MAINTAINING their 100% record under the Wembley arch, Charlton Athletic edged past Leyton Orient in the League One play-off final courtesy of a Macaulay Gillesphey free-kick to earn them promotion to the Championship.
Macaulay’s Gillesphey stunning free-kick proved to be the deciding goal in the the League One play-off final, handing the O’s their fourth loss at Wembley in a row.
The Charlton fans were dominating the atmosphere with their 40,000 fans compared to Leyton Orient’s 30,000, but on the pitch, the two sides were much more even in the opening exchanges.
After an extremely cagey 19 minutes as both teams attempted to settle the nerves, it was Leyton Orient who had the first notable effort at goal, but Ollie O’Neill’s shot from just inside the box was blocked excellently by Kayne Ramsay to deny the O’s the opening goal.
However, after 31 minutes, Charlton’s nerves were well and truly settled as they got themselves in front after Macaulay Gillesphey hit a pin-point free-kick into the corner and past Josh Keeley in goal, sending the fans into absolute elation.
Charlton Athletic fans when Macaulay Gillesphey’s freekick hit the net! 😍😍
— Solent Sports News (@SolentSportNews) May 25, 2025
WHAT. A. MOMENT!#CAFC #PlayoffFinal #League1 pic.twitter.com/A62aUKJpnj
Just like in the stands, the Addicks started to take control of proceedings on the pitch, too, with Tyreece Campbell a constant threat down the left-hand side, although Orient hung on well and were still only a goal down with five minutes of the first half to play.
Despite looking comfortable, Charlton showed no signs of doubling their lead but, equally, Orient showed no signs of drawing level, meaning the first-half action fizzled out despite the electric atmosphere.
Campbell was lively again early into the second half for Charlton and won his side a free-kick in a crossing position on the left, but his teammates could not capitalise on his efforts and it was cleared away comfortably.
Jack Currie thought, as many in the stadium also did, that he had levelled the scoring on two separate occasions just before the hour mark, but one deflected just wide of the post and the other narrowly over the bar.
League One’s top scorer Charlie Kelman also nearly got the O’s back level minutes later, but his effort was also deflected, this time hitting the crossbar and denying him of his 24th of the season.
70 minutes in, Orient started to get a foothold in the game and looked the most threatening, but they couldn’t quite get the final ball right despite the defensive frailties Charlton were showing.
With 10 minutes to go, both teams rung the changes, Charlton to hold their lead, and Orient, as expected, to attack it.
The game opened up and it was as end-to-end as football gets, although the referee disappearing down the tunnel, which nobody knows why, killed the flow, although it meant 11 minutes were added on.
Despite all the additional time, Orient could not get past the resolute defence and Charlton’s promotion to the Championship was confirmed.
Charlton Starting XI: Mannion, Ramsay, Gillesphey, Jones, Coventry, Campbell, Docherty (c), Edwards, Gilbert, Godden, Small
Leyton Orient Starting XI: Keeley, Agyei, Brown, Currie, Donley, Beckles (c), O’Neill, Galbraith, Kelman, Clare, Edmondss-Green
Attendance: 76,193
