Charlton Athletic vs Gillingham. Sky Bet League One.
The ValleyAttendance12,836.
Saturday 22 December 2018 18:52, UK
Ben Reeves and Tariqe Fosu struck first-half goals as Sky Bet League One promotion hopefuls Charlton brushed aside Gillingham 2-0 at The Valley.
Addicks goalkeeper Jed Steer survived an early scare after dropping Darren Oldaker's free-kick and spilling the ball to Connor Ogilvie, whose effort hit the outside of a post.
But the home fans' nerves were settled in the sixth minute when Fosu's clever low pass picked out an unmarked Reeves in the box and he coolly slotted home.
The advantage was almost doubled on the quarter hour as Fosu hit the woodwork before Ogilvie hacked clear.
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Brandon Hanlan was perhaps unfortunate to glance a header off target from Ogilvie's delivery but the Gills had goalkeeper Tomas Holy to thank for using his leg to deny Reeves a second.
However, there was nothing he could do to prevent Fosu's stunning strike from outside the box flying into the top corner six minutes before the break.
Hanlan almost had Gillingham right back in contention within a minute of the restart, placing a header agonisingly wide from a corner.
Holy was a relieved man after Reeves' 69th-minute cross cannoned back off the woodwork.
Reeves was not too far away with a more conventional attempt on goal which flew over and once more with a free-kick that also went just off target.
Elliott List headed wide from close range five minutes from time in a rare Gillingham attack.
But Charlton never looked seriously troubled as they maintained their promotion push in what ultimately was a straightforward home success.
