Charlton’s U18s set themselves up for Wednesday’s FA Youth Cup tie at The Valley with yet another league victory, beating second-place Ipswich Town at Sparrows Lane on Saturday to stretch their lead at the top to 12 points with a game in hand.
The Addicks sprang into action towards the end of the first half, nudging themselves ahead in the 36th minute through Jason Adigun.
After the Tractor Boys failed to deal with a cross delivered from the left, the ball fell to Adigun 12 yards out and he duly stroked a shot home to give his side the advantage.
Into the second half, however, and the visitors were presented with the chance to draw level from the penalty spot when Kary Anderson was adjudged to have fouled an Ipswich forward in the box – but keeper Ahmed Kone would prove to be the hero, diving to his left to keep out town’s number 11 from 12 yards.
It would not be long before Charlton would put some daylight between them and their opponents with substitute Miles Leaburn popping up to make it two on 71 minutes.
Fellow sub Matt Dench caught out the visiting defence with a neat pass from inside his own half to send away the striker, who beat the last remaining defender before calmly finishing past the keeper.
Ipswich would reduce the arrears back to a single goal immediately from kick-off when an angled effort bounced through a crowded box and nestled in the bottom right-hand corner, but the Addicks would eventually win out with a two-goal cushion restored come the 90th minute.
Dench was involved again, combining with another sub in Mack Reilly, who brought down his chipped ball excellently on the edge of the box before dispatching an unstoppable low strike to wrap up a 3-1 win in New Eltham.
The victory sees Hamza Serrar’s youngsters go into their FA Youth Cup fifth-round clash with Brighton in blistering form having played 21 games, won 17 and drawn two of their 21 games in all competitions this term, netting 79 goals along the way.
Charlton U18s: Kone, Hobden, Mitchell, Laqeretabua, Bower, Kedwell, Adigun, Campbell (Leaburn 46), Ladapo (Reilly 69), Anderson, (Dench 63), Kanu
Subs (not used): Whitling, Asiimwe
Goals: Adigun 36, Leaburn 71, Reilly 90
Charlton fans can support the academy by signing up to the Valley Gold scheme. Valley Gold enables fans to support the club’s academy in unearthing the talents of tomorrow, as well as giving them the chance to win cash prizes.
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