Charlton’s U18s got their 2022/23 campaign off to a flying start last Saturday, claiming a 3-0 victory over Professional Development League holders Sheffield United at Sparrows Lane.
17-year-old forward Patrick Casey was the hero for Hamza Serrar’s young Addicks, bagging a hat-trick to condemn the young Blades to a first defeat in almost 18 months.
Casey fired Charlton ahead on 36 minutes, chesting down Kai Enslin’s inswinging cross and rifling home a thunderous effort on the half-volley.
Casey doubled the hosts’ advantage 16 minutes after the restart, combining well with Ryan Huke who rounded the Sheffield United stopper before squaring the ball to Casey to stroke home.
And Casey completed his hat-trick late in the second period, instinctively capitalisng on a loose back pass from a Blades defender and calmly converting past the onrushing keeper.
U18 boss Serrar was thrilled with the young Addicks’ showing and reserved particular praise for hat-trick hero Casey. He said: “I’m really pleased with the result as well as the performance. Patrick was outstanding throughout pre-season and he has hit the ground running in the full-time programme as a scholar.
“He’s a different type of striker than what we are used to here. He’s really clever with his runs and can score goals with his right and left foot. He almost scored a perfect hat-trick - right foot, left foot and a tap in - and he’s always in the right place at the right time. There is still room for improvement with him, but he has got great potential.”
Charlton: Molyneux; Hobden, Mitchell, Asiimwe, Hunter (Okwumo 76); Kedwell, Gough (Myers 81), Huke; Enslin (Okechukwu 65), Casey, Rylah
Subs (not used): Abnett
Goals: Casey 35, 61, 77
Attention now turns to the U18s’ trip to Burnley on Saturday morning to take on a Clarets side that are yet to record a Professional Development League point this term having fallen to narrow, back-to-back defeats against Reading and Bristol City respectively.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s clash at the Barnfield Training Centre, Serrar said: “I’m massively looking forward to it. Burnley will have some good players and some good resources.
“We know what they are like; they are similar to their first team in that they work hard, try to play good football and are really competitive.”
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(Article by Alex Forrest)