The Addicks continued their preparations for the season ahead on Saturday afternoon, losing 2-0 to AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
It took a few minutes for Charlton to find their feet, but once they did they enjoyed a fairly comfortable first half.
The first opportunity came in the 12th minute when Luke Berry drove forwards and laid the ball left to Chuks Aneke just inside the area. The striker’s first-time, left-footed shot was beaten away at the near post by on-loan Crystal Palace goalkeeper Owen Goodman.
Two minutes later the Addicks went close again when Tennai Watson overlapped Greg Docherty and sent in a looping cross, but Matty Godden could not keep his header down.
Godden enjoyed a lively first period and had perhaps the best chance of the half in the 28th minute after an excellent Charlton move which began when Will Mannion’s long ball was flicked on by Aneke. Godden nodded the ball to Berry, and the midfielder nodded in back, in behind the Dons’ defence. Godden was able to take it down, but his shot arced over the bar.
With Charlton on top for most of the half, the closest the hosts came was in the 42nd minute, when Matty Stevens headed a Jake Reeves corner wide after escaping the attentions of Lloyd Jones.
It had not been a particularly lively first period, and the second half was not much different until the 65th minute when a goal brought the game to life. Unfortunately for Charlton, it was a goal from the hosts.
Reeves’ corner from the left was punched clear by Mannion but collected by Josh Neufville on the edge of the box. The winger drove to the byline and pulled back to the penalty spot, where Ryan Johnson was on hand to turn the ball home.
The Addicks responded by upping the tempo significantly, and were very nearly level in the 79th minute when Daniel Kanu played Tyreece Campbell in behind. Campbell was able to turn inside and shoot with his right foot, but his effort did not have the power to beat Goodman.
Less than a minute later the Dons doubled their lead. Callum Maycock drove forward and slid the ball in behind the Charlton defence for fellow substitute Josh Kelly, who swept his effort under Mannion and into the net.
With both teams having made multiple substitutions, the match struggled to get going again after Kelly’s strike and finished 2-0.
Johnnie Jackson will be the happier of the two bosses, but Nathan Jones will be pleased that he has more minutes in his side’s legs. The Addicks will now look ahead to their final game of pre-season against Portsmouth on Saturday.
Charlton: Mannion; Jones (Ramsay 77), A .Mitchell (Z.Mitchell 77), Gillesphey (Edmonds-Green 77); Watson (Asiimwe 77), Coventry (Taylor 77), Docherty (c) (Edun 77), Berry (Anderson 77), Edwards (Small 77); Aneke (Ahadme 46 (Kanu 77)), Godden (Campbell 57)
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, MacLorg, Hylton (Trialist)
AFC Wimbledon: Goodman; Ogundere (Sutcliffe 87), Lewis (Biler 77), Johnson; Neufville (Trialist 77), Reeves (c) (Williams 87), Ball (Tilley 77), Smith (Maycock 77), Sasu (Hippolyte 77); Bugiel (Pigott 71), Stevens (Kelly 71)
Subs (not used): Ward, Young
Goals: Johnson 65, Kelly 79
Assists: Neufville 65, Maycock 79
Attendance: 3,156 (1,002 away)
Referee: Charles Breakspear
(Photo: Tom West)
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