Charlton 4 (Buyens 23,pen, Wilson 55,59. Church 89) Colchester United 0.
Watched in polite appreciation by little over 5,000 fans (it was rowdier on the Marie Celeste) as they dismembered Colchester United, Charlton cruised sedately into the second round of the Capital One Cup. Their League One opponents were never in with a chance following the contentious penalty decision, which saw their captain Magnus Okuonghae sent off for “deliberate handball” on 23 minutes. So let’s tackle that game-changing flashpoint immediately.
The visitors were coping comfortably until George Tucudean reached the right byline to cross low to the far post, where Franck Moussa shot first-time against the desperately plunging figure of Okuonghae from close range. Whether the ball struck the defender’s hand or his ribs is in the eye of the beholder and depends largely on the beholder’s allegiance. Most neutrals were undecided. But the big centre back’s punishment was positively medieval. He conceded a penalty (hung), was sent off (drawn) and, pending appeal, faces suspension for three games (quartered). By rights, he should also have been dragged away in chains and waterboarded. Phil Mitchell’s ever-available lawyer, Ritchie, is believed to have accepted the brief.
Yoni Buyens duly converted the penalty with insolent aplomb and it was downhill for United from then on. Incensed manager Joe Dunne understandably highlighted the incident as critical to the result and he had a point. The reality is, of course, that the Us were outclassed by a home side which intelligently used the increase dimensions of the Valley pitch to give them a thorough chasing and provided an object lesson in exploiting a supposedly awkward one-man advantage.
The Essex chaps, roared on by 472 belligerent followers who kept up a barrage of hurtful, beastly slurs about the ground, home support and immediate neighbourhood, actually started brightly. Former West Ham prodigy Freddie Sears first blasted Gavin Massey’s long pass over the bar, then did likewise with Sean Clohessy’s cutback minutes later. In fairness to them, the wind was taken out of their sails by the penalty decision, but they were heading for the rocks anyway.
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With the brilliant Buyens magnetically attracting the ball and pulling the midfield strings, the Addicks began to pull away from their visitors. In a rehearsed corner routine, Jordan Cousins’ diagonal delivery set up Tucudean to shoot ferociously from the 18-yard line, Chris Lewington’s legs blocked defiantly and Buyens drove the rebound against a charging defender. But it took Bob Peeters’ men until early in the second half to put Colchester in their place.
Sears had the first word in the second period, his fierce 20-yarder forcing Stephen Henderson’s only save of note, before two quickfire goals from impressive Lawrie Wilson sealed the issue. Ten minutes after the break, the busy wide man caught up with Moussa’s angled pass to the right of goal and screwed a low shot back into the far bottom corner. A crisper, no-nonsense drive completed neat approach work by Callum Harriott and Moussa to finish United off. Wilson’s excellent contribution added to several selection dilemmas (not “headaches” as he was keen to stress), which Peeters must solve before Wigan’s arrival on Saturday.
Suspiciously at first, a subdued Valley began to warm to this brand new collection of Addicks. Before departing shortly after the hour mark, Buyens was different class, Moussa showed enough to suggest he’s a shrewd acquisition, Andre Bikey was huge in all senses of the word. Tucudean was unlucky not to open his account when his second half shot, following Jordan Cousins’ piercing pass, was cleared off the line by Clohessy while substitute Johan Gudmundsson slotted into Buyens’ central midfield role just past the hour and is clearly a good ‘un.
Charlton’s old boys were no less impressive. Wilson’s goals and ceaseless industry speak for themselves, Michael Morrison put neither foot nor head wrong, youth products Cousins, Morgan Fox and Callum Harriott more than did their bit. And in 17-year old debutant Joe Gomez, Sparrows Lane has unearthed another diamond -and not just in the rough; even nominally out of position at right back, this one already sparkles. Trust Peeters to nurture his special talent carefully.
It was left to late substitute Simon Church to gild Charlton’s lily. Having replaced the out-of-luck Tucudean, he pounced on the hash made by Lewington in dealing with Gudmundsson’s long range potshot and poked Charlton’s fourth past the struggling keeper. The standing ovation, to which these promising Addicks departed, was richly deserved. It’s early days-of course it is- but, whisper it, we might be on to something!
Charlton: Henderson, Gomez, Morrison, Bikey, Fox, Wilson, Buyens (Gudmundsson 63), Harriott, Cousins, Moussa (Vetokele 60), Tucudean (Church 72). Not used: Pope, Nego, Pigott, Ben Haim.
Colchester: Lewington, Gilbey, Okuonghae (sent off), Moncur, Gordon, Clohessy, Eastman, Massey (Holman 46), Vose (Bean 29), Ibehere, Sears (Szmodics 63). Not used:Walker, Thompson, Kent, Curtis.
Referee: C. Breakspear. Att: 5,752.