CHARLTON’S FA Cup first round goalless draw at Barnet ensured an extra addition to the fixture list in ten days’ time.

The Reds, 43 places above Mark Stimson’s men in the Football League, started off strong as expected following three straight wins in the league.

But the hosts were boosted in the second half by playing down the sloping pitch as well as keeping a clean sheet against League One opposition after such a poor start to the season, and booked a trip to south-east London where both sides will attempt again to make the FA Cup second round.

Addicks manager Phil Parkinson kept faith in the same starting XI that had won the last three straight games in the league, with the likes of Kyel Reid, Jon Fortune and Pawel Abbott again left on the bench.

In addition to being managed by ex-Charlton youth coach Stimson, Barnet featured Academy graduate Grant Basey in their back line following his release from The Valley in the summer.

Charlton’s confidence in the midst of their fine run was on show as early as the opening minute when a fluid movement down the sloping pitch went from Jose Semedo to Johnnie Jackson and finished with a woefully sliced shot wide from Joe Anyinsah.

An error from Simon Francis moments later gave Mark Marshall free reign to bomb down the left flank, but his cross-cum-shot was caught safely by Rob Elliot.

A free-kick from Elliot just shy of the quarter-hour mark was flicked on by Paul Benson to Anyinsah, who put Jackson clean through to slot millimetres wide of the far post leaving Scott Wagstaff furious he didn’t receive the square pass for an easy tap-in.

A handball from Glen Southam 30 yards out gave Jackson another close miss with a dipping free-kick just inches over Jake Cole’s crossbar.

The home side fought their way to more possession as the first half wore on, and with ten minutes remaining before the break another good run from Marshall led to a cross that had to be tipped from danger by Elliot.

The half became more physical as it reached a close, with Simon Francis booked for a late challenge on Marshall, Basey and Anyinsah involved in a heavy collision and top scorer Wagstaff picking up a knock.

The Bees continued to grow into the game following the interval and a fierce 25-yard rocket from Mark Byrne required a good catch from Elliot, while Francis was at full stretch to keep a pair of dangerous deliveries out of the Reds’ danger zone.

Elliot continued to impress with a brave snatch from the head of Steve Kabba before sending the ball out immediately for a Wagstaff break from which Southam was booked for bringing the winger down and Doherty came close with a looping header from the resulting set-piece.

On the hour mark Racon showed great skill bringing down a difficult bounce and taking the ball all the way to Barnet’s penalty area where his low effort was parried by Cole, who also superbly blocked Benson’s attempt on the rebound.

Abbott, on at the break for Anyinsah, back-headered onto the crossbar from Francis’ superb cross with Jackson unable to turn the rebound in, sending it wide of the right-hand post.

With Reid replacing Jackson halfway through the second period, Racon played a good one-two layoff with Benson to force another good save from Cole with a strong skimming shot before Benson himself fired wide after an extraordinary 30-yard run following a clever flick through from Abbott.

With time running out to prevent a schedule-cluttering replay in SE7, both sides upped their urgency and George Francomb’s in-swinging cross met the head of sub Mauro Vilhete and forced a dramatic parry from Elliot.

Benson and Reid combined to skip several high-pressure challenges and it was Benson who Reid picked out with his eventual cross, only for his effort and Abbott’s follow-up to both be closed down well by the Bees.

A pair of defensive errors from Doherty and Christian Dailly allowed Vilhete to speed in on the break and shoot for the roof of the net in an effort which was tipped over the bar by Elliot, with Marshall’s resulting corner cleared off the line by Francis.

And as the game drew to a conclusion, it was the League Two side who were in the ascendency with another sub in Ricky Holmes coming close on two occasions to finding a late winner.

The stalemate means Charlton will entertain the Bees at The Valley on Tuesday, November 16th (kick-off 19:45).

Charlton: Elliot, Francis, Doherty, Dailly, Fry, Wagstaff, Semedo, Racon, Jackson (Reid 67), Anyinsah (Abbott 46), Benson. Subs not used: Worner, Llera, Fortune, McCormack, Sodje. Att: 2,684