Charlton 2 (Campbell 9, Ahadme 51) Portsmouth 0.
As good at The Valley on Saturday as they were poor last week at Wimbledon, Charlton added a final flourish to their pre-season preparations with this emphatic victory over last season’s League One champions. It might be tempting fate to read too much into either result but the Addicks looked like a sound, well organised side which might feel more than a few collars in a division they – and their long suffering supporters – are desperate to leave behind. Consistency is the key to success and that’s a quality too rarely associated with flaky Charlton.
It might help to play Pompey every week. Charlton’s oldest foe once enjoyed supremacy over them. But in recent seasons, they have had scarcely a whiff of success. Even during their march to promotion last term, the best the South Coasters could manage was a pair of draws, the first of which featured a last minute equaliser by Conor McGrandles – his solitary league goal for S.E.7’s finest – which came as a surprise to nobody more than McGrandles himself. A bitterly contested scoreless draw at the Valley was later marginally edged by the hosts.
No doubt chastened by their flaccid outing against Johnnie Jackson’s Dons, a performance which deserved the rough edge of manager Nathan Jones’ tongue, Charlton could hardly have chosen more accommodating opposition to restore their confidence than John Mousinho’s complacent side. A string of victories over the likes of Gosport, Havant and Bognor Regis was rounded off during midweek by a 1-1 draw away to MK Dons. That’s hardly a schedule to stiffen sinews and Charlton – with an excellent draw against Premier League Crystal Palace in their CV – were hungrier and harder.
The clean sheet will have pleased Jones as much as his side’s ruthless punishment of errors at the other end of Charlton’s newly laid pitch. A well layered, authoritative rearguard, the pick of which was the formidable Kayne Ramsay, denied the visitors space and time, their catalogue of chances so sparse they hardly warrant mention. Goalkeeper Will Mannion – his name almost but not quite an echo of one of England’s finest-ever players – was hardly exercised as Ramsay, with Alex Mitchell, Lloyd Jones and Macaulay Gillesphey his loyal lieutenants, formed a protective shield in front of him. The tackling was crisp, interceptions intuitive and defensive cover unselfish. Jones was a happy, succinct guv’nor, whose post match comments were accurate and pithy.
“I’m pleased”, he began. “Last week we weren’t really at it but we’re a lot further on now. One week to go. I think we’re in a decent enough place. You saw what we had and how we played. Plus no injuries so that’s a good thing.” There was more but his point was made.
There were pleasing contributions elsewhere, none more encouraging than those made by midfield workhorses Conor Coventry, skipper Greg Docherty and Josh Edwards, with Karoy Anderson their tireless provider. And up front, the seemingly stronger Tyreece Campbell was too quick for a struggling Jordan Williams while Gassan Ahadme was an irksome pain in Pompey’s backside. Both Campbell and Ahadme scored goals which combined opportunism and execution. They were handfuls for the toiling visitors.
The first breakthrough arrived after nine promising minutes and, while arguably involving a goalkeeping error, was the end result of a lightning-quick raid which cut Portsmouth to ribbons. Ramsey’s quick throw was taken up by Edwards, who picked out Campbell near the left touchline. The fleetfooted forward wasted little time in cutting inside Williams before unleashing a powerful, right footed drive. Floundering at his near post, Norris was unable to keep the ball out and the Addicks had an early lead. They might have doubled their advantage but Campbell was unable to repeat his earlier accuracy and blasted Ramsay’s square pass wastefully over the bar. That second goal would have to wait until early in the second period. Again, the hapless Norris carried the can.
Lured from his line to deal with Ramsay’s lofted ball along the inside right channel, Norris disastrously underestimated Campbell’s footspeed and found himself a poor second in a race for possession. Rounding the stranded keeper, Campbell continued his breakneck run and produced a perfect cross which left a stooping Ahadme the easy task of heading into a gaping net.
It was soon time for a deluge of second half substitutes, among which the quick feet and crossing ability of Thierry Small stood out. Chuks Aneke was his usual, abrasive self and teamed up effectively with Daniel Kanu. A lively bench appears to provide Jones with several promising options.
Outstanding displays against Palace and Pompey made the diffident display at Wimbledon hard to understand but there seem considerable grounds for optimism. There was enviable togetherness on Saturday, which needs to travel with the team to Wigan. It’s not the most promising of venues to launch a new campaign but everyone has to start somewhere. And we’ll know more when it’s done and dusted.
Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay (Watson 67), Gillesphey, Alex Mitchell, Jones, Coventry (Edun 81), Ahadme (Aneke 67), Docherty, Edwards (Small 67), Anderson (Taylor 81), Campbell (Kanu 67). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Berry, Hylton. Zach Mitchell, Asiimwe, Edmonds-Green, Potts.
Referee: Farai Hallam. Att: 3,909 (837 visiting).