U23S REPORT | Charlton 3 Cardiff City 0

George Jones reports

Jake Forster-Caskey made his first appearance in a Charlton shirt by grabbing an assist in our U23s’ 3-0 win over Cardiff City at the DGS Marine Stadium on Monday afternoon.

The January signing started the match from the off and laid on Karlan Ahearne-Grant’s second goal of the match, which made it 2-0, with Brandon Hanlan wrapping up the scoring late on.

The result consolidates Jason Euell’s side’s position at the summit of Professional Development League 2 South and moves them eight points clear of second-placed Millwall.

Charlton created the first chance of the match when Ahearne-Grant drilled a shot towards the near post that was well saved by the Bluebirds’ stopper.

Hanlan fired into the side netting soon afterwards and Ahearne-Grant then dragged a shot wide from 20 yards.

The striker would get his goal on the 27-minute mark, though. Cardiff’s goalkeeper made a fantastic, point-blank save to deny Hanlan – following a good cross from Josh Umerah – and Ahearne-Grant was on hand to bury the rebound.

Both teams threatened from corners before the half-time whistle and, after the break, Ahearne-Grant burst through on goal, only to be denied by the stopper.

Charlton made it 2-0 on 75 minutes. Forster-Caskey whipped in a corner towards the near post that Ahearne-Grant steered home with his head.

That proved to be Forster-Caskey’s final kick of the match and his replacement Matt Carter almost got himself on the scoresheet shortly after his introduction. He cut inside on the edge of the box and curled a shot towards the bottom corner that was well saved.

An whipped strike from Cardiff’s number eight smacked the post 10 minutes from time and, at the other end, the Bluebirds’ custodian excelled himself again, this time keeping out Umerah from close range.

He then foiled Charles-Cook but was helpless in stoppage time when Hanlan made it three. Carter slipped him in and he drove the ball into the top corner from a tight angle.

Charlton: Mitov, Barnes, Triallist, Bowry, Dijksteel, Forster-Caskey, Charles-Cook, Kennedy, Ahearne-Grant, Umerah, Hanlan.

Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Carter, Lapslie, Yamfam.

Goals: Ahearne-Grant 27, 75, Hanlan 90