Charlton's U18s were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Colchester United on Saturday afternoon.

Samson Uwandu gave the visitors an early lead at Sparrows Lane, reacting quickest to get to a loose ball before stabbing home from close range.

Alan Mwamba drew the young Addicks level on 11 minutes with a superb solo goal. Having collected the ball well inside his own half, the 17-year-old went on a mazy run to get into the 18-yard box before sending a calm, left-footed effort beyond Harrison Chamberlain in the U's goal.

Ibrahim Fullah fired Charlton ahead midway through the opening period, pouncing on his blocked shot, beating two defenders and converting coolly.

Micah Mbick gave Jason Pearce's side a two-goal lead 10 minutes after the restart. Manu Wales found the forward in behind the visitors' defence with a perfectly-weighted through ball and he made no mistake with a tidy finish into the bottom-left corner.

Ewan Clement halved Colchester's deficit with 71 minutes played, dusting himself off to slot his spot-kick past Finley Woodham.

The young Addicks were to be denied maximum points though as Frankie Edwards completed the visitors' comeback three minutes into injury-time, when the substitute's header somehow snuck in off the inside of Woodham's right post.

The U18s are back in action on Saturday, taking on Bristol City at the Robins High Performance Centre (KO 11am).

Charlton: Woodham; Hunter (c), Danso, Ashburn; Brown (Okwumo 59), Berry (Yamoah 59), Mwamba, Enslin (Ogunnowo 80); Fullah (Belton 80), Wales; Mbick

Subs (not used): Sadler

Goals: Mwamba 11, Fullah 24, Mbick/Wales 55

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