A superb second-half performance from Charlton's U21s saw the young Addicks cruise past Colchester United with an 8-1 win at Sparrows Lane.
There were six different goalscorers for Charlton, with Patrick Casey and Kai Enslin both bagging braces.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, it was the visitors who edged ahead in the fixture. A cross-shot from Kyreece Lisbie, son of former Addick Kevin, sailed into the far corner through some assistance from the windy conditions.
The young Addicks responded well to the setback, levelling the scoring ahead of the interval with a delightful passage of play. The ball was slipped into the path of Alan Mwamba who played a neat reverse pass with a sensational flick, allowing Josh Laqeretabua to run in on goal and find the back of the net with a thunderous effort.
Casey fired Charlton ahead on 43 minutes. The forward found the ball at his feet on the edge of the box and curled his strike into the top corner from distance.
The U21s continued their relentlessness almost instantly after the interval as Enslin added a third and his first of the fixture. Ollie Hobden was able to drive into the Colchester penalty area, seeing his strike blocked, but, fortunately for the young Addicks, the ball fell to Enslin who converted with a well-taken, volleyed effort.
Casey was first to bag his brace with another sublime strike. The 19-year-old was able to turn deep into the Colchester half and let fly from distance with a powerful strike which nestled in the back of the net.
Just three minutes later and Charlton had their fifth, this time through Harvey Kedwell. The midfielder swung a corner in at the near post with pace, seeing his cross sneak in past the goalkeeper direct from the set-piece.
Enslin followed Casey in suit, etching his second of the afternoon in the 72nd minute. The versatile midfielder was quick to intercept a loose touch on the edge of the U’s box, slotting in his second from close range.
A superb passage of play from the U21s saw a seventh netted ahead of the full-time whistle through Toby Bower. Kaheim Dixon fired a pass across the box, which was cleverly left by the Trialist, allowing Bower to wrap his shot into the far corner.
With full-time looming, Dixon was bagged a goal of his own. The ball was slipped into the path of the in-form forward, who converted with a well-placed, left-footed strike which snuck into the far corner.
The U21s return to London Senior Cup action on Tuesday night as they face a trip to Champion Hill, where they lock horns with Dulwich Hamlet in the quarter-finals of the competition (KO 7.45pm GMT).
Charlton: MacLorg (Woodham 23); Laqeretabua (Toure 46), Hunter (c), Bower; Hobden, Fullah (Huke 60), Kedwell (Wales 75), Mwamba (Trialist 67), Enslin; Casey, Dixon
Goals: Laqeretabua 35, Casey 43, 55, Enslin 48, 72, Kedwell 58, Bower 77, Dixon 89
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(Photo: Tom West)
