Charlton claimed a second pre-season win in as many friendlies on Saturday, beating Dartford 2-1 on an overcast afternoon in Kent.

Unlike last week at Welling United, the teams played out a cagey first half. The Darts went close on 11 minutes when striker Alex Wall tried an overhead kick from a Max Statham cross, which Harry Isted tipped round the post.

Charlton soon grew into the game and twice went close through long-range efforts from Jack Payne - the first collected by goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney and the second flying just over.

Isted was called into action again just after the half-hour mark, this time beating away Marvin Herschel's shot at close quarters.

The Addicks’ second-half XI came out energised and, thanks to superb performances from wing-backs  Nathan Asiimwe and Corey Blackett-Taylor, took the game to the hosts.

The deadlock was broken on 57 minutes when Blackett-Taylor turned his man inside and out before floating a teasing cross the back post, where Asiimwe was on hand to head home.

Charlton and Asiimwe were celebrating again just three minutes later, when the academy graduate scored once more. Conor McGrandles played a perfect ball inside the Dartford defence for the youngster, who sidestepped another defender and fired back across goal.

Five minutes later, Dartford’s Brandon Barzey was instrumental in his side pulling one back, getting to the byline and pulling back for Lewis Manor, who could not miss from a yard out and the Darts were back in the game.

But less than 10 minutes later, the hosts' attempts to get an equaliser took a massive blow when captain Paul Rooney was shown a straight red after throwing an arm at McGrandles.

The dismissal did not stop Dartford mounting one last bid, and the hosts would have been level had it not been for a fantastic save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer to deny Joe Rabbetts from six yards out.

That proved to be the last action in an engaging game, with Dean Holden’s side now looking forward to their pre-season tour to Spain.

Charlton (first half): Isted; Bakrin, Hector, Elerewe; Egbo, Dobson (c), Anderson, Payne, Chin; Jaiyesimi, Campbell

Charlton (second half): Maynard-Brewer; Mitchell, Ness, Roddy; Asiimwe, Henry, McGrandles, Fraser, Blackett-Taylor; Kirk, Kanu

Unused sub: Santos

Goals: Asiimwe 57, 60

Attendance: 2,800

(Report by Jamie Barton)

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