Karlan Grant scored a 93rd minute disputed penalty to give Charlton all three points against Stanley, with both sides reduced to ten men.
Dan Barlaser was judged to have handled a Ben Reeves shot in the area by the assistant and Grant fired past keeper Dimi Evtimov, who was making his Stanley debut.
All the major talking points were in the final ten minutes as Evtimov only signed for the Reds yesterday but came on at The Valley for the final ten minutes after stopper Jonny Maxted saw red along with Addicks striker Lyle Taylor following a fracas in the box.
Charlton did have the ball in the net during the melee but it was ruled out by referee John Busby after consultation with his assistant in a feisty end to the game where Charlton boosted their promotion chances with the late goal.
It had started well for the Reds who put a number of balls into the box early on but it was Charlton who had the first real chance on 12 minutes.
Taylor's ball was dangerous across the box and it just needed a touch but thankfully for the Reds, no one could get on the end of it.
The Addicks then enjoyed a spell of pressure, including a penalty shout, but the Stanley defence stood firm.
The Reds had two good chances before half-time with a Billy Kee strike in the six yard box blocked on 36 minutes while, four minutes later, Kee knocked the ball to Middlesbrough loan striker Luke Armstrong but keeper Dillon Phillips denied him.
Chances were limited at the start of the second half with both sides having to defend but with neither goalkeeper tested.
However Maxted was called into action on 58 minutes making a superb one-handed save to deny Darren Pratley.
The game was end-to-end with Newcastle loanee Liam Gibson finding Kee in the area and Phillips had to parry the striker's header behind while Taylor, Jonathan Williams and Grant all fired wide for the home side.
The game erupted on 80 minutes with Armstrong sacrificed for the Reds as Evtimov came on for this debut but couldn't stop the late penalty.