Wycombe Wanderers, a professional football team for just thirteen years to date have yet again reached the semi final of one of the country's major cup competitions.

In 2001 it was the FA Cup. This season it's the Carling Cup. Both occasions have seen the Blues conquer over Premiership opposition at the Quarter Final stage.

Charlton Athletic were on the receiving end this time around but it wasn't as if it was a smash and grab raid from the Blues. They fully deserved it and Easter's goal came after a first half performance that they dictated.

And what a first half it was. After getting over the excitement of playing on such a big stage in the opening five minutes Wanderers took the game to their Premiership counterparts in menacing fashion. The only disappointing factor was that they only scored once and there was only one man Charlton had to thank for that - Scott Carson.

The on loan Liverpool 'keeper, whose recall to the side was one of seven changes made by Les Reed from the weekend defeat to the Merseysiders, has been one of the few shining lights in the Addicks' miserable season so far and he was in inspired form to keep the Blues at bay for the first 35 minutes.

Stefan Oakes had a blistering free kick punched away, Anthony Grant saw his skidding shot palmed out, Tommy Mooney had a goalbound volley saved and Easter was denied from long range after being slipped through by Matt Bloomfield.

Wanderers' leading marksman was also unlucky from close range, stabbing wide after Carson had for once spilled an Oakes corner, and then seeing Jonathan Fortune head his effort to safety following neat work from Kevin Betsy to feed him through.

Then came the moment Wycombe and the travelling 4,500 army had been waiting for. In classic route one fashion, the Blues made it look easy. A searching Jamie Young punt was headed on by Mooney and Easter, under the challenge of Souleymane Diawara, finished superbly from outside the area.

The goal continued his record of scoring in every round of the competition and sent Wycombe fans, Paul Lambert and the onlooking Danny Senda into raptures.

"It's the most important goal of my career so far," Easter said.

"As the game wore on I didn't think we'd lose, especially when we got in front. It's massive to be in the semi final of the competition."

It did prompt a response from the home side but Russell Martin was alert to head Dennis Rommedahl's hopeful effort to safety whereas Marcus Bent dragged his shot wide from the resultant corner.

And so into the second half the gallant troops went. Not as cut and thrust by any stretch of the imagination as Wanderers instead fought out a tense 45 minutes in which they desperately wanted to hold onto their lead.

Charlton did have more possession but despite the threat they posed as a Premiership side before even entering the field, they only had a weak Amady Faye shot to show for their efforts.

The home weren't impressed and it wasn't surprising to hear the chants of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' at various intervals throughout the game.

On came Matt Holland, on came Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink. Both established top flight players who have graced the biggest stage with the Republic of Ireland and Holland respectively.

But even they couldn't make the breakthrough, neither could Darren Bent who wasn't a shadow of the player who scored 22 times last season, as the stern resiliance instilled by Lambert and his backroom staff this season held out against higher league opposition yet again.

Young, Martin, O'Halloran, Antwi, Williamson, Bloomfield, Grant, Oakes, Betsy, Mooney, Easter, Palmer and Stonebridge - every single one of them gave 100 per cent during their part in the contest.

And the Wanderers faithful did not stop from start to finish either.

It was a remarkable night and another golden moment to remember, one you wouldn't have expected when Swansea City were drawn in the First Round of the competition back in August.

"Nobody thought we'd get by Swansea let alone Fulham, Doncaster Rovers, Notts County and Charlton," Lambert buzzed.

"It was an extraordinary effort from us tonight. Charlton are a top class Premiership side yet we came here and gave a good account of ourselves.

"We punched above our weight, there's no doubt about it. But we were excellent and the lads are the one's who deserve the credit. All you want is maximum effort and they have given me that in every game they've played under me."

Wanderers now await their opponents in the two legged semi final which will take place on the 9th/10th January and 16th/17th January.

Wanderers: Young, Martin, O'Halloran, Antwi, Williamson, Bloomfield, Grant (Palmer,62), Oakes, Betsy, Mooney (Stonebridge,87), Easter.
Subs: Christon, Dixon, Anya.
Booked: Grant (foul), Easter (ungentlemanly conduct).

Charlton: Carson, Fortune, Sankofa (Hasselbaink,75), Traore, Diawara, Faye (Holland,70), Hughes, Thomas (Sam,70), Rommedahl, Bent. D, Bent. M.
Subs: Myhre, Holland El Karkouri, Hasselbaink, Sam.
Booked: Hughes (foul).

Attendance: 18,940 (4,517 - Wycombe).