U18S REPORT | Coventry City 1 Charlton 0

George Jones reports

Charlton U18s’ 12-match unbeaten league run came to an end on Saturday morning as they suffered a last-gasp loss against Coventry City.

Having not tasted defeat in Professional Development League 2 South since September 17th, the Addicks looked on course to record another solid point before Billy-Jay Stedman struck in stoppage time for the Sky Blues.

Sergei Baltacha's and Hamza Serrar’s side remain top of the table, despite the rare defeat, and they’ll be hoping to bounce back when they host Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Addicks came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half when Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu chipped the ball through to Alex Willis but, from inside the box, he was well foiled by Coventry’s goalkeeper.

Timmy Abraham fired a shot over the bar in the second period, following a cut-back from the right, and Willis then lofted the ball over Coventry’s stopper – having latched on to a through ball – only to see the home defence scramble the loose ball clear.

Coventry grabbed the winner in the dying moments. Stedman played a clever one-two on the edge of the box and opened his body up to curl the ball into the top corner with his left foot.
 
Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Bangura-Williams, Simpson, Pollard, Zemura, Dempsey (Wan 66), Sarpong-Wiredu, Morgan (Gody 90), Isiaka (Maloney 58), Willis, Abraham.

Subs (not used): Harvey, Keefe.