Charlton 3 (Walker 15 o.g. Henry 52, Leaburn 59) Gillingham 0
Naming 12 teenagers in his 18-man squad, five of them starters, Ben Garner clearly trusted youth to do the business in this unwanted but unavoidable Papa John’s Trophy tie against Gillingham. He wasn’t let down by any of the kids, certainly not by goalscorers Miles Leaburn (18) or Aaron Henry, who celebrated his 19th birthday with a characteristically crisp finish to put the Addicks two in front and effectively out of reach of their outclassed visitors.
Leaburn’s third goal of the season already suggests he will prove more prolific than his dad – and just as popular. His cool finish rewarded a selfless performance of skill and endeavour, which at times was more than Gills could handle. And he can look after himself.
Surprisingly still a teenager, Henry has been on the fans’ radar for some time, having worked his way through the various age groups up to and including the first team. Already the scorer of a splendid Carabao Cup goal against Derby, the birthday boy again showed the accuracy and power of his shooting from outside the penalty area. He was hugely influential in other areas, particularly with the quick thinking he showed in contributing to the Addicks’ first goal.
An impressive setpiece specialist, Henry faked an orthodox delivery of his 15th minute corner from the left but instead played it short to Diallang Jaiyesimi, who darted through a dozy defence and crossed hard and low. His dangerous delivery was turned past Jake Turner by midfielder Lewis Walker to give Charlton a lead they were never likely to relinquish.
Walker’s own goal should have been an equaliser, not the virtual decider it became. Gillingham had previously missed a gilded chance to open the scoring when Alex McDonald was played through the lines by the deftest of chips by skipper Shaun Williams. With only Nathan Harness to beat, the chunky McDonald dragged his shot hopelessly wide of the left post. Five minutes later, Neil Harris’ side found themselves behind and chasing a rapidly disappearing cause.
Their opening goal settled any nerves Garner’s babes might have suffered. Confident and assured, they passed, moved and combined seamlessly. The ball zipped impressively from man to man -or boy to boy, to be pedantic about it – as a sparse (but larger than expected) crowd enjoyed watching their often annoying neighbours being given the runaround. Charlton’s total domination deserved a second goal, an oversight captain Jack Payne sought to rectify shortly before the break, after bamboozling two defenders along the right byline. Closing in to shoot, the angle proved too tight for the 27 year old “veteran” and his shot was smothered by Turner at his near post.
Secure at the back, Harness was expertly protected by a mobile defence well marshalled by Lucas Ness and featuring the all-round talents of Richard Chin (19), who caught the eye with his blend of steely determination and adhesive touch. Looks like another diamond unearthed and polished over in Sparrows Lane. Among several others.
Two breakthroughs before the hour confirmed Charlton’s superiority. The first arrived seven minutes after resumption when Henry and Jake Forster-Caskey stood over a free kick a yard or two outside the visiting penalty area. The latter’s stinging effort was beaten away by Turner, re-cycled by Payne and hit unstoppably first-time by the predatory Henry. Still recovering from repelling Forster-Caskey’s strike, Turner was given no chance by the second effort.
Seven more minutes saw the Addicks home and dried. Again the running was made by the insatiable Payne, who drove inside from the left, declined two chances to shoot and transferred possession to Leaburn. Big Miles, owner of two creative feet, needed no second invitation to bury his third goal of the season past the helpless Turner.
An appreciative witness to Charlton’s effortless domination, Harness earned his corn before the end when he intelligently narrowed Mikael Madron’s angle as the powerful substitute broke through and repelled his close range shot with his legs. At the other end, Turner managed a little damage control by brilliantly tipping Jaiyesimi’s rocket over the bar.
So you can say what you like about Papa John and his Trophy. He might be a royal pain but his competition at least gave Garner the opportunity to blood as gifted a crop of youngsters as you’ll stumble across anywhere. His u-21s have just started the season with four consecutive wins against Championship opposition. This demolition of Gillingham by a virtually teenage line-up was entirely predictable. In Charlton’s case, at least, youth is not wasted on the young.
Charlton: Harness, Barker, Ness, Chin (Bakrin 81), O’Connor (Dench 67), Payne, Henry (Williams 82), Forster-Caskey, Jaiyesimi, Kanu (Campbell 66), Leaburn (Ladapo 88). Not used: Kone, Anderson. Booked: Henry, Dench.
Gillingham: Turner, Alexander, Wright, Williams (Jefferies 46), MacDonald, Lee (Tutonda 63), Law, Walker,
Adelakun (Reeves 46), Baggott, Kashket (Mandron 46). Not used: Morris, Ehmer, Green.
Referee: Sunny Gill. Att: 1,888 (154 visiting).