Plymouth 3 Charlton 2 – Papa John Trophy

Dwarfed by the World Cup and metaphorically millions of miles away in deep, dark Devon, Charlton made their exit from the Papa John Trophy, beaten 3-2 by Plymouth Argyle. A young side, bolstered by the experience of Jake Forster-Caskey and Jack Payne, played some good stuff, scored two excellent goals but were ultimately undone by two other goals which were, quite literally, donated to their conquerors.

With the score 1-1 (and Argyle’s goal looked suspiciously offside), Charlton’s robotic adherence to the philosophy of “playing out from the back” persuaded Zach Mitchell, a blossoming, ball-playing centre back, to almost absentmindedly roll the ball no more than six yards to a startled but grateful opponent, who wasted little time in slipping it past Nathan Harness.

Two minutes later, Harness himself repeated the process to another green-clad predator and Charlton were abruptly 3-1 down. Both Mitchell and Harness had the option of clearing their lines by more basic methods but seemed brainwashed to choose the riskier way out of minimal danger. Neither of them was under any pressure. But enough about Papa John. He won’t mind us using him to make a point. The malady runs through all age groups.

At senior level, it makes sense to get the ball quickly out to speedsters Corey Blackett-Taylor or Jesurun Rak-Sakyi so they can start their runs at defences before they have time to organise and double-team them. And it makes just as much sense that the ball is safer in the possession of George Dobson or Scott Fraser than it is in the reluctant care of Ryan Inniss or Sam Lavelle. During the Addicks’ recent defeat at Port Vale, transition (that’s the latest buzz word, right?) was painstaking and laborious and frequently ground to a halt before retreat was beaten back to Ashley Maynard-Brewer. Vale picked them off with ease and neither Blackett-Taylor nor Rak-Sakyi got a look-in. There was no tempo and even less momentum.

The alternative, of course, is not to boot everything pointlessly forward but surely must lie somewhere in healthy compromise. The ball over the top to Charlton’s wide greyhounds is a nightmare for defenders forced to turn and deal with the threat while facing their own goal. The much-reviled “long ball” can be a lethal tool when adapted to your strengths. No apology is due anyone for its sensible use. Short or long – they both have their place.

So here’s my cri-de-coeur to Ben Garner and his coaching staff. Spare us our frequent, sharp intakes of breath as Charlton play Russian Roulette inside their penalty area. The rewards are significantly fewer than the risks unless, of course, you are Manchester City. And even City have been known to screw up. Could we go back to a healthy blend of styles best suited to our personnel? And trust them to make up their own minds. It’s making some of us old before our time.

Charlton: Harness, Asiimwe, Mitchell, Elerewe, Chin, Morgan, Henry (Anderson 75), Forster-Caskey (Rylah 46), Payne, Kanu, Campbell. Not used: Kone, Oguntayo, Kedwell, Casey.

Port Vale 1 (Butterworth 57) Charlton 0

Kevin Nolan watched the livestream and squirmed through two hours of unrelenting drudgery. Had Charlton emerged with three points, he would have forgiven them everything. But at least he wasn’t faced with the same daunting journey home as the unhappy pilgrims who paid to get in.

From his seat in the stands, suspended Charlton manager Ben Garner was ideally placed to see what the rest of us saw and was in no mood to sugercoat what he had just witnessed. His summation of this dire, drab, dreadful game was unusually blunt.

“A horrible pitch. A horrible performance. A very disappointing afternoon,” he moaned, before expressing an unapologetically bitter opinion on his side’s spineless contribution to the grisly proceedings. “We weren’t good enough with the ball. We didn’t fight enough without it. We gave a horrendous goal away. Port Vale just want to stop you. That gave them something to hold on to and they can kill the game.”

Nothing much to disagree with there, except to point out that Charlton’s slavish adherence to “playing out from the back” made it laughably easy for Vale to “stop” them with a well organised press and an energetic willingness to close down defenders as they struggled to cross their 18-yard line. With depressing regularity, the Addicks’ risky passing began and ended at debut goalkeeper Ashley Maynard’s feet, before the laborious process was repeated. Momentum was non-existent, with passes of even modest distance actively discouraged. It’s all very avant garde but it doesn’t work at League One level where ball retention is, shall we say, a somewhat hit-or-miss proposition.

The Valiants were hardly an irresistible force themselves but they were the better side and, despite Garner’s dismissive comments, got their tactics spot-on. Clearly they had done their homework and had answers for everything, including the threats posed by Charlton’s normally menacing wide men Corey Blackett-Taylor and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. Neither speedster was allowed to turn and run at the home defence as they relish doing but encountered stifling pressure as the ball painstakingly reached them. Neither of them made an impact and faded from view.

Not that Blackett-Taylor or Rak Sakyi should be scapegoats for Charlton’s sorry contribution to this grisly nightmare of a game. Apart from the blameless Maynard-Brewer, who actually had little to do, not a single Addick distinguished himself. A case could possibly be made for Steven Sessegnon but the bar was set miserably low. Even George Dobson was off-colour and was at least partly culpable for Daniel Butterworth’s winning goal. Alongside him, Scott Fraser hardly put a foot right while Charlie Kirk’s input, following his two-goal burst at Burton, went un-noticed. Up front, the sadly out-of-form Jayden Stockley lumbered around fruitlessly and accomplished nothing.

But it was in front of Maynard-Brewer that Charlton’s shortcomings were alarmingly obvious. Neither Sam Lavelle nor Ryan Inniss would claim to be other than sturdy stoppers and neither of them is relaxed with the ball at his feet inside his own penalty area, where they are unreasonably expected to double as playmakers. Inniss’ booking for a late lunge was uncomfortably typical and might have earned him a red, rather the yellow card he received. Right back Sean Clare is prone to the same rashness.

Charlton’s second half substitutions brought faint improvement but by the time the first of them, Chuks Aneke for Stockley as usual, arrived, the Addicks were already trailing. A trio of defensive Addicks tracked Daniel Butterworth as he moved on to Nathan Smith’s pass, with Dobson leading the posse but failing to prevent his quarry from directing a low drive which beat Maynard-Brewer’s full-length dive on its way inside the keeper’s right hand post.

Aneke wasn’t his customary galvanic force but was still impossible to overlook. Turning sharply on to Dobson’s pass into feet, his left footed drive skimmed the bar. He threatened again when a rare incursion Rak-Sakyi set up a fleeting sight of goal but was brilliantly blocked by Connor Hall. It was fellow substitute Jack Payne, however, who came closest to salvaging a point from the wreckage with a venomous shot which was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Jack Stevens.

With an unwanted trip to Plymouth on Tuesday in the lightly regarded Papa John Trophy, followed by a more serious FA Cup tie at The Valley against Stockport County on Saturday, Garner has his hands full with an awkward fixture list. The plan was clearly to tackle the knockout commitments on the back of success in the Potteries but Port Vale had other ideas. An irritated Garner was disingenuous in implying that there was something faintly illegal in their tactical approach.

Vale made no bones about their intention to “win ugly” by choking the life out of Charlton. They worked feverishly to deny their visitors either space or time and put in the effort needed to achieve their ends. They had just enough about them to find the one goal which would settle this scruffy, scrappy encounter and sent the home fans away happy with exactly that outcome. Almost 900 travelling Addicks, an intensely loyal number in support of a team with just one victory in eight away games, would gladly have traded places. There’s only one way to mitigate a game of this wretchedness and that is to win the bloody thing. Everything else can be dismissed as red and white noise.

Port Vale: Stevens, Hall, Jones, Smith, Worrall (Robinson 67), Garrity, Wilson (Odubeko), Conlon, Benning, Massey, Butterworth (Politic 78). Not used: Stone, Cass, Charsley, Pett. Booked: Benning.

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Clare, Inniss, Lavelle (Morgan 83), Sessegnon, Rak-Sakyi, Dobson, Fraser (Forster-Caskey 77), Blackett-Taylor (Campbell 77), Stockley (Aneke 58), Kirk (Payne 77). Not used: Harness, Elewere. Booked: Aneke, Inniss.

Referee: S, Barratt. Att 7,604 (867 visiting).

Burton Albion 3 (Oshilaja 38, Hamer 45, Adeboyejo 58) Charlton 3 (Kirk 26, 36, Rak-Sakyi 76).

Kevin Nolan put his feet up and as a non-combatant watched Charlton delight and disappoint
in almost equal measure in far-off Staffordshire.

As an exercise in fist-chewing frustration, watching Charlton’s performance in Staffordshire takes some beating. Confronted for the second time in three weeks with bottom-of-the-table opposition, they were ultimately relieved to have wrested a point from struggling Burton Albion. Admittedly, that’s one notch up from losing abjectly at home to MK Dons but it’s hardly the stuff of ambition. Factor in September’s 1-1 stalemate with Forest Green, currently at the foot of League One, and a puzzling pattern of compassion for the underdog begins to emerge.

Charlton’s eighth draw of the season seemed unlikely when they emerged from a limp, passion-less opening to move into an unlikely two-goal lead. It was even more surprising that the scorer of both goals was Charlie Kirk, an enigmatic under-achiever since joining the club from Crewe Alexandra. On each occasion, his finishing was sublime.

Curiously flat and forced on to the back foot, the Addicks were being pushed around by their hosts and were grateful to deputy goalkeeper Craig McGillivray for a couple of smart saves, especially his airborne tip-over of Sam Hughes’ header. Then up stepped Kirk, not once but twice, to confound a buoyant Albion.

Improbable creator of Kirk’s first strike was towering centre back Ryan Inniss, who made his purposeful way over the halfway line and deep into home territory. A cutely disguised reverse pass sent Kirk sprinting clear with Tom Hamer in hot pursuit. Cleverly shielding the ball on his left foot, Charlton’s newly deployed forward chose his moment carefully to clip a precise shot past Viljami Sinisalo and neatly into the bottom right corner.

Ten minutes later, Kirk doubled the Addicks’ lead in completely different style and circumstances. Correctly reading Jayden Stockley’s faint touch-on of a huge delivery from McGillivray, he glided between two static Brewers, appraised Sinilaso’s position and lofted a precise lob over the keeper’s desperately groping reach. His surprisingly cool execution of two difficult chances vindicated Ben Garner’s decision to re-deploy Kirk in partnership with Stockley. Unfortunately, Charlton seemed almost at pains to squander their advantage before the break.

A contentious foul on Hamer just outside the penalty area on the right began the visitors’ downfall. Terry Taylor’s free kick was swung in wickedly and bulleted home by ex-Addick Deji Oshilaja, no doubt launching a training ground inquiry as to how and why George Dobson was assigned the task of policing the muscular Oshilaja in such circumstances. Dobson’s no faintheart but was overpowered by an opponent with a personal point to make. Stockley was surely a better bet to continue his prickly relationship with Deji but, of course, that’s a layman talking.

Any thought the Addicks entertained of taking a lead into their interval dressing room disappeared in the last minute of the half. A scruffy scramble was resolved by the untidy pass from Tyler Onyango, which was chest controlled by Hamer inside the penalty area, then volleyed emphatically past McGillivray. Crucially, there was no attempt to charge Hamer or block his shot. He was allowed to prepare and fire off his effort without interference.

Shortly after resumption, the situation got worse. Victor Adeboyejo had been a simmering threat before, taking matters into his own hands, he picked up a loose ball, moved unopposed into range and thundered an unstoppable drive into the top left corner. Like Hamer, he was untroubled by a defence which backed off and allowed him space to do what he wanted.

With his side shell-shocked and reeling, McGillivray’s fine save from Smith averted collapse and Oshilaja did his bit by inexplicably heading an apparently unmissable chance wide. Then, just past the hour, the arrival of Chuks Aneke off the bench changed the dynamic, as it so often does for Charlton.

A force of nature, Aneke was joined by fellow substitute Jake Forster-Caskey in winning a touchline skirmish before measuring a skilfully flighted pass which sent Jesurun Rak-Sakyi through the middle of Albion’s spreadeagled central defence. His mind made up by Sinilaso’s momentary hesitation, Rak-Sakyi emulated Kirk in deftly lifting a precise lob over the advancing keeper and, on one bounce, into his vacated net. Charlton needed one final save from McGillivray, this time from Sam Winnall, before their point was safe. Whether this result meant one point was made or two dropped will become clear later on. In the short term, this draw felt like a defeat…but then again, it beat losing.

Burton: Sinilaso, Hamer, Hughes, Oshilaja, Borthwick-Jackson, Taylor, Gilligan (Winnall 81), Onyango, Smith (Carayol 90), Adeboyejo (Dodoo 68), Powell. Not used: Garratt, Keillor-Dunn, Mancienne, Karawa.

Charlton: McGillivray, Chin, Lavelle, Inniss, Sessegnon, Rak-Sakyi, Dobson (Forster-Caskey 75), Fraser (Morgan 89), Campbell (Blackett-Taylor 63), Kirk (Payne 75), Stockley (Aneke 63). Not used: Elerewe.

Referee: Will Finnie. Att: 3,084.

Charlton 2 (Lavelle (45), (Payne 90+2) Brighton u-21 1 (Miller 54).

A tiny, storm-tossed gathering -more quorum than crowd – braved treacherous elements to watch Charlton progress to the next stages of the Papa John Trophy after further added time drama. It was impossible, of course, to reach the same delirious heights of last Saturday but precisely 609 soggy patrons made their way home happy with what they’d seen. Exactly what the 53 Seagulls in the Jimmy Seed Stand made of it is unknown but at least the conditions were more familiar to them.

We were two minutes into the four added to this lively clash when indefatigable Jack Payne smashed home the winner and delivered us from a penalty shoot-out. It turned out that under the complicated rules of this ersatz competition only victory, or in the event of a draw, success in a spotkick showdown would be enough to send the Addicks through. And even then, only in second place, which guaranteed an away tie in the next round. Brighton were already eliminated. Try to keep up -it’s really perfectly clear.

Anyway, no doubt first team coach Anthony Hayes was turning his attention to the order of his penalty takers when Conor McGrandles picked up possession in Brighton’s half and exchanged passes with substitute Albie Morgan. His heads-up ball out to Payne on the right was taken in stride by the skipper, who stepped inside on to his favoured left foot and hammered an unstoppable drive inside the near post. Ex-Addick James Beadle managed a touch but was beaten by the sheer velocity of the strike.

McGrandles hadn’t stood out during normal time but occasional flashes of quality suggested there’s more to him than meets the untrained eye. He certainly doesn’t deserve the abuse he receives on the various chatlines, often from anonymous snipers unfit to lace his boots. Cut the bloke some slack – he might surprise us.

As the weather deteriorated, Charlton’s record low attendance for a first team match were compensated by an entertaining encounter, with chances at both ends. The first of them fell to Aaron Henry, whose free kick flashed inches wide, with Beadle scrambling hopefully across his goal. The young keeper then saved smartly from Jake Forster-Caskey before his scuffed clearance gave Henry clear sight of goal from over 40 yards. The midfielder’s instant return was heading into the bottom right corner before Beadle, hustling back with all the desperate urgency of Wily Coyote, scraped it off the line.

Neat and constructive, the well coached visitors had moments of their own, with Jack Hinshelwood setting up Cam Peupion to force an alert save from Craig McGillivray. The tricky Peupion was then unlucky to see his goalbound drive unwittingly deflected over the bar with McGillivray left standing. It was shaping up to be all square at the break when the Addicks scored.

A last gasp right wing corner brought the breakthrough, with Forster-Caskey’s wicked inswinger glanced neatly past Beadle by Sam Lavelle. While injuries and suspension bite into Ben Garner’s central defence options, Lavelle will feature importantly in Charlton’s upcoming commitments; he was partnered here by 18 year-old debutant Zach Mitchell, who acquitted himself well. But the most encouraging contribution was made by young Richard Chin, outstanding up and down the left flank. The kids are alright at The Valley, with Daniel Kanu and Tyreece Campbell both nagging handfuls for the youthful Seagulls.

The second half, contested in driving rain, started with Brighton in complete control. Peupion came within straining inches of reaching Luca Barrington’s teasing cross before the South Coasters deservedly equalised. It was the irrepressible Peupion whose spadework created the chance which Todd Miller flicked wide of McGillvray. Well on top now, Albion should have forged ahead but Antef Tsoungui clipped a post when converting Samy Chouchane’s perfect cross seemed an easier option.

With nothing but pride to play for, Brighton’s youngsters showed their professional pedigree but succumbed to Payne’s late strike. So Hayes takes his survivors into the next round, with the Papa John dream still alive. It’s Coalville Town next Saturday in the world’s oldest cup competition, then a midweek trip to Stevenage in the Carabao Cup. It’s to be hoped that Charlton take their responsibilities seriously, something the sodden Addicks who represented the club on Tuesday clearly did. On three fronts, Wembley is still in their sights.

Charlton: McGillivray. Clare, Lavelle, Mitchell (Thomas 65), Chin, Forster-Caskey, McGrandles, Payne, Henry (Morgan 64), Kanu, Campbell (Rylah 81). Not used: Kone, Dench, Anderson, Casey. Booked: Chin.

Brighton: Beadle, Ferguson (Nilsson 46), Spong. Tsoungui, Furlong, Packham (Ifill 65), Peupion, Miller, Samuels (Baker-Boaitey 78), Barrington (Chouchane 65), Hinshelwood. Not used: Cahill, Wilson, Everitt. Booked: Hinshelwood.

Referee: Paul Howard. Att: 662 (53 visiting).

Charlton 3 (Inniss 17, Blackett-Taylor 31, O’Connell 67) Portsmouth 0.

A temporarily indisposed Kevin Nolan watched the rout of Portsmouth on the telly at home. Here’s his version of events.

An evening that began unpromisingly as Portsmouth bossed the initial quarter hour turned unexpectedly into an explosion of joy, both at The Valley and in a living room in Grove Park. Clinical and ruthless, Charlton subdued a sizeable away support with two first half goals at the Jimmy Seed end, applied the coup-de-grace midway through the second period, then cruised to victory with something to spare. In doing so, they left the impression that they have more about them than their frequently witless performances have implied so far this season.

On Monday evening before the Sky cameras, manager Ben Garner absorbed the wretchedly ill-timed loss of teenage sensation Miles Leaburn who, after opening the scoring in the 4-2 thrashing of Exeter City, sustained ligament damage which will sideline him for several weeks, and made intelligent use of his resources. Corey Blackett-Taylor came in for Leaburn and rose superbly to the occasion while a rejuvenated Charlie Kirk pushed up in support of Jayden Stockley and, in addition to supplying a sublime pass for Blackett-Taylor’s goal, reminded us why Charlton were so keen to recruit him. There is, hopefully, much more to come from the elegant wide man.

While acknowledging the excellence of Blackett-Taylor and Kirk, this game was decided in central midfield where the formidable duo of George Dobson and Scott Fraser were in commanding form. It almost goes without saying that Dobson did more than his fair share of the nuts-and-bolts toil in Charlton’s engine room. He was overshadowed, however, by the supremely talented Fraser, who added bite to the repertoire of passes, both short and long, which stretched the visitors often to breaking point. Two setpiece assists crowned the matchwinning contribution of the Scottish midfield general.

Portsmouth were businesslike but punchless during their brief period of domination. Colby Bishop’s routine effort had hardly troubled Joe Wollacott before they were put in their place just past the quarter hour. Kirk’s short corner on the right set up an improved angle for Fraser to cross into the penalty area congestion, where towering Ryan Inniss overpowered ex-Addick Michael Morrison and headed down past Josh Griffiths. It was, as pointed out by our TV commentator, Charlton’s first goal of the season from a corner. With Inniss and Eoghan O’Connell joining Stockley to add muscle and aggression to the penalty area maelstrom, it shouldn’t be the last.

Pressing energetically and enthusiastically when out of possession, the Addicks snapped into tackles, hounded the South Coasters into errors and , frankly, drove them to distraction. Wingbacks Steven Sessegnon and Mandela Egbo were unrelenting in turning defence into attack, Blackett-Taylor’s pace was all but unplayable, but Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on the opposite flank too often spoiled promising solo runs by taking on one too many defenders and disappearing into cul-de-sacs of his own making. The kid’s a luminous talent and he’ll learn. Facing a tide of red, Pompey buckled under the pressure for a second time.

It was a sign of the visitors’ growing agitation that Josh Koroma’s careless ball in midfield bounced off Fraser and was pounced on by Kirk. Without hesitation, Kirk measured a raking pass inside an outwitted Connor Ogilvie for Blackett-Taylor to bear down on goal. With Ogilvie a rank outsider in the foot race, Blackett-Taylor’s marginally heavy touch offered Griffiths a fleeting invitation to leave his line, which the keeper declined, before the speedster slipped the ball through his legs to double a lead Charlton never looked likely to relinquish.

Comfortably in control, the Addicks game-managed the second half without feeling it necessary to resort to irritating time-wasting. They were clearly enjoying when the visitors imploded and gifted their tormentors a third goal which finished them off.

Combative and influential in Danny Cowley’s midfield, Marlon Pack represented his side’s best chance of an unlikely recovery. Already booked, however, the 31-year old academy graduate’s pointlessly violent challenge on Fraser left referee Dean Whitestone no alternative but to issue a second yellow card and send him off. Pack was no longer around to watch his victim flight the resultant free kick precisely on O’Connell’s head, leaving the big Irishman to finish in text-book style back across Griffiths into the opposite corner. There was clearly to be none of the customary anxiety associated with a Charlton victory, which didn’t stop your reporter from worrying anyway. It goes with the territory.

With two emphatic home wins sending them on their way, Garner’s rejuvenated men must now address their discouraging form on the road, starting with next Saturday’s tricky trip to Shrewsbury. Four points from seven away games is a miserable return and needs immediate redress. But the seeds of improvement have been planted at the Valley. It’s time they were sown elsewhere.

Charlton: Wollacott, Egbo, Inniss, O’Connell, Sessegnon (Clare 77), Blackett-Taylor (Morgan 70), Rak-Sakyi (Payne 70), Fraser (McGrandles 79), Dobson, Kirk, Stockley (Aneke 77). Not used: McGillivray, Campbell. Booked: Sessegnon, Dobson, Morgan.

Portsmouth: Griffiths, Ogilvie, Morrison (Swanson 46), Raggett, Robertson, Dale (Mingi 68), Pack, Morell, Koroma (Jacobs 46, Curtis 63), Bishop, Scarlett (Hackett 68). Not used: Oluwayemi, Pigott. Booked: Pack(2) sent off: Morell.

Referee: Dean Whitestone. Att: 13,456 (2,374 visiting).

Charlton 4 (Leaburn 20, Hartridge o.g 25, Aneke 84, Payne 90+1) Exeter City 2 (Stansfield 37, Nombe pen 90+4).

To a side as jaded recently as Charlton, the 82nd minute return of Chuks Aneke to their ranks was nothing short of galvanic. The big man brings charisma and quality with him; he’s the nightmare a tiring defence sees bearing down on them. Most of his 22 goals have been scored from the substitutes’ bench with, to date, only 19 starts for the Addicks.

By the time Aneke arrived on the scene, a late equaliser for Exeter was beginning to seem, if not inevitable, then at least likely. Until that is, two minutes after he relieved willing workhorse Jayden Stockley, his streaky goal turned that scenario on its head. It was hardly an object of beauty but it knocked the stuffing out of the visitors and confirmed Charlton’s first league victory since they crushed Plymouth Argyle on August 16th. Last summer, in other words, if your mind goes back that far.

Not that Charlton’s super hero was finished for the evening. In added time, he contributed to fellow substitute Jack Payne’s superbly headed goal before conceding a hotly disputed penalty at the other end. A brief, busy stint was rounded off by his participation in the traditional tunnel jump (alongside the excellent Mandela Egbo) which salutes home victories – richly deserved, of course, but possibly the cause of some medical wincing behind the scenes. No sense looking for injury, something that happens organically to Chuks.

Aneke’s eagerly awaited return promises to be perfectly timed because, on 66 minutes, The Valley groaned at the sight of Miles Leaburn limping painfully to the sidelines, to be replaced by Albie Morgan. A potent mixture of skill and power, the teenager had already made his mark with a terrific first half opener and had, at times, proved almost unplayable. His improvement has been dramatic and he seems on his way to emulating, if not overshadowing, his dad’s cult status hereabouts. And that’s saying something. In Leaburn Jr’s possible absence, Aneke will be expected to plug a heavyweight hole, not necessarily from the bench.

With more than one point to prove, the Addicks started brightly with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi curling narrowly wide, Steven Sessegnon shooting straight at Jamal Blackman and Egbo’s enterprising run being blocked by skipper Pierce Sweeney. At which point, two of Charlton’s outstanding performers during Black September combined to fire them in front. The early work was provided by George Dobson, selfless cleaner-up of messes made by other people, whose chipped pass over the top was expertly controlled by Leaburn in the inside left channel. Stepping inside on to his right foot, the 18-year-old hot prospect’s fierce drive beat Blackman, with slightly deflected assistance off Alex Hartridge.

The second blow in Charlton’s one-two combination followed promptly, with a slice of luck again playing its part. Scott Fraser, looking more the business with each game, crossed from the left, Stockley managed a plunging header and the wretchedly unlucky Hartridge turned the ball beyond Blackman. Luck was certainly favouring Ben Garner’s men but luck in football is something you learn to live with. Boom or bust, you could say it’s cyclical. Your turn comes round eventually.

Two down and ready to be polished off, the Grecians instead found their feet, fought back and reduced their arrears in fine style before the break. Scorer of City’s goals in their impressive 2-0 win at Barnsley on Saturday, 19 year-old Jay Stansfield is a chip off an old Exeter block and plays without inhibition as his father did before him. There was nothing on as Charlie Kirk’s clearance from Charlton’s penalty area was instantly returned and bounced inconclusively between players before Stansfield took the initiative. Turning sharply outside the penalty area, he computed distance and target precisely before unleashing a sumptuous volley, which gave Joe Wollacott no chance on its way inside the keeper’s right-hand-post. Some goal, kid!

The second half of this entertaining scrap largely belong to the Devonians until, that is, Aneke entered the action. Sessegnon’s fine recovery tackle foiled Stansfield as he prepared to finish Rakeem Harper’s raking pass, then Jack Sparkes’ long range rocket crashed against the underside of Wollacott’s bar, with the bounce favouring Charlton’s suddenly overworked keeper. Aneke duly appeared and the momentum changed abruptly.

Given a gladiator’s welcome, the Addicks’ prodigal son rose immediately to the occasion. Predatory as always, he was on hand to convert the rebound as Dobson’s tame shot was blocked in his direction. His flick then sent substitute Corey Blackett-Taylor clear to deliver a tailor-made cross which Payne bulleted home in the first of six added minutes. His influence at both ends of Charlton’s heavily watered pitch also included a hefty challenge on Sam Nombe, which was deemed illegal by referee Craig Hicks. Nombe picked himself up to convert a spotkick which changed nothing but the scoreline.

Time – and next Monday’s televised encounter with Portsmouth – will tell whether Charlton are on the way to turning this miserable season around. A single swallow might not make a summer but one win over a decent side like Exeter already warms the cockles with winter on its way. Maybe this season has a more pleasant twist in its tail. Or maybe not…

Charlton: Wollacott, Sessegnon (Clare 66), O’Connell, Inniss, Egbo, Dobson, Rak-Sakyi (Payne 76), Fraser, Kirk (Blackett-Taylor 76), Leaburn (Morgan 66), Stockley (Aneke 82). Not used: McGillivray, McGrandles.

Exeter : Blackman, Caprice, Sparkes (Chauke 88), Hartridge, Harper (Kite 66), Collins, Stansfield, Nombe, Key, Brown, Sweeney. Not used: Brown, Smith, Cox, King, James.

Referee Craig Hicks. Att: 11,411 (833 visiting).

Colchester United 2 (Eastman 87, Akinde 90+1), Charlton 1 (Morgan 17).

Charlton really have to be seen to be believed. No, really – seen to be believed. At Colchester, 880 eyewitnesses, of whom 259 had journeyed across the border in support, watched them plumb new depths of incompetence in turning victory, first into a draw, then even more risibly, into added time defeat.

In a competition nobody takes seriously, their latest fiasco would have gone largely unnoticed in pre-livestream days of anonymity. But your reporter was among those who reacted in “seen it all before” resignation as they unravelled on his screen, then listened in grudging admiration to the post-game spin which turned their collapse into something of an injustice.

Apparently, the Addicks had completed more than double the amount of passes their opponents did and it must be remembered they were a young (?) side. When the dust had settled, they would “pick up the pieces” and “be a lot stronger for the experience.”

It’s beyond argument that Ben Garner’s men (and there were just as many men as boys in their ranks)
outpassed their hosts, (who during the evening slipped to 22nd place in League Two following Hartlepool’s win over Doncaster Rovers). Their blizzard of passes went sideways and back, then square, forward and back again as the statistics stacked up impressively. They could point proudly to the 15 passes which led to their goal but ignored the comparative economy United employed in replying twice.

Colchester’s equaliser comprised a corner, a header against the bar and an instinctive conversion of the rebound; the winner featured an accurate ball along the right-hand channel, the outpacing of an exhausted defender, who should have long since been replaced, by a 33 year-old substitute and the deftest of dinks from an unpromising angle. Food for thought, then, when appraising the Opta Stats -or whatever they’re called.

Albie Morgan’s opener, after 11 minutes, must be counted among the pluses mentioned by affable second-in-command Scott Marshall, who stood in for Ben Garner during the post-mortem. The ball was switched from side to side, player to player, before Morgan worked a one-two with Sean Clare inside the home penalty area. With Us’ resistance neatly filleted, Charlton’s No. 10 slipped through and calmly finished past Sam Hornby.

Flushed with success, the Addicks settled down in a bid to pass themselves into the record books. Their stats piled up with goalkeeper Nathan Harness figuring prominently in the “build-up from the back.” Safety first became their watchword as passes were returned regularly to sender by recipients discouraged to operate on the half-turn or, heaven forbid, facing the opposition’s goal. If a football team can be said to suffer from constipation, you could chance saying it about Charlton. Apologies for the image but it, er, sort of slipped out.

There were rare moments of beauty. Morgan’s goal was a corker and it was Albie who produced the devastating through ball that sent Jack Payne in behind Us’ defence to be brought down by veteran Alan Judge. Payne took the inevitable penalty but placed it too close to Hornby, who saved splendidly before recovering in time to block Payne’s second effort. Great stuff, of course, from a heroic keeper but from 12 yards, a penalty is missed rather than saved. This spotkick would have doubled Charlton’s lead and probably sealed the issue but Colchester survived to edge ahead in the only statistic that matters.

There were three minutes left when. with Harness a helpless onlooker, a left wing corner was turned on to the bar before being stabbed home by Thomas Eastman. One minute into added time, John Akinde pursued a lofted pass over the top, eased past a struggling Terell Thomas and gently nudged his unlikely winner into the far corner. Thomas had performed creditably despite his lack of match practice and should already have been replaced. He had been one of the “positives” as had 43rd minute substitute Tyreece Campbell, a breath of fresh air on an evening of stuffy statistics. Shame they were part of such a boring side.

Colchester: Hornby, Clampie, Dallison, Judge (Ashley 82), Chilvers (Hannant 70), Lubala (Akinde 61), Eastman, Newby, Coxe, Miranda, Nouble. Not used: O’Hara, Chambers, Longstaff, Kazeem. Booked: Lubala, Chilvers.

Referee: Lee Swaby. Att: 880 (259 visiting).

Barnsley 3 (Benson 10, Norwood 54, Cole 76) Charlton 1 (Payne 85)

A comforting tumbler of Bushmills at his elbow, Kevin Nolan watched in growing horror a safe distance from Oakwell as Charlton’s miserable start to the season took another turn for the worse. Here’s what he made of it.

Winners only twice in nine league games prior to this daunting trip to South Yorkshire, Charlton plunged further into the lower reaches of League One on the back of this chastening defeat. Wearing the look of losers as early as the 10th minute when their laissez-faire defending allowed Josh Benson time and space to take two touches of a loose ball before launching it unstoppably into the top left corner, they were taught a lesson in finishing as Barnsley converted all three of their shots on target. Their own “consolation” was nothing of the sort, bringing comfort only to its scorer, Jack Payne, who was rewarded for a lively cameo with his first for goal for the club.

Described with devastating accuracy by co-commentator Peter Shirtliff as “a nice team to play”, the Addicks justified his innocent jibe by ruining their pretty approach play with finishing which, in the first half particularly, bordered on the comical. Jack Walton’s goal was the safest place to be as the visitors’ wild efforts peppered the patrons behind it. Comical it was…funny it most definitely wasn’t.

A lion-hearted leader of those gutsy 1987 Addicks, who survived three brutal play-off battles with Leeds United before winning the war at St. Andrews, Shirtliff touched lightly on the problem but knows hardly the half of it. He would have been justified had he gone on to describe The Valley as a “nice place to visit.” because home games have been reduced to exercises in inane cheeriness, during which visitors are practically invited to “call round any old time, make yourself at home, put your feet on the mantelshelf, open the cupboard and help yourself.” An invitation which humble Forest Green Rovers were happy to accept last time out. There’s a soft bellied centre to Charlton these days, a vulnerability Shirtliff was probably too diplomatic to explore. So consider it explored on his behalf.

Charlton’s fate at Oakwell was all but sealed when they stood off Benson as he prepared his splendid strike. Their failure was corporate but the individual can was carried by Albie Morgan, whose sluggish reaction to the midfielder’s threat was inexcusable. To their credit, they responded to the setback with a wave of attacks, which forced their hosts back but were let down by hopelessly wayward finishing. Sensing that their road to redemption lay down the flanks, wide men Corey Blackett-Taylor and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi were plied with long range passes and encouraged to take on their markers, something they did with mixed success. Chances came thick and fast and were just as quickly squandered.

Rak-Sakyi was his usual unpredictable self, beating several defenders on the right byline before Tom Edwards’ heroic block foiled him at close range. Blackett-Taylor cut in from the opposite wing but blasted haplessly over the bar, as did Sean Clare, Mandela Egbo and Eoghan O’Connell before the break. O’Connell redeemed himself by heading Nicky Cadden’s inswinging corner off the line but it can hardly have escaped Ben Garner’s attention that Charlton’s best chances had fallen to defenders. His side has been operating recently without a forward line, with Jayden Stockley a lone, struggling figure up front and young Miles Leaburn a willing but still raw contributor from the bench. Charlton have scored once in each of their last six league games, four of which have brought them 1-1 draws, the other two 3-1 defeats by Bolton and Barnsley. Without a win since their 5-1 demolition of Plymouth on August 18th, they have lost touch with the division’s pacesetters while sinking ominously into the danger zone.

Meanwhile, Charlton’s challenge, such as it was, evaporated when Barnsley doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half. Tricking his way through listless resistance, Devante Cole laid on a point-blank chance which James Norwood skilfully flicked past Craig McGillivray. Cole added his name to the scoresheet after Jordan Williams exploited a Stan and Ollie mix-up between O’Connell and Sam Lavelle. Payne’s 85th minute reply was a mere afterthought but might have earned its scorer an overdue start.

It’s generally accepted you need 10 games, on which to base a sensible prediction regarding a team’s overall prospects. On that basis, Charlton face a bleak midwinter. But listen, let’s not be glum about it. There’s Saturday’s visit from Karl Robinson’s Oxford to look forward to and all the non-stop fun that’s sure to bring with it. Hopefully Karl won’t leave empty-handed so be sure to wish him and his lads well. But remember not to smoke, throw flares or be beastly to your fellow-fan. And if you come across anyone who does any of those things, be sure to grass him or her up! It’s all about the matchday experience, you know. Not the bloody result!

Barnsley: Walton, Williams, Edwards, Anderson. Cadden (Larkeche 68), Kane, Norwood (Phillips 59), Benson, Thomas (Martin 85), Cundy (McCarthy 66), Cole. Not used: Searle, Hondermarck, Tedic.

Charlton: McGillivray, Egbo (Sessegnon 72), Lavelle, O’Connell, Clare, Dobson(McGrandles 72), Fraser (Leaburn 59), Morgan, Rak-Sakyi (Payne 72), Stockley, Blackett-Taylor (Kirk 59). Not used: Harness, Inniss.

Referee: Adam Herczeg. Att: 10,234 (588 visiting}.

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).