Charlton 6 (Pigott 10,57, 67(pen), 90, Azeez 22, Smith 82), Huddersfield Town 1 (Crooks 52).
A four-goal salvo from powerhouse centre forward Joe Pigott led the demolition of Huddersfield Town in a one-sided Under-21 Development League play-off semi-final at Sparrows Lane on Tuesday. The hapless Terriers were sent home with their tails between their legs after being outclassed by Nathan Jones’ hugely talented young pros.
Pigott’s exploits naturally hogged the limelight but there was excellence all through Jones’ hungry team of young Addicks. Underage midfielder Diego Poyet proved himself a skilful chip off his dad Gus’ all-purpose block; left back Morgan Fox seemed nonchalantly willing to tackle an irritated rhinoceros in defending his goal; you wouldn’t want to tangle with centre backs Semi Ajayi and Kevin Feely (there’s a Gaelic football pedigree in this rawboned kid’s DNA, stand on that) in their ruthless line of business; skipper Bradley Jordan is the side’s heartbeat and, in the near future, will be doing his stuff at a higher level.
But it was blond bombshell Pigott who tore the visitors to shreds. His 10th minute opener was almost all his own work. Controlling Fox’s routine throw-in from the left touchline on his chest, he spun silkily infield to shake off his marker Tommy Smith, took careful aim for the far corner, then curled a low beauty across keeper Lloyd Allinson and neatly inside the right post.
Charlton’s second goal, twelve minutes later, was scruffier but no less effective. Jordan’s inswinging corner from the left was driven against teammate Ajayi by Pigott, leaving Ade Azeez the easy task of sweeping the rebound past Allinson.
Before the interval, Callum Harriott, the solitary first teamer in the line-up but fully entitled to a place alongside his recent colleagues, tested Allinson from 25 yards, Azeez lobbed narrowly over the bar and Jordan was desperately unlucky to hit the foot of the post.
Little or nothing had been seen of Town up front but it wouldn’t be Charlton, if the Terriers weren’t thrown a consolation bone. I’m not being funny but, sure enough, in an uncanny reprise of Bristol City’s goal on Saturday, a misunderstanding involving Feely and Nick Pope caused the goalkeeper’s hasty clearance to cannon off Chris Atkinson. Striker Matt Crooks made the most of the confusion to lob neatly into an empty net.
The West Yorkshiremen were allowed to hope for less than five minutes before Pigott picked on them again. From a free kick awarded for Murray Wallace’s foul on Azeez, Fox delivered to the far post where Feely headed back for Pigott to net via a slight deflection.
When left back Robbie McIntyre ended Jordan’s burst into the penalty area with a crude challenge from behind, there was clearly to be no dispute about the identity of Charlton’s spotkick taker. Pigott not altogether convincingly completed his hat-trick to make it 4-1.
Just past the hour, Town’s worst nightmare had been realised with the arrival of Michael Smith to relieve Azeez. There were now two towering blond strikers, both of them dangerous in the air but equally effective with the ball at their feet, to cope with. It was Smith, himself a four-goal destroyer of Tonbridge Angels in the recent Kent Senior Cup Final, who continued the rout with arguably the best of the six. A flowing five-pass move was distinguished by the sharp exchange between the big Northeasterner and substitute Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, which Smith finished by sidefooting clinically past a hopelesly exposed Allinson.
There was still time for Jordan Cousins’s fine pass to pick out Smith, who squared unselfishly from wide of the far post, leaving Pigott to unhibitedly score his fourth. Then the focus fell on the upcoming final against the winners of the other semi-final between Leicester City or Cardiff City. Away from home, unfortunately, otherwise I’d be there like a shot. You know me.
So what, in the meantime, are infrequent observers, among whom your reporter must be numbered, to make of the pool of talent applying pressure on Chris Powell just below the first-team waterline? Well, it seems to this occasional witness (my attendance at the Millwall league clincher rubberstamped my glory-hunting credentials, by the way) that there’s an embarrassment of riches on the way up. These kids are mustard.
From top to bottom, in fact, the club is in fine fettle. There’s an outstanding young manager at the tiller, enthusiastic coaches at all levels, a rich blend of experience and youth in the playing ranks. And, lest we forget, the best training facilities, stadium and fans in South East England. It ain’t a bad time to be an Addick.
It’s too good to be true, of course. Just watch some interfering busybody come along to spoil it. Speaking of which, let’s get Chris Powell all signed, sealed and delivered on a lengthy contract before the word gets out! That’s a priority because, let’s face it, Millwall are looking for a new manager.
It’s a joke. Calm down, it’s a joke. You can’t even have a joke these days. He wouldn’t go to Millwall, anyway, would he? I mean, would he?! Blimey, I’ve got meself worried now.
Charlton: Pope, Osborne, Ajayi, Feely, Fox, Cousins, Jordan, Poyet, Harriott (Holmes-Dennis 81), Azeez (Smith 63), Pigott. Not used: Phillips, Lennon, Sho-Silva.
Huddersfield: Allinson, Holmes (more than useful, this, energetic, versatile teenager ), Smith, Wallace, McIntyre, Sinnott, Hopson, Charles (Cox 69), Atkinson, Homes, Crooks. Not used: Colgan, Strakey, Burke, Leonard.
Referee: Ian Fissenden.
Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.