Charlton’s U23s slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at a sunny Princes Park on Monday afternoon.
Despite the young Addicks taking a first-half lead through Mason Burstow, it was the visitors who netted twice in the second half to walk away with the points.
Skipper Nathan Harness was called into action early on to deny Ollie Hawkins who latched onto a cross from the left to fire first time towards goal in the box.
But it was the hosts who would take the lead, going straight down the other end with Burstow firing Charlton in front.
Johl Powell’s excellent run forward ended when he was dispossessed on the edge of the box, but Burstow picked up the scraps and fired an excellent, low finish into the back of the net from the edge of the box.
Callum Page came inches away from levelling for the visitors on 20 minutes when he sent a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area and the Tractor Boys saw plenty of possession in the first period, but the Addicks did excellently to control the game in the first 45 to limit their opponents to many chances.
Junior Quitirna, who was a thorn in Ipswich’s side throughout the afternoon, showed brilliant skill to get himself into a shooting position on two occasions early in the second half, but could not hit the target.
Despite Charlton’s bright start to the second period, the visitors levelled 10 minutes after the restart via Armando Dobra who fired past Harness.
With 20 minutes remaining, the visitors netted again to complete a turnaround. When the hosts failed to clear a delivery from the left, Levi Andoh was on hand to steer the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from close range.
The Addicks came close to an equaliser in the closing stages when Charlie Barker go this head on the end of a deep cross into the Ipswich box, but he could only nod over as his side suffered a third consecutive defeat.
Charlton U23s: Harness, Barton, Barker, Taylor, Oguntayo, Mingi (Allsopp 37), Henry, Powell (French 85), Clayden (Carvalho 71), Quitirna, Burstow.
Subs (not used): Harvey, Aidoo.
Goal: Burstow 9
(Photos: Tom West and Thomas Lang)