Charlton’s U18s fell to an unfortunate defeat in their first game of the season on Saturday, losing 4-3 to Hull City in a topsy-turvy affair in Yorkshire.

Jason Pearce’s side started much the better side, and were ahead after just five minutes when Shia-Lee Burnham picked the pocket of Hull centre-back Bobby Moore and sent a low shot at goal. Goalkeeper Archie Howard got down to the ball but could not hold onto it, instead seeing the ball skip over him and roll into his net.

But the Tigers responded well and were level in the 17th minute through Zac Jagielka, who joined from Liverpool this summer and is the son of former England international Phil Jagielka. 

It was a well-worked goal, Stan Hewitt playing a one-two with Alfie Perry before sending in a searching cross, which Jagielka adeptly headed past Jude Sadler and in at the far post.

Jagielka would strike again just before half-time to put his side ahead, latching onto a through ball from Aidon Suehu to finish first-time beyond Sadler from just outside the area.

In the 50th minute, Suehu was involved again when he beat the offside trap to get on the end of a clever pass from Ramell Carter and convert past Sadler with his left foot.

Three minutes later the young Addicks were back in it with a well-worked goal. Manu Wales wandered inside and laid the ball off to Bradley Tagoe, who showed tremendous skill to beat Jagielka and Perry. Tagoe returned the ball to Wales, who took a touch before smashing the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

But in the 71st minute, the Tigers restored their two-goal lead. Rory Leech’s ball down the line released Suehu, who did well to find Hewitt 10 yards from goal. The winger made no mistake, opening up his body and dispatching into the far corner with his left foot.

Charlton did not give up, though, and reduced the deficit to one again just four minutes later. A wonderful raking pass from Ethan Brown found Emmanuel Sol-Loza racing in behind the defence, and as Howard came out to meet him, the forward took it around the goalkeeper with his chest. Sol-Loza still had a lot to do, but found the back of the net with ease from a tight angle to get his side back in the game.

It would prove not quite enough, however, with Howard denying Sol-Loza a second late on and ensuring victory for the Tigers. Next up for Charlton’s U18s is their first home game of the season against Burnley on Saturday.

Charlton: Sadler; Valentine (Reid 61), Cann, Davis (Dawkins 76); Brown, Safa (c), Belton (McMillan 61), Tagoe (Washington-Amoah 76); Sol-Loza, Burnham 

Sub (not used): Woodham

Goals: Burnham 5, Wales 53, Sol-Loza 75

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