The saying goes that there is a fine line between success and failure. Never was that more apparent than at St James' Park on Saturday, when Exeter City went down to a 1-0 defeat to npower League One leaders Charlton Athletic.

The Grecians matched the high-flying Addicks, who went nine points clear at the summit, throughout the 90 minutes.

The only difference was the fortuitous nature of Charlton's winner, a mis-hit cross by Danny Green which Exeter goalkeeper Artur Krysiak fumbled into his own goal ten minutes into the second half.

The match itself was often scrappy, with few clear-cut chances. The effort City put in was admirable and you had to feel for their battle-weary players come full-time. They had put a right old shift in, but came away with nothing due to a calamitous error by their regular number one.

Last week at Oldham, Krysiak was outstanding and earned Exeter a point with a couple of breathtaking saves. He has that in his locker. But, all too often, his errors have cost Exeter, such as the one on Saturday.

There was no danger when Green crossed from the right, but the big Pole completely misjudged the flight of the ball. Somehow, after Krysiak had tried to punch clear, the ball ended up in the net via the inside of his near post. It seemed a routine catch, but ultimately, it cost the Grecians any chance of victory.

There was still plenty of time left for Exeter to get something from the game, and they had their chances.

Guillem Bauza was introduced immediately after the goal and he came close on two occasions. Firstly, his header was saved well by former Exeter loanee Ben Hamer, who then saved smartly from Bauza's close-range effort after fellow substitute Richard Logan had done well to nod the ball into his path.

Logan's awful miss on the rebound was spared by the linesman flagging for offside, but it summed up the Grecians in front of goal this season. The chances are coming, but they lack the composure to turn chances into goals.

The first half was much the same. Again, chances were few and far between. Former Exeter captain Matt Taylor saw a hooked volley hacked off the line by Richard Duffy early in the game, but that was as good as it got for the visitors.

John O'Flynn saw a header easily held by Hamer, Jake Taylor was off target with one, and David Noble was too high with a free-kick.

O'Flynn and James Dunne should also have done better when they found themselves running through on the Charlton goal, but, on both occasions, tackles were made as they failed to get a shot away.

Taylor also went close when he robbed Michael Morrison of the ball, but placed his shot narrowly over the crossbar.

It is three games without a goal for Exeter now – they have failed to score in six of their last nine matches and their 24 League goals is the lowest number scored by a team in League One. Paul Tisdale insists he is not worried and that the goals will come, but the statistics, along with Exeter's perilous position just above the drop zone, make for worrying reading, at least.

Exeter City (3-5-2): Krysiak; Duffy (Bauza 57), Archibald-Henville, Coles; Tully, Bennett, Noble, Dunne, Golbourne; Taylor (Nardiello 64), O'Flynn (Logan 56). Substitutes (not used): Pidgeley (gk), Jones.

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Hamer; Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins; Green (Stephens 82), Pritchard (Haynes 89), Hollands, Jackson; Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Clarke 71). Substitutes (not used): Sullivan (gk), Cort.

Goal: Green 55.

Booking: Wiggins.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).

Attendance: 5,439.