Charlton’s U21s made it two wins from two to start the season, comfortably beating Barnsley U21s 4-0 in Yorkshire on Tuesday.
The young Addicks were on top from the very start, Henry Rylah crashing the ball against the bar in the opening stages after he was played through by Alan Mwamba.
In the 32nd minute, a Barnsley side who were already under siege had their task made even harder when a trialist defender was dismissed for a poor challenge on Nathan Asiimwe.
Charlton would make their dominance count, although not until the second half. The breakthrough finally came in the 49th minute through some excellent play from Ryan Huke.
The midfielder picked the ball up in his own half and drove forward, laying the ball left to Micah Mbick. Huke continued his run into the box, and was found with a lovely return ball from the striker, before he dispatched the ball beyond goalkeeper Kieren Flavell.
Suddenly the Addicks were flying, doubling their lead two minutes later through Huke again. Rylah broke free down the right and pulled the ball back to Patrick Casey, who hit a first-time shot towards goal. His effort may have been heading wide, but Huke was on hand to turn the ball in from close range.
Remarkably, two minutes after that it was three through a near carbon copy of the first goal. Casey was the scorer this time, exchanging the ball with Mbick before firing high past Flavell at his near post.
The rout was completed in the 57th minute, when Mwamba won the ball back in midfield and strode forward. His through ball for Rylah inside the area took the ball wide, but it was no problem for the winger, who struck his first-time shot past the goalkeeper from the tight angle.
The goal rounded off an impressive eight-minute period for the Addicks in which they scored four goals, and Chris Lock’s side played out the rest of the game in comfortable fashion.
Next up for the U21s is Hull City at home on Tuesday.
Charlton: Trialist A; Asiimwe, Gough (c) (Bower 76), Hunter; Rylah (Trialist B 64), Kedwell, Mwamba, Huke, Enslin (Hobden 64); Casey, Mbick (Fullah 76)
Sub (not used): MacLorg
Goals: Huke 49, 51, Casey 53, Rylah 57
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