Charlton’s U23s returned to winning ways with victory over Colchester United at Princes Park on Monday afternoon.
Richard Afrane-Kesey, Samuel Oguntayo and Charles Clayden were on the scoresheet for Jason Euell’s side in what was a thoroughly well-deserved victory for the young Addicks.
The hosts took the lead with their first real foray forward with nine minutes gone. A slip by U’s’ defender Billy Cracknell allowed Afrane-Kesey to take advantage, making his way into the box before dispatching a confident finish past the keeper and into the bottom right-hand corner.
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10 minutes later, Charlton doubled their lead and did so in some style. Trialist Oguntayo picked the ball up just outside the box, beat a man and then proceeded to place a brilliant curled effort over the keeper with his ‘weaker’ right foot which dipped under the bar and into the back of the net.
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The home side were in total control during the first half and came inches away from a third just after the half-hour mark when Junior Qutirina’s heavily-deflected effort left the keeper helplessly rooted to the spot, only for the ball to spin back off the post.
Colchester got a bit more of a footing in the game after the restart and pulled a goal back with 20 minutes left through Jake Hutchinson, who broke through and fired low past Joe Osaghae.
But the Addicks would restore their two-goal cushion less than a minute later. Afrane-Kesey got to the byline to the left of goal and squared for Clayden who was on hand to smash in his side’s third of the afternoon.
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There were chances to make it four shortly after – first trialist Ruben Carvalho could only fire over from close range, before Clayden stretched to send the ball over from a similar distance with 10 minutes left on the clock.
As the clock ticked down to full-time, Osaghae was called into action on a pair of occasions to preserve Charton's two-goal advantage, while Tom Stagg diverted a cross back off the post for the visitors late on and the men in red stood strong to claim all three points.
Charlton U23s: Osaghae, Barton, Ness, Taylor (Sivi 90), Oguntayo, Henry, Carvalho (Aidoo 86), Agyemang, Clayden, Quitirna (Barker 72), Afrane-Kesey.
Subs (not used): Harvey.
Booked: Oguntayo 16 (foul on Hasanally)
Goals: Afrane-Kesey 9, Oguntayo 19, Clayden 71
(Photos: Thomas Lang)