The Addicks kicked off their 2023/24 pre-season in style with a 4-0 win at Welling United on Saturday.
The traditional curtain-raiser was played in front of a sell-out crowd at Park View Road and the 2,755 fans did not have to wait long to see the first goal of the new season. With 11 minutes played, Scott Fraser had his short corner returned to him by Tyreece Campbell and sent a curling cross to the back post, where Sam Lavelle got above his man to head into the Welling net.
The Addicks dominated the first half and had a penalty shout turned down in the 24th minute. Miles Leaburn was played in by Mandela Egbo and a tangle of legs with a Wings defender left Leaburn on the deck, but his protests were waved away by referee Isaac Searle.
Leaburn was taken off as a precaution and replaced by Karoy Anderson, who made an immediate impact with a goal within five minutes of his introduction. The lively Tyreece Campbell broke free down the left wing and turned inside to Anderson, who hit a low left-foot shot at the near post. Welling’s trialist goalkeeper got a hand to the shot, but was unable to keep it out.
Anderson turned provider ten minutes later, receiving the ball 18 yards from goal and squaring the ball for the marauding Zach Mitchell, who took it wide onto his right foot and struck back across goal to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time.
An entirely changed Addicks side only had to wait ten second-half minutes to get off the mark. Corey Blackett-Taylor cut inside Wings’ right-back Ayo Lugboso and found Charlie Kirk six yards out, who had all the time in the world to toe poke the ball into the Wings’ net and make it 4-0.
The Addicks enjoyed a comfortable remainder of the game against their National League South opposition, twice going close to making it five. First, on 70 minutes, Aaron Henry hit a rasping shot from 25 yards and then, with five minutes remaining, Daniel Kanu found himself free in the box but saw his shot blocked on the line.
Charlton now turn their attentions to next Saturday's trip to Dartford.
Charlton (first half): Maynard-Brewer; Mitchell, Lavelle, Trialist; Egbo, Dobson, Fraser, Campbell, Chin; Jaiyesimi, Leaburn (Anderson, 30)
Charlton (second half): Isted; Elerewe, Ness Thomas; Asiimwe, Henry, McGrandles, Payne, Blackett-Taylor; Kanu, Kirk
Unused sub: Santos
Goals: Lavelle 11, Anderson 35, Mitchell 45, Kirk 56
Referee: Isaac Searle
Attendance: 2,765
(Report by Jamie Barton)
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