Charlton's U21s progressed to the fourth round of the London Senior Cup with a convincing 9-2 win against Wingate & Finchley at the Maurice Rebak Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Jamaican international Kaheim Dixon netted four for the young Addicks as he featured alongside fellow first-teamer Nathan Asiimwe, who scored Charlton's second of the evening, with Kai Enslin notably netting a brace.
The young Addicks edged in front inside five minutes in north London through Enslin. A neat ball was lofted over the Wingate & Finchley defence, allowing Enslin to control it with a delightful flick off of his chest before firing in on the turn.
The U21s continued to dominate the tie, receiving a handful of chances, with their efforts being rewarded ahead of the half-hour mark. Toby Bower collected the ball on the left flank, eventually wrapping a superb cross to the back post for Asiimwe to head home.
The hosts pulled one back shortly after the restart as Jaiden Drakes-Thomas received the ball on the turn, letting fly with a low strike which crept past Lennon MacLorg at the near post.
Chris Lock’s side responded well to the setback as they restored their two-goal lead just moments later, with Enslin claiming his brace. The winger received the ball unmarked at the back post, using some fancy footwork to leave the Blues’ keeper for dead, slotting into an empty net.
Drakes-Thomas followed in Enslin’s footsteps shortly after as he netted his brace for the home side, firing across goal with a powerful effort.
Dixon was next to add himself to the scoresheet with 23 minutes left on the clock. The forward used some superb skill to turn and let fly with a well-placed strike from distance.
Ibrahim Fullah added the young Addicks' fifth in quick succession as he turned off his defender with a neat roulette, seeing his deflected strike find the back of the net through a sea of bodies.
Dixon bagged his brace in fine fashion with a well-taken bicycle kick in the 75th minute. Enslin did well to beat the full-back, lifting a cross towards Dixon who converted with a skilful strike from close range.
Almost instantaneously, Dixon was at it again as he secured his hat-trick. The 20-year-old was threaded through on goal, where he rounded the keeper and rolled his strike into an empty net.
Jacob Safa was immediately in on the action from the bench as the midfielder added Charlton's eighth, eight minutes after his introduction, firing home from a cross which rebounded into his path.
The scoring was rounded off deep into stoppage time in N12 as Dixon continued to cause problems for the Blues’ defence with seconds remaining. The forward latched onto a pass down the left flank and drove goalwards, before calmly wrapping his shot into the far corner.
Charlton: MacLorg; Asiimwe, Toure, Hunter, Bower; Kedwell (c), Mwamba (Hobden 74), Fullah (Thomas 84); Rylah (Peterkin 84), Dixon, Enslin (Safa 80)
Sub (not used): Sadler
Goals: Enslin 5, 57, Asiimwe 27, Dixon 67, 75, 77 90+2, Fullah 71, Safa 88
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