease. 

Could it get any better? A rash of substitutions looked like they might slow the game but we kept up the tempo as Jack Payne sought to get himself on the scoresheet. In the end it was left to fellow substitute Macauley Bonne to finally end his goal drought. An Aaron henry shot hit him eight yards out in the centre of goal and he turned before sweeping the ball beyond Marosi who must hate playing at the Valley. He was in goal for Doncaster in that ill-fated play-off game.

It's such a shame that we have waited so long for another performance like this but we have done it and it offers some much-needed promise for next season. It was the sort of game that would have been perfect for prospective new owners to have been at.