Charlton 2 Exeter City 1

Charlton should have been more than 1-0 up at half-time after controlling the play, most notably in a dominant opening 20 minutes.

That period saw Lloyd Sam and Kelly Youga cause problems down each flank for Exeter, with the closest the Addicks coming to scoring was when Deon Burton deflected over a bullet header from his teammate Bailey.

At the other end captain Bailey saved Charlton, clearing a Matt Taylor header off the goalline.

The Addicks should have then got a penalty when Lloyd Sam fell under Danny Seabourne's challenge but the appeals were waved away - a decision which Exeter boss Paul Tisdale admitted afterwards was fortunate for his side.

It was not until the closing periods of the half that Charlton did take the lead. A short corner from Jonjo Shelvey played in Sam whose low near post cross was expertly flicked home by Bailey.

The second period saw Exeter play with much more confidence.

Midway through the half the visitors thought they had levelled the scores when the impressive winger Craig Noone finished off a near 20-man passing move.

However, the linesman's flag intervened to give the Addicks a reprieve.

Needing another goal for breathing space, it was the substitute McLeod who duly obliged with three minutes remaining, firing in to the empty net after a dropped catch by Oscar Jansson.

McLeod was booked for taking off his shirt in the celebration, but it could not dampen his mood after scoring his first goal for Charlton since 2007.

Exeter's Bertie Cozic bundled in a consolation for Charlton, but it was too little too late to prevent Charlton's seventh win of the season.

Charlton: Elliot; Richardson, Youga, Dailly, Llera; Sam, Spring, Racon (Wagstaff 83), Shelvey (Sodje 90), Bailey; Burton (McLeod 70).

Subs (not used): Randolph, Solly, Basey, Tuna.

Exeter: Jansson; Duffy, Seabourne, Archibald-Henville, Taylor; Stewart (Cozic 83), Harley, Edwards, Russell, Noone (Logan 67); Stansfield (Corr 61).

Subs (not used): Marriott, Tully, Watson, Dunne.

Att: 16,867