Cambridge United 1 Charlton 2
A much-changed Charlton side started their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign with a 2-1 victory against Cambridge United at the Cledara Abbey Stadium on Tuesday night.
Nathan Jones made 11 changes from the team that beat Shrewsbury Town on Saturday and his side were able to create plenty of chances in a fast-paced game with Tayo Edun and Matty Godden finding the net for the Addicks.
Dan Nlundulu, on loan at Cambridge from Bolton Wanderers, forced an early save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer after rising highest in the penalty area, but his header was straight at the Australian.
Terry Taylor was the first Charlton player to shoot at goal but his dinked effort just cleared the crossbar.
Charlton took the lead in the 24th minute after some good work down the right by Godden and Karoy Anderson, with the ball eventually coming to Rarmani Edmonds-Green. The defender’s deep cross from the right landed at the feet of left wing-back Edun, who took a touch before drilling a shot back across goal and into the bottom corner of the net.
It was 2-0 six minutes later with Daniel Kanu using his pace and strength to get on the end of an Edmonds-Green long ball. The striker’s low pass across goal was perfect for Godden, sliding in to net his second goal in Charlton colours.
The home side pulled a goal back just before half-time with Nlundulu converting from the penalty spot after Anderson had fouled Korey Smith.
Charlton saw off some early second-half pressure from Cambridge before forcing keeper Vicente Reyes into action. The 20-year-old tipped a Godden header over and then produced a double save to keep out Edun’s vicious shot from the edge of the area and Edmonds-Green's close-range shot on the rebound.
Godden continued to cause Cambridge problems and the hosts were reliant on a Liam Bennett clearance off the line to keep out the forward's wonderful shot on the turn.
Anderson was dismissed for a second bookable offence with seven minutes to go but the Addicks were able to hang on through seven minutes of stoppage time to secure three points in the first group game with fixtures against Bromley and Chelsea U21s to come.
Academy prospect Alan Mwamba, who has starred for Chris Lock's U21s this season, was introduced on 88 minutes to earn his senior debut for the Addicks.
Nathan Jones' side are next in action at The Valley on Saturday when they host Steve Bruce's Blackpool.
Cambridge United: Reyes; Bennett, Morrison, Nlundulu (Njoku 46), Kaikai, Smith (Digby 46), Okedina, Cousins (Brophy 46), O’Riordan, Barton (Ibsen Rossi 71), Longelo
Subs (not used): Chadwick, Hoddle, Holmes
Goal: Nlundulu 44 (pen)
Booked: O’Riordan 66 (foul on Godden), Okedina 77 (simulation), Digby 81 (foul on Taylor)
Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; Edmonds-Green, Z.Mitchell (Asiimwe 52), Potts (c) (Gillesphey 67); Watson, Taylor (Mwamba 88), Anderson, A.Campbell (Edwards 67), Edun; Godden (T.Campbell 88), Kanu
Subs (not used): Reid, Dixon
Goals: Edun 24, Godden 30
Assists: Edmonds-Green 24, Kanu 30
Booked: Edun 16 (kicking the ball away), Godden 31 (foul on Okedina), Anderson 43 (foul on Smith)
Sent-off: Anderson 83 (foul on Brophy)
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 1,028 (213 from Charlton)
