Wrexham kept pace with their rivals for the Championship play-offs as Ollie Rathbone's fine first-half strike earned them victory over Charlton Athletic at the Valley.

The superb 30th-minute effort – Rathbone's sixth in the Championship since returning from injury in December – ensured Phil Parkinson's side retained a four-point cushion over the sides chasing a top-six spot.

But the hosts could have every right to feel hard done by after carving out the game's best chances, only to fail to find the net and make it four games without a win.

Wrexham needed a brilliant 90th-minute save from goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to deny Sonny Carey as their unbeaten away run extended to a sixth game.

It only added to Charlton's frustration. They remained seven points clear of the relegation places after a defeat where manager Nathan Jones will rue his side's wastefulness.

Even before Rathbone's opener - a superb flick and skidding volley - three times Charlton had found themselves in space inside the Wrexham box, and three times they returned without joy.

Luke Berry had taken a second too long to pull the trigger to allow Issa Kabore to block superbly. Then former Addick George Dobson threw himself at the ball to stop Carey.

There was no visiting player for Harry Clarke to blame when he got his angles wrong and skewed wide when he really should have scored as Charlton's counter continued to cause problems.

But an encouraged Valley was collectively shaking its head just moments later as Rathbone did with half a chance what the hosts had failed to do with far better opportunities.

It came as Callum Doyle's cross was headed away to the edge of the area where Rathbone proceeded to flick the ball away from the defender and on to his left foot before his volley skimmed into the far corner.

Lewis O'Brien should have doubled Wrexham's lead four minutes after the restart when he met Kieffer Moore's cross, but Kayne Ramsay did well to thwart the danger.

Yet while Wrexham had improved after the break, Charlton again could blame a lack of clinical edge as a string of openings were not finished off, a wayward header from Tyreece Campbell the most glaring.

And when Carey did hit one on target, they found Okonkwo at full stretch and at his best to protect Wrexham's result.

Naturally, Wrexham fans enjoyed the victory.

Indeed, they've become used to celebrating on the road given Wrexham haven't lost on their travels since a late defeat at Swansea City before Christmas. From the last 18 points on offer on the road, Wrexham have collected 16 of them.

More than that, those flying the Welsh flags in the away end on St David's Day weekend will have also enjoyed the win coming at the expense of compatriot Jones.

There remains an edge to this fixture from the pair's promotion battle in League One last season. Jones' comment of the north Wales club being something of a circus at the end of that campaign was again sung back at him as Okonkwo's save made certain of the win.

But there was another call back to Wrexham's recent promotions in the way that Parkinson's men found a way to grab the points despite not being at their best.

The Dragons are still trying to get a balance back to their midfield after injuries to Ben Sheaf and Matty James and didn't quite control things as they would like here.

But - as they did last term - they showed they can dig in when they need to, the game getting niggly at times.

And they also had the quality when it mattered, be it from Okonkwo with that vital save, or the piece of impish, instinctive skill from Rathbone that proved the difference.

Sides often wilt when the pressure comes on, and with sides immediately below and above Wrexham in the table delivering wins this weekend it could have easily asked questions of whether they can match rivals blow for blow.

That they didn't falter bodes well for a key period coming up that includes next weekend's FA Cup fifth-round visit of Chelsea before welcoming fifth-placed Hull City and the derby rematch with Swansea.

As for Charlton, Jones will try and take comfort that his side deserved more, but - given how much he'll be kicking himself at missed chances and a missed opportunity - it won't stop it hurting.