Sam Sodje kept Charlton in with a chance of automatic promotion as Carlisle slipped to defeat.
The defender met Frazer Richardson's inswinging corner at the back post just before half-time and thundered in a header from three yards out.
Nicky Forster could have doubled the lead but his header from four yards was smothered by goalkeeper Adam Collin.
Carlisle could have lost by more as Jonjo Shelvey shot wide for the visitors from only six yards late on.
Charlton manager Phil Parkinson told BBC London 94.9: "We had chances to kill it off today. We should have really won two or three nil but we didn't take the chances.
"We're in a challenging position but it's tight.
"It's all about holding our nerve. We've got a lot of experience out on the pitch and you could sense that on the pitch today."
Live text and stats
Monday, 5 April 2010
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Charlton
1-0
Carlisle
FT
(HT 1-0)
S Sodje 44
Charlton
25 Randolph
02 Richardson
06 Semedo yellow card
18 S Sodje
35 Dailly
38 Borrowdale
07 Shelvey (Mooney 81)
08 Racon
11 Sam
24 Reid (Bailey 69)
39 Forster (A Sodje 69)
Substitutes
40 Warner,
05 Llera,
16 Wagstaff,
20 Solly,
04 Bailey,
23 Mooney,
33 A Sodje
Carlisle
01 Collin
03 Horwood
19 Aldred
21 Keogh
23 Kane
11 Thirlwell yellow card (Bowman 81)
12 Taiwo
25 Clayton
09 Dobie yellow card
16 Marshall
31 Price (Madine 67)
Substitutes
40 Pidgeley,
02 Raven,
08 Kavanagh,
15 Rothery,
28 Madine,
30 Bowman
Ref: LiningtonAtt: 17,229
CHARLTON
CARLISLE
Possession
Charlton50%
Carlisle50%
Attempts on target
Charlton7
Carlisle1
Attempts off target
Charlton7
Carlisle5
Corners
Charlton8
Carlisle3
Fouls
Charlton8
Carlisle11
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:13 The match has reached full-time.
90:00+1:36 The ball is crossed by Evan Horwood, Ryan Bowman takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
90:00+0:59 David Mooney concedes a free kick for a foul on Evan Horwood. Adam Collin restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:04 The ball is delivered by Tony Kane.
88:49 Effort from the edge of the box by Therry Racon goes wide of the left-hand post.
85:19 Tony Kane has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
Correction - 85:19 Akpo Sodje has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
Correction - 85:03 Akpo Sodje takes a shot. Adam Collin makes a save.
85:03 Tony Kane takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.
83:44 Akpo Sodje takes a shot. Blocked by Tom Aldred.
80:19 Substitution Jonjo Shelvey goes off and David Mooney comes on.
80:19 Substitution Ryan Bowman on for Paul Thirlwell.
79:50 Jonjo Shelvey takes a shot. Tom Aldred gets a block in.
77:05 The assistant referee flags for offside against Frazer Richardson. Free kick taken by Adam Collin.
75:09 The ball is sent over by Frazer Richardson, Shot by Jonjo Shelvey from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.
72:33 Adam Clayton takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Sam Sodje.
70:28 Jonjo Shelvey has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
67:47 Substitution Akpo Sodje comes on in place of Nicky Forster.
67:47 Substitution Kyel Reid leaves the field to be replaced by Nicky Bailey.
67:47 Foul by Adam Clayton on Sam Sodje, free kick awarded. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.
66:31 Substitution Gary Madine replaces Jason Price.
65:34 Jonjo Shelvey produces a cross, Foul by Nicky Forster on Evan Horwood, free kick awarded. Adam Collin takes the direct free kick.
64:06 Adam Clayton is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.
62:45 A cross is delivered by Scott Dobie, Frazer Richardson makes a clearance.
62:07 Inswinging corner taken by Gary Borrowdale, save made by Adam Collin.
62:01 The ball is sent over by Frazer Richardson, clearance made by Tom Aldred.
60:56 Unfair challenge on Kyel Reid by Tom Taiwo results in a free kick. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.
59:48 Shot from just outside the box by Paul Thirlwell goes over the crossbar.
59:36 Scott Dobie delivers the ball, clearance by Christian Dailly.
58:36 Unfair challenge on Ben Marshall by Therry Racon results in a free kick. Tom Taiwo restarts play with the free kick.
57:40 Gary Borrowdale takes a corner.
57:32 Centre by Jonjo Shelvey, clearance made by Richard Keogh.
53:35 Corner taken by Adam Clayton from the right by-line played to the near post, save made by Darren Randolph.
51:36 The ball is delivered by Ben Marshall, Adam Clayton has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
50:39 The referee blows for offside against Ben Marshall. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.
50:21 Paul Thirlwell fouled by Kyel Reid, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jason Price.
49:49 Corner taken by Frazer Richardson from the left by-line, Tom Aldred manages to make a clearance.
49:00 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jason Price on Jose Vitor Semedo. Free kick taken by Darren Randolph.
47:36 Shot by Jonjo Shelvey from outside the box goes high over the target.
47:09 Tony Kane concedes a free kick for a foul on Kyel Reid. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.
46:12 Gary Borrowdale delivers the ball, Richard Keogh makes a clearance.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+3:53 The ref blows to end the first period.
45:00+3:34 Shot by Tony Kane from outside the box goes over the net.
45:00+2:52 Kyel Reid concedes a free kick for a foul on Tony Kane. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Adam Clayton from right wing, blocked by Jose Vitor Semedo.
45:00+2:17 The ball is sent over by Tony Kane, blocked by Gary Borrowdale.
45:00+0:42 Effort from just outside the box by Kyel Reid goes over the bar.
43:10 Assist by Frazer Richardson.
43:10 GOAL - Sam Sodje:Charlton 1 - 0 Carlisle Sam Sodje finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Charlton 1-0 Carlisle.
42:18 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Frazer Richardson from the left by-line,
41:25 Centre by Frazer Richardson, Jose Vitor Semedo takes a shot. Richard Keogh manages to make a clearance.
41:25 Booking Scott Dobie goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
41:14 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jose Vitor Semedo by Scott Dobie.
40:45 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Gary Borrowdale played to the near post, Tony Kane manages to make a clearance.
40:07 Scott Dobie challenges Therry Racon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Frazer Richardson crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Adam Collin.
38:52 The ball is crossed by Tony Kane.
37:57 Booking Paul Thirlwell is given a yellow card.
37:42 Unfair challenge on Jose Vitor Semedo by Paul Thirlwell results in a free kick. Gary Borrowdale takes the free kick.
33:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Scott Dobie by Kyel Reid. Direct free kick taken by Adam Collin.
31:16 Foul by Ben Marshall on Frazer Richardson, free kick awarded. Frazer Richardson takes the direct free kick.
30:11 The ball is sent over by Evan Horwood.
27:33 Adam Clayton takes a corner.
27:25 Ben Marshall produces a cross, blocked by Sam Sodje.
21:46 Shot from just outside the box by Kyel Reid goes over the target.
20:30 Booking Jose Vitor Semedo is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
20:17 Adam Clayton fouled by Jose Vitor Semedo, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Clayton.
16:27 Paul Thirlwell fouled by Kyel Reid, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Collin.
15:56 Corner taken right-footed by Frazer Richardson, clearance by Tom Aldred.
15:13 Corner from the right by-line taken by Gary Borrowdale, Jose Vitor Semedo takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Thirlwell.
Correction - 14:20 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Frazer Richardson from the left by-line, Christian Dailly takes a shot. Jason Price makes a clearance.
14:20 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Frazer Richardson from the left by-line, Christian Dailly takes a shot. Blocked by Jason Price.
13:54 Lloyd Sam crosses the ball.
12:04 Ben Marshall challenges Frazer Richardson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Christian Dailly takes the direct free kick.
9:20 The ball is crossed by Ben Marshall, save by Darren Randolph.
7:58 Frazer Richardson sends in a cross.
6:20 Jose Vitor Semedo fouled by Adam Clayton, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Darren Randolph.
5:10 Jason Price concedes a free kick for a foul on Sam Sodje. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.
4:01 Handball decision goes against Jason Price. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.
2:53 The ball is sent over by Kyel Reid, Richard Keogh manages to make a clearance.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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