Oldham 0-2 Charlton

Goals early in each half from skipper Nicky Bailey and Miguel Llera, drafted into the side after an injury sustained by Sam Sodje in the warm-up, gave the Addicks a comfortable final league win of the campaign.

However, the story was in the table throughout the course of 90 nervous minutes as Phil Parkinson’s men found themselves in every position from second and automatic promotion to sixth before eventually settling in fourth.

While the Addicks and their hosts were still testing each other out in the early exchanges, news came through that both Swindon and Huddersfield had taken the lead in their respective games, placing Charlton in sixth for the time being and facing a play-off tie against Leeds.

And Oldham seemed determined to keep their opponents there with a bright start in their final home bow of the campaign, with Danny Whitaker’s blocked shot the standout of their early efforts.

Millwall equalised at The Den moments before Bailey came close to making two out of three results lean the way of the Reds with a dangerous dipping effort from 30 yards.

The Addicks continued to grow into the game and a long spell of good possession play was rewarded on 23 minutes when Lloyd Sam’s low cross was toe poked towards goal by David Mooney and pushed over the line by Bailey for his first goal in three months.

With 10 minutes remaining in the half, after Leeds’ quest to earn the three points required to seal second for themselves were hindered by Max Gradel’s sending off, the Addicks came close to doubling their lead as a long free-kick into the Oldham box dropped just inches ahead of an advanced Llera.

And as the whistle went for the interval, a glance at the League One table as it stood had Charlton sitting in third with Huddersfield their potential play-off opponents.

The second half was but a few minutes old when the away side were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out.

Llera took quite tamely with his left foot, only for Latics keeper Daryll Flahavan to allow the effort to slip between his legs and in for the second.

If Charlton doubling their lead wasn’t enough reason for the travelling support to celebrate, they soon got word Darryl Duffy had put Bristol Rovers ahead at Leeds, placing Charlton into the all-elusive second spot for the time being.

Bailey had a golden opportunity for his second and Charlton’s third shortly before the hour courtesy of another Oldham defensive howler.

But instead of squaring from an acute angle for Mooney to tap into an open goal, the now joint-top Charlton scorer drove wide of the far post.

The feeling of euphoria among the Addicks fans was short-lived as they learned of both Leeds and Millwall turning their defecits around into 2-1 victories, putting Charlton back down into fourth and facing the possibility of a semi-final showdown with Swindon.

The Charlton players marched on regardless with their solid and professional performance, although news of a third Millwall goal was pretty much the final nail in their chances of going straight up on the day.

Meanwhile, on the pitch the hosts began to press for a consolation with the minutes ticking but aside from a fierce drive from Dale Stephens, they struggled to test Darren Randolph in goal.

Mooney flew clear of the home back four shortly after and looked good money to make it three, but was brushed off the ball just as he made it into the area by right-back Jim Goodwin.

And as the referee blew up for full-time, a strong finish to the regular league campaign was rendered bittersweet by those mere minutes spent in second and wondering what if?

The Addicks now go on to the County Ground for their first leg with Swindon on Friday evening, with the return fixture at The Valley on May 17.

Charlton: Randolph, Richardson, Llera, Dailly, Borrowdale, Sam (Wagstaff 74), Semedo (Spring 82), Racon, Bailey, Burton, Mooney (A.Sodje 85). Subs not used: Elliot, Solly, Reid, Forster. Att: 5,686