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.
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.
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.
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)