Charlton’s U21s earned an emphatic victory over Sheffield United on Monday afternoon.
Aaron Henry, Lucas Ness, Daniel Kanu and Dylan Gavin were all on the scoresheet as Danny Senda’s side made it two wins from two in a game which saw both sides have a man sent off following a flashpoint early in the second period.
The young Addicks opened the scoring with just eight minutes on the clock and they did so in some style. Henry picked up where he left off last week with another stunning strike, this time direct from a free-kick from 25 yards.
The Blades came close to a leveller on the 20-minute mark when Will Osula headed inches wide of the post, while the hosts came even close at the other end seven minutes prior to to the break when Ryan Viggars struck the right-hand upright with an effort.
With three minutes remaining of the first half, Charlton did grab a second from another brilliant set-piece, with this one coming straight from the training ground. A free-kick over on the left-hand side was worked towards Richard Chin who sent in a pinpoint cross for the onrushing Ness to crash home a diving header.
There was still time, however, for the visitors to get themselves back into the game before half-time when Sai Sachden finished well after a cross into the box from the left-hand side.
10 minutes into the second half, both sides were reduced to 10 men following a tussle on the halfway line which saw Viggars and United’s Joe Starbuck come to blows.
And in the 68th minute, the Addicks restored their two-goal lead thanks to Kanu, who turned smartly in the box before finding the bottom left-hand corner.
Seven minutes later, and the hosts stretched their lead even further when substitute Gavin got on the end of Henry’s corner delivery to power home a header for 4-1.
With five minutes remaining, the Blades gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Osula raced forwards to sneak a shot inside the post from outside the box, but Charlton went straight down the other end to restore their three-goal cushion with Kanu plundering a rebound from Henry’s saved shot.
The goals did not stop there, however, with Sheffield United bagging the last of the afternoon in the 89th minute with Osula driving in a free-kick from the edge of the box to make it 5-3, bringing an end a goalfest in Welling.
Charlton U21s: Kone, O’Connor, Ness, Barker (Gavin 65), Bakrin, Chin, Henry, Santos (Anderson 75), Williams, Viggars, Kanu.
Subs (not used): Molyneux, Mitchell, Ladapo.
Sent off: Viggars 56 (violent conduct)
Goals: Henry 8, Ness 42, Kanu 67, 87, Gavin 74.
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(Photo: Tom West)