10-man Charlton U18s succumbed to a 4-1 defeat away at Watford in Professional Development League 2 South on Saturday.
The young Addicks – who had Harmony Okwumo sent off after just 15 minutes for a bad tackle - were unable to stop themselves falling to a second defeat of 2023.
Watford took the lead on 34 minutes, almost 20 minutes after they had been given a numerical advantage when they took a quick throw-in on the left side and steered home a low cross.
Two minutes later they doubled their advantage when a man in yellow nodded from a corner and they extended the lead to three on 52 minutes after the Addicks had failed to properly clear another flag kick.
A clear free-kick routine caught out the Charlton defence 15 minutes from time but, to their credit, Jason Pearce’s 10 men never gave up. They got a reward five minutes from the end when full-back Toby Bower curled home an eye-catching free-kick with his left foot.
Sadly, it was nothing more than a consolation as the Hornets held out to take maximum points. Pearce’s side will hope to bounce back when they face Bristol City at Sparrows Lane on Saturday, February 18th.
Charlton U18s: Molyneux; Hobden, Bower, Danso, Laqeretabua; Hunter (Myers 72), Okwumo, Huke; Rylah, Enslin (Togoe 72), Casey (Belton 82).
Subs (not used): Kone.
Goal: Bower 85
Sent off: Okwumo 15
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