Fantastic, Brilliant, Unbelievable- over the top no way Charlton 4 Reading 2

Having just got back from my annual holidays visiting relatives in North Yorkshire, I felt a certain trepidation as I walked/ran through Charlton Park on my own. These blasted 12.45pm kick-offs really push me and my tennis into an early morning start, a quick shower and a couple of pints of Whitstable ale in the clubhouse, then a mad dash to the Valley which meant I still missed 10 minutes of the first half. Well folks, it was all worth while as this early afternoon I witnessed one of the best games I have seen at the Valley for at least 5 years. Where as we slaughtered West Ham 4-0, in this game, with the help of one of the most controversial and inept Referees I have ever seen at the Valley, kept an average Reading side in the game with some very bizarre penalty decisions. It made the game very exciting and Sky must surely be very happy indeed, but if we had not won this game it would be one of the biggest travesties witnessed at the Valley. We looked well balanced from the start and Nicky Bailey looked as though he has been playing for Charlton for many years -His home debut was actually better than Hudson's and that does take some beating. He controlled the midfield, looked strong, a great passer of the ball and looked like the player we have been missing since Kinsella and Parker left us. This was a great team performance with all the players fighting for each other, which I did not always witness last season. Pardew seems to prepare his teams very well for the big matches, but we seem to fail against so called lesser teams, this needs to be addressed. After dominating the first 25 minutes we finally broke through the Reading defense after a great move and a Varney shot which was parried by Hahnemann into the path of the ever youthful Holland, who could not miss from 3 yards. With Charlton still dominating, a rare Reading attack led to an innocuous challenge by Moutaoukil on Doyle and the Referee giving a very dubious penalty. Fortunately and deservedly so Doyle missed the penalty by hitting the bar . Great cheers around the ground as Charlton were later awarded a penalty when Varney was pushed in the box, this led to great protest from the Reading players and management but this did not hamper Gray, who tucked away a well taken penalty. Of course, as it always seems to happen, Charlton could not hold out until half-time and a comedy of errors led to Reading undeservedly so, snatch one back just before half-time. As I hadn't had time to eat, I was so hungry I reluctantly bought a Hot-Dog, which actually wasn't that bad. The crowd were in high spirits and the game must have been a Sky reporters dream as the first half was so pulsating. The second half started as the the first half left off and actually became more end to end. A deep cross led to Weaver punching the ball away, but bizarrely the Referee pointed to the spot . The crowd went crazy, the players went crazy, the manager went crazy and I just held my head in my hands as I couldn't believe the decision, but even worse was to follow as Weaver made a great save from Hunts penalty and the ground erupted in jubilation, which soon turned to despair as the referee pointed to the spot for the penalty to be retaken, Weaver was adjudged to have moved before the kick was taken. (99% of keepers move before the ball is kicked )The crowd could not believe it as Hunt neatly tucked away the retaken penalty. Injustice was all I could feel. Thankfully with Bailey running the Midfield along with Holland our heads did not drop and Varney with a great header deservedly put Charlton in front. even better was to follow when the ever improving Bouazza scored a magnificent fourth with the sort of volley which will have already won him goal of the season.
Great game and if we can continue to play like this at home and improve away, we must surely be one of the favorites to go up.

Weaver 9 Looking slimmer and sharper than I have ever seen him
Moots 8 Great faultless display
Basey 8 looked very comfortable and strong
Fortune 9 Best game for ages and even passed liked David Beckham twice
Hudson 8 Very solid
Sam 7 Played well but can give so much more.
Holland 9 Ran himself into the ground great display
Bailey 10 10 says it all player of the match
Varney 8 Ran and Ran and so deserved his goal
Gray 9 Held the ball up well and his best game so far in a Charlton shirt
Bouazza 9 Played better as the game went on fantastic goal

Referee 0.5 What a wally
Pardew 9 Got it just right

Crowd 9 Really got behind the team especially after the dodgy penalty decisions