Latics finished a disappointing season with a ninth home league defeat against Charlton which mirrored their campaign.

There was plenty of honest endeavour but Latics lacked quality at either end of the field.

Caretaker manager Martin Gray saw his side concede two poor goals while at the opposite end of the field there was a lack of a cutting edge.

Remarkably this was the 24th time in 49 competitive matches that Latics found the net, and it is the chronic lack of firewpower which urgently needs addressing.

Gray described Latics' performance as "reasonably good" against the play-off bound Addicks.

He said: "Their goals came from two mistakes and that sums up the season overall.

"We have played some good, attractive football, but when we have been beaten it has been through our own mistakes."

Gray, who says Latics lacked luck in terms of losing key players with long-term injuries, finished the game with five players under the age of 22 on the pitch and he sees that as the way forward for clubs like Latics who don't have the financial clout of the likes of Charlton, Leeds and Huddersfield.

"Youth is the way forward and the policy Tony Philliskirk and Mick Priest have set up is fantastic, and long may it continue," he explained.

While Latics had secured their League One status a fortnight earlier, Charlton had plenty riding on their visit to Boundary Park.

They still had an outside chance of claiming the second automatic promotion place and during a remarkable afternoon of fluctuating fortunes they were at one stage in second spot only for Leeds and Millwall to eventually claim victories which relegated the Addicks to fourth place.

Latics had Chris Taylor, Deane Smalley and Reuben Hazell back in their starting line up as they replaced the released Hasney Aljofree, injured Kieran Lee and Alex Marrow who failed to make the matchday squad of 18.

Charlton took the lead midway through the opening half when Lloyd Sam fired a low cross from the right across the face of goal for Nicky Bailey to tap in at the far post from a couple of yards for the midfield man's 13th goal of the season.

That was the only significant piece of action in an opening period of few chances as Latics comfortably held the high-flying visitors.

Teenage striker Tom Eaves, who had two days earlier signed a new five-year contract, replaced Pawel Abbott at thew break.

Charlton sealed victory within three minutes of the restart when a weakly-hit free kick by Miguel Llera ought to have easily been saved by Darryl Flahavan only for the ball to squirm through his grasp and trickle over the line. It is the sort of horror moment every keeper dreads and it was tough on Flahavan who has impressed during his two loan spells this season.

Bailey ought to have added a third goal when he latched on to a terrible back pass from Hazell, rounded Flahavan but shot wide from a tight angle when he looked certain to score.

Kirk Millar and Ryan Brooke were thrown on for the last quarter of the game for Lewis Guy and Smalley.

Latics only forced visiting keeper Darren Randolph into one save and that came with six minutes left when he did well to turn away a goal-bound drive from Dale Stephens.

Latics (4-4-2): Flahavan; Goodwin, Hazell, Gregan, Black; Smalley (Millar 66), Stephens, Whitaker, Taylor; Guy (Brooke 66), Abbott (Eaves 46). Subs (not used): Worthington, Brill, Bembo-Leta, Lomax.

Charlton (4-4-2): Randolph; Richardson, Llera, Dailly, Borrowdale; Sam (Wagstaffe 75), Semedo (Spring 82), Racon, Bailey; Burton, Mooney (A Sodje 86). Subs (not used): Elliott, Forster, Reid, Solly.

Referee: Mr C H Webster.

Attendance: 5,686.